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HESI Comprehensive Exit Exam Study Guide 2026 – Complete Nursing
Review Notes, Practice Questions & NCLEX Prep
Enalapril maleate is prescribed for a hospitalized client. Which assessment does the nurse perform as a
priority before administering the medi- cation?
Checking the client's blood pressure
A client is scheduled to undergo an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series, and the nurse provides
instructions to the client about the test. Which statement by the client indicates a need for further
instruction?
"I need to drink citrate of magnesia the night before the test and give myself a Fleet enema
on the morning of the test."
A nurse on the evening shift checks a health care provider's prescriptions and notes that the dose of a
prescribed medication is higher than the normal dose. The nurse calls the health care provider's
answering service and is told that the health care provider is off for the night and will be available in the
morning. The nurse should: Ask the answering service to contact the on-call health care provider
An emergency department (ED) nurse is monitoring a client with suspected acute myocardial
infarction (MI) who is awaiting transfer to the coronary intensive care unit. The nurse notes the
sudden onset of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) on the monitor, checks the client's carotid
pulse, and determines that the PVCs are not resulting in perfusion. The appropriate action by the nurse
is: Asking the ED
health care provider to check the client
NPO status is imposed 8 hours before the procedure on a client scheduled to undergo
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) at 1 p.m. On the morn- ing of the procedure, the nurse checks the
client's record and notes that the client routinely takes an oral antihypertensive medication each
morning. The nurse should: Administer the antihypertensive with a small sip of water
, 2
A client who recently underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery comes to the health care
provider's office for a follow-up visit. On assess- ment, the client tells the nurse that he is feeling
depressed. Which response by the nurse is therapeutic? "Tell me more about
what you're feeling."
A client in labor experiences spontaneous rupture of the membranes. The nurse immediately counts
the fetal heart rate (FHR) for 1 full minute and then checks the amniotic fluid. The nurse notes that the
fluid is yellow and has a strong odor. Which action should be the nurse's priority?
Contacting the health care provider
A nurse has assisted a health care provider in inserting a central venous access device into a client
with a diagnosis of severe malnutrition who will be receiving parenteral nutrition (PN). After insertion
of the catheter, the nurse immediately plans to: Call the radiography
department to obtain a chest x-ray
A rape victim being treated in the emergency department says to the nurse, "I'm really worried that
I've got HIV now." What is the appropriate response by the nurse? "Let's talk about the
information that you need to determine your risk of contracting HIV.”
A client is taking prescribed ibuprofen, 300 mg orally four times daily, to relieve joint pain resulting
from rheumatoid arthritis. The client tells the nurse that the medication is causing nausea and
indigestion. The nurse should tell the client to: Take the medication with food
Lorazepam 1 mg by way of intravenous (IV) injection (IV push) is prescribed for a client for the
management of anxiety. The nurse prepares the medication as prescribed and administers the
medication over a period of: 3 minutes
, 3
A nurse, conducting an assessment of a client being seen in the clinic for symptoms of a sinus
infection, asks the client about medications that he is taking. The client tells the nurse that he is
taking nefazodone hydrochloride . On the basis of this information, the nurse determines that the
client most likely has a history of: Depression
Phenelzine sulfate is prescribed for a client with depression. The nurse provides information to the
client about the adverse effects of the medi- cation and tells the client to contact the health care
provider immediately if she experiences: Neck stiffness or soreness
Risperidone is prescribed for a client hospitalized in the mental health unit for the treatment of a
psychotic disorder. Which finding in the client's medical record would prompt the nurse to contact
the prescribing health care provider before administering the medication?
Th
e client takes a prescribed antihypertensive.
A client who has been undergoing long-term therapy with an antipsychotic medication is admitted to
the inpatient mental health unit. Which finding does the nurse, knowing that long-term use of an
antipsychotic medication can cause tardive dyskinesia, monitor in the client? Tongue protrusion
A nurse is reviewing the record of a client scheduled for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Which
diagnosis, if noted on the client's record, would indicate a need to contact the health care provider
who is scheduled to perform the ECT? Recent stroke
A client scheduled for suprapubic prostatectomy has listened to the surgeon's explanation of the
surgery. The client later asks the nurse to ex- plain again how the prostate is going to be removed.
