NURS 317 HESI FUNDAMENTALS QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A |LATEST EXAM UPDATE 2026/2027
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1-100
1. A client is prescribed 500 mg of an antibiotic orally. The medication is available in a liquid suspension of
250 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
A. 5 mL
B. 10 mL
C. 15 mL
D. 20 mL
🟢 B. 10 mL
🔴 RATIONALE: The correct answer is 10 mL. Using the formula (Desired/Dose on Hand) x Quantity = (500 mg /
250 mg) x 5 mL = 2 x 5 mL = 10 mL. This is a basic dosage calculation.
2. A nurse is providing teaching to a client with a new diagnosis of hypertension. Which statement by the
client indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "I will need to take this medication for the rest of my life."
B. "I should avoid adding salt to my food at the table."
C. "I can stop taking my medication when my blood pressure is normal."
D. "I should monitor my blood pressure at home."
🟢 C. "I can stop taking my medication when my blood pressure is normal."
🔴 RATIONALE: Hypertension is a chronic condition that requires lifelong management. Stopping medication
,when blood pressure is normal can lead to rebound hypertension and dangerous complications. The other
statements reflect accurate understanding.
3. A nurse is assessing an older adult client for signs of dehydration. Which finding is the most reliable
indicator?
A. Dry skin
B. Thirst
C. Orthostatic hypotension
D. Poor skin turgor over the sternum
🟢 D. Poor skin turgor over the sternum
🔴 RATIONALE: In older adults, skin turgor over the sternum is a more reliable indicator of dehydration than
skin turgor on the hands or arms due to age-related loss of skin elasticity. Orthostatic hypotension can be a
sign, but is less specific.
4. Which of the following is an appropriate nursing intervention for a client with a nasogastric (NG) tube
connected to continuous suction?
A. Irrigate the tube with 50 mL of sterile water every hour.
B. Position the client on the right side to facilitate drainage.
C. Assess the client's bowel sounds every 4 hours.
D. Clamp the tube for 30 minutes before administering oral medications.
🟢 C. Assess the client's bowel sounds every 4 hours.
🔴 RATIONALE: Assessing bowel sounds is a standard nursing intervention for clients with NG tubes to monitor
for the return of peristalsis, which can indicate readiness for tube removal. Irrigation orders are specific and not
hourly, positioning is usually semi-Fowler's, and oral medications are not given with a tube to suction.
5. A client with a terminal illness tells the nurse, "I'm ready to go. I've made my peace with God." The nurse
recognizes this statement as being consistent with which stage of grief, according to Kübler-Ross?
,A. Denial
B. Anger
C. Bargaining
D. Acceptance
🟢 D. Acceptance
🔴 RATIONALE: The client's statement reflects a sense of peace and readiness, which is characteristic of the
acceptance stage of grief. This stage is about coming to terms with mortality.
6. A nurse is preparing to administer a subcutaneous injection of heparin. Which site is most appropriate?
A. Ventrogluteal
B. Deltoid
C. Abdomen
D. Vastus lateralis
🟢 C. Abdomen
🔴 RATIONALE: The abdomen is the preferred site for subcutaneous heparin injections because it has a large
area of subcutaneous fat, which promotes consistent absorption and reduces the risk of hematoma formation.
The ventrogluteal and vastus lateralis are intramuscular sites.
7. A nurse is caring for a postoperative client who is at risk for developing a deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Which intervention is most important for the nurse to implement?
A. Elevate the client's legs on pillows.
B. Apply sequential compression devices (SCDs).
C. Encourage the client to perform range-of-motion exercises.
D. Massage the client's calves.
🟢 B. Apply sequential compression devices (SCDs).
🔴 RATIONALE: SCDs are a mechanical prophylaxis method that promotes venous return and prevents stasis, a
, key factor in DVT formation. Massage is contraindicated as it could dislodge a clot, and while elevation and
ROM exercises are helpful, SCDs are the most important prophylactic measure.
8. A client is receiving a blood transfusion. Fifteen minutes after the transfusion begins, the client reports
itching and develops hives. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Slow the transfusion rate.
B. Administer diphenhydramine as prescribed.
C. Stop the transfusion immediately.
D. Assess the client's vital signs.
🟢 C. Stop the transfusion immediately.
🔴 RATIONALE: The client is showing signs of a transfusion reaction (urticaria). The first priority is to stop the
transfusion to prevent further reaction. After stopping the transfusion, the nurse should maintain IV access with
normal saline, notify the provider, and then administer medications and monitor vital signs.
9. A nurse is assessing a client's pain. Which statement by the client is most consistent with neuropathic
pain?
A. "It feels like a dull ache in my lower back."
B. "It's a sharp, stabbing pain that radiates down my leg."
C. "I feel a burning sensation in my feet."
D. "My head is throbbing."
🟢 C. "I feel a burning sensation in my feet."
🔴 RATIONALE: Neuropathic pain is caused by damage to the nervous system and is often described with terms
like burning, tingling, or shooting. This is a classic descriptor for conditions like diabetic neuropathy. The other
descriptions are more characteristic of nociceptive or visceral pain.
10. Which ethical principle is primarily being exercised when a nurse ensures a client understands the risks
and benefits of a procedure before signing a consent form?
