HESI A2 ENTRANCE & EXIT EXAM 2026 – PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
CORE DOMAINS
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Grammar and Vocabulary
• Mathematics
• Reading Comprehension
• Physics
• Professionalism and Ethics
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this assessment is to evaluate the fundamental academic readiness and clinical knowledge required for success in nursing and
healthcare programs. This exam assesses a comprehensive range of skills, including scientific literacy, mathematical proficiency, and linguistic
clarity. The structure consists of multiple-choice and scenario-based questions designed to mirror real-world healthcare environments. Emphasis is
placed on the application of theoretical concepts to clinical decision-making, ensuring that candidates possess the critical thinking necessary for
patient safety and regulatory compliance. This practice bank serves as a rigorous tool for both entrance preparation and exit competency validation.
1. Which structure of the heart is responsible for preventing the backflow of blood into the right atrium?
A. Mitral valve
B. Aortic valve
🟢 C. Tricuspid valve
D. Pulmonary valve
🔴 RATIONALE: The tricuspid valve is located between the right atrium and the right ventricle; it closes during ventricular contraction to prevent
blood from flowing backward into the atrium.
2. A patient is prescribed a medication to be taken "QID." How many times per day should the patient take this medication?
A. Twice a day
B. Three times a day
🟢 C. Four times a day
D. Every other day
,🔴 RATIONALE: The medical abbreviation QID stands for "quater in die," which translates to four times a day.
3. Which of the following organelles is known as the powerhouse of the cell due to its role in ATP production?
A. Nucleus
B. Ribosome
C. Golgi apparatus
🟢 D. Mitochondria
🔴 RATIONALE: Mitochondria are responsible for cellular respiration and the production of ATP, providing the energy necessary for cellular
functions.
4. If a solution has a pH of 3, it is categorized as:
🟢 A. Acidic
B. Basic
C. Neutral
D. Alkaline
🔴 RATIONALE: The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. A pH below 7 is acidic, 7 is neutral, and above 7 is basic or alkaline.
5. Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: The nurse ________ the patient's vitals every four hours.
A. monitor
🟢 B. monitors
C. monitoring
D. have monitored
🔴 RATIONALE: The subject "nurse" is singular, requiring the singular verb form "monitors" for subject-verb agreement in the present tense.
6. What is the sum of 3/4 and 1/8?
A. 4/12
B. 1/2
🟢 C. 7/8
D. 5/8
🔴 RATIONALE: To add fractions, find a common denominator. 3/4 is equivalent to 6/8. 6/8 + 1/8 = 7/8.
, 7. Which process results in two genetically identical daughter cells?
🟢 A. Mitosis
B. Meiosis
C. Fertilization
D. Cytokinesis
🔴 RATIONALE: Mitosis is the process of cell division that results in two daughter cells with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
8. A nurse must maintain patient confidentiality according to which federal law?
A. OSHA
🟢 B. HIPAA
C. ADA
D. FMLA
🔴 RATIONALE: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) sets the national standard for protecting sensitive patient health
information.
9. What is the primary function of the large intestine?
A. Digestion of proteins
🟢 B. Absorption of water
C. Production of bile
D. Secretion of insulin
🔴 RATIONALE: The large intestine primarily absorbs water and electrolytes from indigestible food matter and transmits useless waste material from
the body.
10. Convert 2.5 grams to milligrams.
A. 25 mg
B. 250 mg
🟢 C. 2500 mg
D. 0.0025 mg
🔴 RATIONALE: To convert grams to milligrams, multiply by 1,000. 2.5 x 1,000 = 2,500 mg.
11. Which of the following is a physical change?
2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
CORE DOMAINS
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Grammar and Vocabulary
• Mathematics
• Reading Comprehension
• Physics
• Professionalism and Ethics
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this assessment is to evaluate the fundamental academic readiness and clinical knowledge required for success in nursing and
healthcare programs. This exam assesses a comprehensive range of skills, including scientific literacy, mathematical proficiency, and linguistic
clarity. The structure consists of multiple-choice and scenario-based questions designed to mirror real-world healthcare environments. Emphasis is
placed on the application of theoretical concepts to clinical decision-making, ensuring that candidates possess the critical thinking necessary for
patient safety and regulatory compliance. This practice bank serves as a rigorous tool for both entrance preparation and exit competency validation.
1. Which structure of the heart is responsible for preventing the backflow of blood into the right atrium?
A. Mitral valve
B. Aortic valve
🟢 C. Tricuspid valve
D. Pulmonary valve
🔴 RATIONALE: The tricuspid valve is located between the right atrium and the right ventricle; it closes during ventricular contraction to prevent
blood from flowing backward into the atrium.
2. A patient is prescribed a medication to be taken "QID." How many times per day should the patient take this medication?
A. Twice a day
B. Three times a day
🟢 C. Four times a day
D. Every other day
,🔴 RATIONALE: The medical abbreviation QID stands for "quater in die," which translates to four times a day.
3. Which of the following organelles is known as the powerhouse of the cell due to its role in ATP production?
A. Nucleus
B. Ribosome
C. Golgi apparatus
🟢 D. Mitochondria
🔴 RATIONALE: Mitochondria are responsible for cellular respiration and the production of ATP, providing the energy necessary for cellular
functions.
4. If a solution has a pH of 3, it is categorized as:
🟢 A. Acidic
B. Basic
C. Neutral
D. Alkaline
🔴 RATIONALE: The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. A pH below 7 is acidic, 7 is neutral, and above 7 is basic or alkaline.
5. Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: The nurse ________ the patient's vitals every four hours.
A. monitor
🟢 B. monitors
C. monitoring
D. have monitored
🔴 RATIONALE: The subject "nurse" is singular, requiring the singular verb form "monitors" for subject-verb agreement in the present tense.
6. What is the sum of 3/4 and 1/8?
A. 4/12
B. 1/2
🟢 C. 7/8
D. 5/8
🔴 RATIONALE: To add fractions, find a common denominator. 3/4 is equivalent to 6/8. 6/8 + 1/8 = 7/8.
, 7. Which process results in two genetically identical daughter cells?
🟢 A. Mitosis
B. Meiosis
C. Fertilization
D. Cytokinesis
🔴 RATIONALE: Mitosis is the process of cell division that results in two daughter cells with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
8. A nurse must maintain patient confidentiality according to which federal law?
A. OSHA
🟢 B. HIPAA
C. ADA
D. FMLA
🔴 RATIONALE: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) sets the national standard for protecting sensitive patient health
information.
9. What is the primary function of the large intestine?
A. Digestion of proteins
🟢 B. Absorption of water
C. Production of bile
D. Secretion of insulin
🔴 RATIONALE: The large intestine primarily absorbs water and electrolytes from indigestible food matter and transmits useless waste material from
the body.
10. Convert 2.5 grams to milligrams.
A. 25 mg
B. 250 mg
🟢 C. 2500 mg
D. 0.0025 mg
🔴 RATIONALE: To convert grams to milligrams, multiply by 1,000. 2.5 x 1,000 = 2,500 mg.
11. Which of the following is a physical change?
