2026
HESI Fundamentals 2026 Comprehensive
Practice Questions and Exam Readiness
Guide
Which assessment data would provide the most accurate determination of proper placement of a
nasogastric tube?
A) Aspirating gastric contents to assure a pH value of 4 or less
B) Hearing air pass in the stomach after injecting air into the tubing
C) Examining a chest x-ray obtained after the tubing was inserted
D) Checking the remaining length of tubing to ensure that the correct length was inserted
Rationale
A chest x-ray is the gold standard for confirming nasogastric tube placement because it visually
verifies the tube’s location (C). Aspirating gastric contents (A) and auscultation (B) are less
reliable and should not be used alone. Measuring the external length of the tube (D) does not
confirm internal placement.
When assisting an 82-year-old client to ambulate, it is important for the nurse to realize that the
center of gravity for an elderly person is the
A) Arms
B) Upper torso
C) Head
D) Feet
Rationale
In older adults, postural changes such as spinal flexion shift the center of gravity upward to the
upper torso (B). The arms (A), head (C), and feet (D) are not the primary centers of gravity
during ambulation.
Which action is most important for the nurse to implement when donning sterile gloves?
A) Maintain thumb at a ninety degree angle
B) Hold hands with fingers down while gloving
,2026
C) Keep gloved hands above the elbows
D) Put the glove on the dominant hand first
Rationale
Gloved hands must be kept above waist level to maintain sterility (C). The other options (A, B,
D) do not directly affect sterile technique.
An adult male client with a history of hypertension states he wants to stop antihypertensive
medication and use spiritual meditation instead. What should the nurse’s first response be?
A) It is important that you continue your medication while learning to meditate
B) Spiritual meditation requires 15–20 minutes daily
C) Obtain your healthcare provider’s permission before starting meditation
D) Complementary therapy and western medicine can be effective
Rationale
Antihypertensive medications should not be discontinued abruptly. The nurse should emphasize
continuing medication while monitoring the effects of meditation (A). The other responses do
not address the immediate safety concern.
The nurse plans to obtain health assessment information from a primary source. Which option is
a primary source?
A) Client
B) Healthcare provider
C) Family member
D) Previous medical records
Rationale
The client is the primary source of subjective and objective health information (A). All other
options are secondary sources.
The nurse is instructing a client with high cholesterol about diet and lifestyle modification.
Which comment indicates effective teaching?
A) Exercising twice weekly for one hour will lower cholesterol
B) I need to avoid eating proteins
C) I will limit my intake of beef to 4 ounces per week
D) My LDL level needs to increase
,2026
Rationale
Reducing saturated fat intake by limiting red meat consumption helps lower cholesterol (C).
Exercise must be more frequent than described in (A). Protein should not be eliminated (B), and
LDL levels should decrease, not increase (D).
Examination reveals multiple flat red skin lesions ranging from pinpoint to 0.5 cm. How should
the nurse document this finding?
A) Vesicular lesions surrounded by redness
B) Localized red rash comprised of flat areas, pinpoint to 0.5 cm in diameter
C) Papular lesions from pinpoint to 0.5 cm
D) Petechial areas ranging in size
Rationale
Flat, red lesions are best described objectively as macules (B). Vesicles (A), papules (C), and
petechiae (D) describe different lesion types.
A client who is 5'5" and weighs 200 lbs is scheduled for surgery tomorrow. What question is
most important during the preoperative assessment?
A) What is your daily calorie consumption?
B) What vitamin supplements do you take?
C) Do you feel overweight?
D) Will a clear liquid diet be okay after surgery?
Rationale
Assessing calorie intake helps evaluate nutritional status, which affects healing and surgical
outcomes (A). The other questions are either subjective or less immediately relevant.
During nasotracheal suctioning, thick yellow secretions are obtained after 15 seconds. What
should the nurse do next?
A) Encourage coughing
B) Increase oral fluids
C) Rotate the catheter
D) Re-oxygenate the client before suctioning again
Rationale
Suctioning compromises oxygenation and should not exceed 10–15 seconds. Re-oxygenation is
essential before continuing (D).
, 2026
A hospitalized client receiving continuous NG tube feeding reports severe coughing. What is the
nurse’s best action?
A) Document and take no action
B) Stop feeding and notify the provider
C) Clear the tube with air and check gastric pH
D) Auscultate while injecting air
Rationale
Coughing may indicate tube displacement. Checking pH after clearing the tube is the safest
initial action (C). Auscultation is unreliable (D).
A client with an NG tube on low suction reports nausea, and no drainage has occurred for two
hours. What should the nurse do first?
A) Irrigate the tube
B) Reposition the client on her side
C) Advance the tube
D) Administer an antiemetic
Rationale
Repositioning is the least invasive method to restore tube function and relieve nausea (B).
UAPs ask how to safely transfer an elderly client with left-sided weakness. What is the correct
method?
A) Place chair on the left side
B) Stand client and use left arm
C) Pivot to the left
D) Place chair on the right side and pivot using the right leg
Rationale
Transfers should utilize the client’s stronger side to maintain balance and safety (D).
When asking about complementary healing practices, which statement is accurate?