The nurse tells the client that the prostate will be removed through: A lower
abdomi- nal incision
, 4
A nurse reviewing the medical record of a client with a diagnosis of infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the
breast notes documentation of the pres- ence of peau d'orange skin. On the basis of this notation, which
finding would the nurse expect to note on assessment of the client's breast?
(Anatomy with the appearance and dimpled texture of an orange peel.)
The mother of an adolescent diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus tells the nurse that her child is a
member of the school soccer team and ex- presses concern about her child's participation in sports.
The nurse, after providing information to the mother about diet, exercise, insulin, and blood glucose
control, tells the mother: That the child should eat a carbohydrate snack about a half-hour
before each soccer game
A client diagnosed with chronic kidney disease who requires dialysis three times a week for the rest
of his life says to the nurse, "Why should I even bother to watch what I eat and drink? It doesn't really
matter what I do if I'm never going to get better!" On the basis of the client's state- ment, the nurse
determines that the client is experiencing which problem?Powerlessness
A nurse is providing morning care to a client in end-stage kidney disease. The client is reluctant to
talk and shows little interest in participating in hygiene care. Which statement by the nurse would be
therapeutic? "What are your feelings right now?"
Empyema develops in a client with an infected pleural effusion, and the nurse prepares the client for
thoracentesis. What characteristics of the fluid removed during thoracentesis should the nurse,
assisting the health care provider with the procedure, expect to note? Thick and
opaque
An emergency department nurse is told that a client with carbon monoxide poisoning resulting from
a suicide attempt is being brought to the hospital by emergency medical services. Which
intervention will the nurse carry out as a priority upon arrival of the client? Administering 100%
oxygen
HESI Comprehensive Exit Exam Study Guide 2026 – Complete Nursing
Review Notes, Practice Questions & NCLEX Prep
Enalapril maleate is prescribed for a hospitalized client. Which assessment does the nurse perform as a
priority before administering the medi- cation?
Checking the client's blood pressure
A client is scheduled to undergo an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series, and the nurse provides
instructions to the client about the test. Which statement by the client indicates a need for further
instruction?
"I need to drink citrate of magnesia the night before the test and give myself a Fleet enema
on the morning of the test."
A nurse on the evening shift checks a health care provider's prescriptions and notes that the dose of a
prescribed medication is higher than the normal dose. The nurse calls the health care provider's
answering service and is told that the health care provider is off for the night and will be available in the
morning. The nurse should: Ask the answering service to contact the on-call health care provider
An emergency department (ED) nurse is monitoring a client with suspected acute myocardial
infarction (MI) who is awaiting transfer to the coronary intensive care unit. The nurse notes the
sudden onset of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) on the monitor, checks the client's carotid
pulse, and determines that the PVCs are not resulting in perfusion. The appropriate action by the nurse
is: Asking the ED
health care provider to check the client
NPO status is imposed 8 hours before the procedure on a client scheduled to undergo
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) at 1 p.m. On the morn- ing of the procedure, the nurse checks the
client's record and notes that the client routinely takes an oral antihypertensive medication each
morning. The nurse should: Administer the antihypertensive with a small sip of water
, 2
A client who recently underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery comes to the health care
provider's office for a follow-up visit. On assess- ment, the client tells the nurse that he is feeling
depressed. Which response by the nurse is therapeutic? "Tell me more about
what you're feeling."
A client in labor experiences spontaneous rupture of the membranes. The nurse immediately counts
the fetal heart rate (FHR) for 1 full minute and then checks the amniotic fluid. The nurse notes that the
fluid is yellow and has a strong odor. Which action should be the nurse's priority?