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A |LATEST EXAM UPDATE 2026/2027
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1-100
1. A client is prescribed 500 mg of an antibiotic orally. The medication is available in a liquid suspension of
250 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
A. 5 mL
B. 10 mL
C. 15 mL
D. 20 mL
🟢 B. 10 mL
🔴 RATIONALE: The correct answer is 10 mL. Using the formula (Desired/Dose on Hand) x Quantity = (500 mg /
250 mg) x 5 mL = 2 x 5 mL = 10 mL. This is a basic dosage calculation.
2. A nurse is providing teaching to a client with a new diagnosis of hypertension. Which statement by the
client indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "I will need to take this medication for the rest of my life."
B. "I should avoid adding salt to my food at the table."
C. "I can stop taking my medication when my blood pressure is normal."
D. "I should monitor my blood pressure at home."
🟢 C. "I can stop taking my medication when my blood pressure is normal."
🔴 RATIONALE: Hypertension is a chronic condition that requires lifelong management. Stopping medication
,when blood pressure is normal can lead to rebound hypertension and dangerous complications. The other
statements reflect accurate understanding.
3. A nurse is assessing an older adult client for signs of dehydration. Which finding is the most reliable
indicator?
A. Dry skin
B. Thirst
C. Orthostatic hypotension
D. Poor skin turgor over the sternum
🟢 D. Poor skin turgor over the sternum
🔴 RATIONALE: In older adults, skin turgor over the sternum is a more reliable indicator of dehydration than
skin turgor on the hands or arms due to age-related loss of skin elasticity. Orthostatic hypotension can be a
sign, but is less specific.
4. Which of the following is an appropriate nursing intervention for a client with a nasogastric (NG) tube
connected to continuous suction?
A. Irrigate the tube with 50 mL of sterile water every hour.
B. Position the client on the right side to facilitate drainage.
C. Assess the client's bowel sounds every 4 hours.
D. Clamp the tube for 30 minutes before administering oral medications.
🟢 C. Assess the client's bowel sounds every 4 hours.
🔴 RATIONALE: Assessing bowel sounds is a standard nursing intervention for clients with NG tubes to monitor
for the return of peristalsis, which can indicate readiness for tube removal. Irrigation orders are specific and not
hourly, positioning is usually semi-Fowler's, and oral medications are not given with a tube to suction.
5. A client with a terminal illness tells the nurse, "I'm ready to go. I've made my peace with God." The nurse
recognizes this statement as being consistent with which stage of grief, according to Kübler-Ross?
,A. Denial
B. Anger
C. Bargaining
D. Acceptance
🟢 D. Acceptance
🔴 RATIONALE: The client's statement reflects a sense of peace and readiness, which is characteristic of the
acceptance stage of grief. This stage is about coming to terms with mortality.
6. A nurse is preparing to administer a subcutaneous injection of heparin. Which site is most appropriate?
A. Ventrogluteal
B. Deltoid
C. Abdomen
D. Vastus lateralis
🟢 C. Abdomen
🔴 RATIONALE: The abdomen is the preferred site for subcutaneous heparin injections because it has a large
area of subcutaneous fat, which promotes consistent absorption and reduces the risk of hematoma formation.
The ventrogluteal and vastus lateralis are intramuscular sites.
7. A nurse is caring for a postoperative client who is at risk for developing a deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Which intervention is most important for the nurse to implement?
A. Elevate the client's legs on pillows.
B. Apply sequential compression devices (SCDs).
C. Encourage the client to perform range-of-motion exercises.
D. Massage the client's calves.
🟢 B. Apply sequential compression devices (SCDs).
🔴 RATIONALE: SCDs are a mechanical prophylaxis method that promotes venous return and prevents stasis, a
, key factor in DVT formation. Massage is contraindicated as it could dislodge a clot, and while elevation and
ROM exercises are helpful, SCDs are the most important prophylactic measure.
8. A client is receiving a blood transfusion. Fifteen minutes after the transfusion begins, the client reports
itching and develops hives. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Slow the transfusion rate.
B. Administer diphenhydramine as prescribed.
C. Stop the transfusion immediately.
D. Assess the client's vital signs.
🟢 C. Stop the transfusion immediately.
🔴 RATIONALE: The client is showing signs of a transfusion reaction (urticaria). The first priority is to stop the
transfusion to prevent further reaction. After stopping the transfusion, the nurse should maintain IV access with
normal saline, notify the provider, and then administer medications and monitor vital signs.
9. A nurse is assessing a client's pain. Which statement by the client is most consistent with neuropathic
pain?
A. "It feels like a dull ache in my lower back."
B. "It's a sharp, stabbing pain that radiates down my leg."
C. "I feel a burning sensation in my feet."
D. "My head is throbbing."
🟢 C. "I feel a burning sensation in my feet."
🔴 RATIONALE: Neuropathic pain is caused by damage to the nervous system and is often described with terms
like burning, tingling, or shooting. This is a classic descriptor for conditions like diabetic neuropathy. The other
descriptions are more characteristic of nociceptive or visceral pain.
10. Which ethical principle is primarily being exercised when a nurse ensures a client understands the risks
and benefits of a procedure before signing a consent form?
