HESI RN Fundamentals Exam
2026/2027 | Newly Released
Actual 75 questions with Correct Answers and Expert
Explanations
Q1: A nurse is preparing to perform a physical assessment on a newly admitted patient. Which
technique should the nurse use first?
A. Auscultation
B. Palpation
C. Percussion
D. Inspection [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The best answer is inspection because it is the first technique used in every physical
assessment, allowing the nurse to observe general appearance and specific abnormalities before
touching the patient.
Q2: A patient reports feeling "short of breath" while resting in bed. Which term should the nurse
use to document this finding?
A. Objective data
B. Subjective data [CORRECT]
C. Validated data
D. Measurable data
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is subjective data because shortness of breath is a symptom that can
only be felt and reported by the patient, making it unmeasurable by the nurse.
,Q3: A nurse is reviewing a patient's medical record and notes the patient has a prescription for
contact precautions. Which infectious disease requires this specific type of precaution?
A. Pulmonary tuberculosis
B. Rubella
C. Clostridium difficile infection [CORRECT]
D. Influenza
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is Clostridium difficile because it is transmitted through direct
contact with spores in the environment or on the hands of healthcare workers, requiring the use
of gown and gloves.
Q4: A postoperative patient is prescribed to receive morphine 4 mg intravenously every 4 hours
as needed for pain. The medication is available as 10 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse
administer?
A. 0.2 mL
B. 0.4 mL [CORRECT]
C. 2.5 mL
D. 4.0 mL
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is 0.4 mL because dividing the prescribed dose (4 mg) by the
available concentration (10 mg/mL) ensures the patient receives the correct volume of the
medication.
Q5: A nurse is caring for a patient who has a new tracheostomy. Which action by the nurse
demonstrates the correct use of medical asepsis?
A. Wearing sterile gloves when suctioning the tracheostomy
B. Washing hands before and after providing tracheostomy care [CORRECT]
C. Applying a sterile dressing to the tracheostomy site
D. Using a sterile catheter for oral suctioning
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: The best answer is handwashing because medical asepsis (clean technique) focuses
on reducing the number of microorganisms, and hand hygiene is the foundational practice for all
patient care.
Q6: A nurse enters the room of a patient who is on airborne precautions for suspected
tuberculosis. In which order should the nurse don the personal protective equipment (PPE)?
Select all that apply in the correct sequence.
A. Gown [CORRECT]
B. N95 respirator [CORRECT]
C. Gloves [CORRECT]
D. Eye protection
Correct Answer: A, B, C
Rationale: The best answers are gown, N95 respirator, and gloves in that specific order, as the
mask must be applied before touching the front of the gown, and gloves are put on last.
Q7: A nurse is preparing to administer a scheduled oral medication to a patient. The patient asks,
"What is this pill for?" Which of the "6 Rights" of medication administration is the nurse
verifying by checking the medication's purpose in the reference guide?
A. Right dose
B. Right route
C. Right reason [CORRECT]
D. Right documentation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is right reason because explaining and verifying the medication's
purpose ensures it aligns with the patient's current diagnosis and provider orders.
2026/2027 | Newly Released
Actual 75 questions with Correct Answers and Expert
Explanations
Q1: A nurse is preparing to perform a physical assessment on a newly admitted patient. Which
technique should the nurse use first?
A. Auscultation
B. Palpation
C. Percussion
D. Inspection [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The best answer is inspection because it is the first technique used in every physical
assessment, allowing the nurse to observe general appearance and specific abnormalities before
touching the patient.
Q2: A patient reports feeling "short of breath" while resting in bed. Which term should the nurse
use to document this finding?
A. Objective data
B. Subjective data [CORRECT]
C. Validated data
D. Measurable data
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is subjective data because shortness of breath is a symptom that can
only be felt and reported by the patient, making it unmeasurable by the nurse.
,Q3: A nurse is reviewing a patient's medical record and notes the patient has a prescription for
contact precautions. Which infectious disease requires this specific type of precaution?
A. Pulmonary tuberculosis
B. Rubella
C. Clostridium difficile infection [CORRECT]
D. Influenza
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is Clostridium difficile because it is transmitted through direct
contact with spores in the environment or on the hands of healthcare workers, requiring the use
of gown and gloves.
Q4: A postoperative patient is prescribed to receive morphine 4 mg intravenously every 4 hours
as needed for pain. The medication is available as 10 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse
administer?
A. 0.2 mL
B. 0.4 mL [CORRECT]
C. 2.5 mL
D. 4.0 mL
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is 0.4 mL because dividing the prescribed dose (4 mg) by the
available concentration (10 mg/mL) ensures the patient receives the correct volume of the
medication.
Q5: A nurse is caring for a patient who has a new tracheostomy. Which action by the nurse
demonstrates the correct use of medical asepsis?
A. Wearing sterile gloves when suctioning the tracheostomy
B. Washing hands before and after providing tracheostomy care [CORRECT]
C. Applying a sterile dressing to the tracheostomy site
D. Using a sterile catheter for oral suctioning
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: The best answer is handwashing because medical asepsis (clean technique) focuses
on reducing the number of microorganisms, and hand hygiene is the foundational practice for all
patient care.
Q6: A nurse enters the room of a patient who is on airborne precautions for suspected
tuberculosis. In which order should the nurse don the personal protective equipment (PPE)?
Select all that apply in the correct sequence.
A. Gown [CORRECT]
B. N95 respirator [CORRECT]
C. Gloves [CORRECT]
D. Eye protection
Correct Answer: A, B, C
Rationale: The best answers are gown, N95 respirator, and gloves in that specific order, as the
mask must be applied before touching the front of the gown, and gloves are put on last.
Q7: A nurse is preparing to administer a scheduled oral medication to a patient. The patient asks,
"What is this pill for?" Which of the "6 Rights" of medication administration is the nurse
verifying by checking the medication's purpose in the reference guide?
A. Right dose
B. Right route
C. Right reason [CORRECT]
D. Right documentation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is right reason because explaining and verifying the medication's
purpose ensures it aligns with the patient's current diagnosis and provider orders.