Contacting the health care provider
A nurse has assisted a health care provider in inserting a central venous access device into a client
with a diagnosis of severe malnutrition who will be receiving parenteral nutrition (PN). After insertion
of the catheter, the nurse immediately plans to: Call the radiography
department to obtain a chest x-ray
A rape victim being treated in the emergency department says to the nurse, "I'm really worried that
I've got HIV now." What is the appropriate response by the nurse? "Let's talk about the
information that you need to determine your risk of contracting HIV.”
A client is taking prescribed ibuprofen, 300 mg orally four times daily, to relieve joint pain resulting
from rheumatoid arthritis. The client tells the nurse that the medication is causing nausea and
indigestion. The nurse should tell the client to: Take the medication with food
Lorazepam 1 mg by way of intravenous (IV) injection (IV push) is prescribed for a client for the
management of anxiety. The nurse prepares the medication as prescribed and administers the
medication over a period of: 3 minutes
, 3
A nurse, conducting an assessment of a client being seen in the clinic for symptoms of a sinus
infection, asks the client about medications that he is taking. The client tells the nurse that he is
taking nefazodone hydrochloride . On the basis of this information, the nurse determines that the
client most likely has a history of: Depression
Phenelzine sulfate is prescribed for a client with depression. The nurse provides information to the
client about the adverse effects of the medi- cation and tells the client to contact the health care
provider immediately if she experiences: Neck stiffness or soreness
Risperidone is prescribed for a client hospitalized in the mental health unit for the treatment of a
psychotic disorder. Which finding in the client's medical record would prompt the nurse to contact
the prescribing health care provider before administering the medication?
Th
e client takes a prescribed antihypertensive.
A client who has been undergoing long-term therapy with an antipsychotic medication is admitted to
the inpatient mental health unit. Which finding does the nurse, knowing that long-term use of an
antipsychotic medication can cause tardive dyskinesia, monitor in the client? Tongue protrusion
A nurse is reviewing the record of a client scheduled for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Which
diagnosis, if noted on the client's record, would indicate a need to contact the health care provider
who is scheduled to perform the ECT? Recent stroke
A client scheduled for suprapubic prostatectomy has listened to the surgeon's explanation of the
surgery. The client later asks the nurse to ex- plain again how the prostate is going to be removed.
The nurse tells the client that the prostate will be removed through: A lower
abdomi- nal incision
, 4
A nurse reviewing the medical record of a client with a diagnosis of infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the
breast notes documentation of the pres- ence of peau d'orange skin. On the basis of this notation, which
finding would the nurse expect to note on assessment of the client's breast?
(Anatomy with the appearance and dimpled texture of an orange peel.)
The mother of an adolescent diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus tells the nurse that her child is a
member of the school soccer team and ex- presses concern about her child's participation in sports.
The nurse, after providing information to the mother about diet, exercise, insulin, and blood glucose
control, tells the mother: That the child should eat a carbohydrate snack about a half-hour
before each soccer game
A client diagnosed with chronic kidney disease who requires dialysis three times a week for the rest
of his life says to the nurse, "Why should I even bother to watch what I eat and drink? It doesn't really
matter what I do if I'm never going to get better!" On the basis of the client's state- ment, the nurse
determines that the client is experiencing which problem?Powerlessness
A nurse is providing morning care to a client in end-stage kidney disease. The client is reluctant to
talk and shows little interest in participating in hygiene care. Which statement by the nurse would be
therapeutic? "What are your feelings right now?"
Empyema develops in a client with an infected pleural effusion, and the nurse prepares the client for
thoracentesis. What characteristics of the fluid removed during thoracentesis should the nurse,
assisting the health care provider with the procedure, expect to note? Thick and
opaque
An emergency department nurse is told that a client with carbon monoxide poisoning resulting from
a suicide attempt is being brought to the hospital by emergency medical services. Which
intervention will the nurse carry out as a priority upon arrival of the client? Administering 100%
oxygen
