HESI COMPASS COMPREHENSIVE EXIT EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
Safe and Effective Care Environment
Health Promotion and Maintenance
Physiological Integrity
Psychosocial Integrity
Pharmacological Therapies
Nursing Process and Clinical Decision-Making
Regulatory and Legal Compliance
Ethics and Professional Standards
This comprehensive assessment is designed to evaluate nursing students' readiness for professional practice
and licensure. The exam assesses critical knowledge and skills across eight core clinical domains, including
patient safety, health promotion, physiological and psychosocial integrity, pharmacology, and clinical decision-
making. Structured as multiple-choice and scenario-based questions, the test emphasizes real-world
application, prioritization, and evidence-based decision-making in diverse healthcare settings. Each question
includes a verified correct answer and detailed rationale to reinforce understanding and support exam
preparation.
,Section One: Questions 1–100
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a postpartum patient who experiences sudden heavy vaginal bleeding with a soft, boggy
uterus. What is the FIRST intervention the nurse should perform?
A. Administer oxytocin IV as ordered
B. Massage the uterus firmly
C. Check the patient's blood pressure
D. Insert a large-bore IV catheter
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: Uterine massage is the immediate first intervention for postpartum hemorrhage with a boggy
uterus because it stimulates uterine contraction and reduces bleeding. Medication administration, IV
placement, and blood pressure assessment are important but follow initial uterine massage.
Question 2
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate action when a nurse discovers a medication error that did not
harm the patient?
A. Document the error only in the nursing notes
B. Report the error to the supervising nurse and complete an incident report
C. Wait to see if the patient develops any symptoms
D. Inform the patient casually without documentation
,🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: All medication errors must be reported immediately to the supervising nurse and
documented with an incident report regardless of patient harm. This ensures accountability, allows for system
review, and maintains regulatory compliance.
Question 3
A patient with Type 2 diabetes has a fasting blood glucose level of 180 mg/dL. Which intervention should the
nurse prioritize?
A. Administer rapid-acting insulin immediately
B. Encourage the patient to eat a carbohydrate snack
C. Reassess the blood glucose in 4 hours without intervention
D. Review the patient's current medication regimen and dietary intake
🟢 Correct answer: D
🔴 RATIONALE: A fasting glucose of 180 mg/dL indicates hyperglycemia requiring evaluation of current
management. Reviewing medications and diet helps identify the cause before administering insulin or making
other interventions. Immediate insulin without assessment could be unsafe.
Question 4
During a code situation, the nurse notices that the defibrillator pads are placed incorrectly. What should the
nurse do FIRST?
, A. Continue the code and reposition pads after CPR
B. Immediately stop CPR and reposition the pads correctly
C. Call for a new defibrillator
D. Ask the physician to reposition the pads
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: Correct pad placement is critical for effective defibrillation. The nurse must immediately stop
CPR to reposition pads incorrectly placed pads deliver ineffective shocks and waste valuable time during
resuscitation.
Question 5
A 65-year-old patient with heart failure presents with shortness of breath, crackles in both lungs, and 3+ edema
in lower extremities. Which medication should the nurse anticipate administering FIRST?
A. Furosemide (Lasix) IV
B. Digoxin IV
C. Metoprolol oral
D. Spironolactone oral
🟢 Correct answer: A
🔴 RATIONALE: Furosemide IV is the priority for acute heart failure with pulmonary congestion and edema
because it rapidly reduces fluid overload through diuresis. Digoxin, metoprolol, and spironolactone are
important but not immediate first-line for acute decompensation.
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
Safe and Effective Care Environment
Health Promotion and Maintenance
Physiological Integrity
Psychosocial Integrity
Pharmacological Therapies
Nursing Process and Clinical Decision-Making
Regulatory and Legal Compliance
Ethics and Professional Standards
This comprehensive assessment is designed to evaluate nursing students' readiness for professional practice
and licensure. The exam assesses critical knowledge and skills across eight core clinical domains, including
patient safety, health promotion, physiological and psychosocial integrity, pharmacology, and clinical decision-
making. Structured as multiple-choice and scenario-based questions, the test emphasizes real-world
application, prioritization, and evidence-based decision-making in diverse healthcare settings. Each question
includes a verified correct answer and detailed rationale to reinforce understanding and support exam
preparation.
,Section One: Questions 1–100
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a postpartum patient who experiences sudden heavy vaginal bleeding with a soft, boggy
uterus. What is the FIRST intervention the nurse should perform?
A. Administer oxytocin IV as ordered
B. Massage the uterus firmly
C. Check the patient's blood pressure
D. Insert a large-bore IV catheter
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: Uterine massage is the immediate first intervention for postpartum hemorrhage with a boggy
uterus because it stimulates uterine contraction and reduces bleeding. Medication administration, IV
placement, and blood pressure assessment are important but follow initial uterine massage.
Question 2
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate action when a nurse discovers a medication error that did not
harm the patient?
A. Document the error only in the nursing notes
B. Report the error to the supervising nurse and complete an incident report
C. Wait to see if the patient develops any symptoms
D. Inform the patient casually without documentation
,🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: All medication errors must be reported immediately to the supervising nurse and
documented with an incident report regardless of patient harm. This ensures accountability, allows for system
review, and maintains regulatory compliance.
Question 3
A patient with Type 2 diabetes has a fasting blood glucose level of 180 mg/dL. Which intervention should the
nurse prioritize?
A. Administer rapid-acting insulin immediately
B. Encourage the patient to eat a carbohydrate snack
C. Reassess the blood glucose in 4 hours without intervention
D. Review the patient's current medication regimen and dietary intake
🟢 Correct answer: D
🔴 RATIONALE: A fasting glucose of 180 mg/dL indicates hyperglycemia requiring evaluation of current
management. Reviewing medications and diet helps identify the cause before administering insulin or making
other interventions. Immediate insulin without assessment could be unsafe.
Question 4
During a code situation, the nurse notices that the defibrillator pads are placed incorrectly. What should the
nurse do FIRST?
, A. Continue the code and reposition pads after CPR
B. Immediately stop CPR and reposition the pads correctly
C. Call for a new defibrillator
D. Ask the physician to reposition the pads
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: Correct pad placement is critical for effective defibrillation. The nurse must immediately stop
CPR to reposition pads incorrectly placed pads deliver ineffective shocks and waste valuable time during
resuscitation.
Question 5
A 65-year-old patient with heart failure presents with shortness of breath, crackles in both lungs, and 3+ edema
in lower extremities. Which medication should the nurse anticipate administering FIRST?
A. Furosemide (Lasix) IV
B. Digoxin IV
C. Metoprolol oral
D. Spironolactone oral
🟢 Correct answer: A
🔴 RATIONALE: Furosemide IV is the priority for acute heart failure with pulmonary congestion and edema
because it rapidly reduces fluid overload through diuresis. Digoxin, metoprolol, and spironolactone are
important but not immediate first-line for acute decompensation.