A) They interfere with medical treatment
B) They often cause adverse interactions
HESI Fundamentals 2026 Comprehensive
Practice Questions and Exam Readiness
Guide
Which assessment data would provide the most accurate determination of proper placement of a
nasogastric tube?
A) Aspirating gastric contents to assure a pH value of 4 or less
B) Hearing air pass in the stomach after injecting air into the tubing
C) Examining a chest x-ray obtained after the tubing was inserted
D) Checking the remaining length of tubing to ensure that the correct length was inserted
Rationale
A chest x-ray is the gold standard for confirming nasogastric tube placement because it visually
verifies the tube’s location (C). Aspirating gastric contents (A) and auscultation (B) are less
reliable and should not be used alone. Measuring the external length of the tube (D) does not
confirm internal placement.
When assisting an 82-year-old client to ambulate, it is important for the nurse to realize that the
center of gravity for an elderly person is the
A) Arms
B) Upper torso
C) Head
D) Feet
Rationale
In older adults, postural changes such as spinal flexion shift the center of gravity upward to the
upper torso (B). The arms (A), head (C), and feet (D) are not the primary centers of gravity
during ambulation.
Which action is most important for the nurse to implement when donning sterile gloves?
A) Maintain thumb at a ninety degree angle
B) Hold hands with fingers down while gloving
,2026
C) Keep gloved hands above the elbows
D) Put the glove on the dominant hand first
Rationale
Gloved hands must be kept above waist level to maintain sterility (C). The other options (A, B,
D) do not directly affect sterile technique.
An adult male client with a history of hypertension states he wants to stop antihypertensive
medication and use spiritual meditation instead. What should the nurse’s first response be?
A) It is important that you continue your medication while learning to meditate
B) Spiritual meditation requires 15–20 minutes daily
C) Obtain your healthcare provider’s permission before starting meditation
D) Complementary therapy and western medicine can be effective
Rationale
Antihypertensive medications should not be discontinued abruptly. The nurse should emphasize
continuing medication while monitoring the effects of meditation (A). The other responses do
not address the immediate safety concern.
The nurse plans to obtain health assessment information from a primary source. Which option is
a primary source?
A) Client
B) Healthcare provider
C) Family member
D) Previous medical records
Rationale
The client is the primary source of subjective and objective health information (A). All other
options are secondary sources.
The nurse is instructing a client with high cholesterol about diet and lifestyle modification.
Which comment indicates effective teaching?
A) Exercising twice weekly for one hour will lower cholesterol
B) I need to avoid eating proteins
C) I will limit my intake of beef to 4 ounces per week
D) My LDL level needs to increase
,2026
Rationale
Reducing saturated fat intake by limiting red meat consumption helps lower cholesterol (C).
Exercise must be more frequent than described in (A). Protein should not be eliminated (B), and
LDL levels should decrease, not increase (D).
Examination reveals multiple flat red skin lesions ranging from pinpoint to 0.5 cm. How should
the nurse document this finding?
A) Vesicular lesions surrounded by redness
B) Localized red rash comprised of flat areas, pinpoint to 0.5 cm in diameter
C) Papular lesions from pinpoint to 0.5 cm
D) Petechial areas ranging in size
Rationale
Flat, red lesions are best described objectively as macules (B). Vesicles (A), papules (C), and
petechiae (D) describe different lesion types.
A client who is 5'5" and weighs 200 lbs is scheduled for surgery tomorrow. What question is
most important during the preoperative assessment?
A) What is your daily calorie consumption?
B) What vitamin supplements do you take?
C) Do you feel overweight?
D) Will a clear liquid diet be okay after surgery?
Rationale
Assessing calorie intake helps evaluate nutritional status, which affects healing and surgical
outcomes (A). The other questions are either subjective or less immediately relevant.
During nasotracheal suctioning, thick yellow secretions are obtained after 15 seconds. What
should the nurse do next?
A) Encourage coughing
B) Increase oral fluids
C) Rotate the catheter
D) Re-oxygenate the client before suctioning again
Rationale
Suctioning compromises oxygenation and should not exceed 10–15 seconds. Re-oxygenation is
essential before continuing (D).
, 2026
A hospitalized client receiving continuous NG tube feeding reports severe coughing. What is the
nurse’s best action?
A) Document and take no action
B) Stop feeding and notify the provider
C) Clear the tube with air and check gastric pH
D) Auscultate while injecting air
Rationale
Coughing may indicate tube displacement. Checking pH after clearing the tube is the safest
initial action (C). Auscultation is unreliable (D).
A client with an NG tube on low suction reports nausea, and no drainage has occurred for two
hours. What should the nurse do first?
A) Irrigate the tube
B) Reposition the client on her side
C) Advance the tube
D) Administer an antiemetic
Rationale
Repositioning is the least invasive method to restore tube function and relieve nausea (B).
UAPs ask how to safely transfer an elderly client with left-sided weakness. What is the correct
method?
A) Place chair on the left side
B) Stand client and use left arm
C) Pivot to the left
D) Place chair on the right side and pivot using the right leg
Rationale
Transfers should utilize the client’s stronger side to maintain balance and safety (D).
When asking about complementary healing practices, which statement is accurate?
A) They interfere with medical treatment
B) They often cause adverse interactions
