PN Hesi Exam Updated Questions with Answers
1) Which medication prescription should the nurse question?
A.Antianginal with a therapeutic effect of vasodilation
B.Anticholinergic with a side effect of pupillary dilation
C.Antihistamine with a side effect of sedation
D.Corticosteroid with a side effect of hyperglycemia
Correct Answer:B Anticholinergic with a side effect of pupillary dilation closure
glaucoma.
2) A 58-year-old client who has no health problems asks the nurse about
receiving the pneumococcal vaccine (Pneumovax). Which statement given by the
nurse would offer the client accurate information about this vaccine?
A. The vaccine is given annually before the flu season to those older than 50 years.
B. The immunization is administered once to older adults or those at risk for illness.
C. The vaccine is for all ages and is given primarily to those persons traveling
overseas to areas of infection.
D. The vaccine will prevent the occurrence of pneumococcal pneumonia for up to 5
years.
Correct Answer: B The immunization is administered once to older adults or those
at risk for illness.
3) A client is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of severe acute
diverticulitis. Which nursing intervention has the highest priority?
A. Place the client on NPO status.
B. Assess the client's temperature.
C. Obtain a stool specimen.
D.Administer IV fluids.
Correct Answer: A.Place the client on NPO status.
4) The nurse includes frequent oral care in the plan of care for a client
scheduled for an esophagogastrostomy for esophageal cancer. This
intervention is included in the client's plan of care to address which nursing
diagnosis?
,A.Fluid volume deficit
B.Self-care deficit
C.Risk for infection
D.Impaired nutrition
Correct Answer: C.Risk for infection
5) A family member was taught to suction a client's tracheostomy prior to the
client's discharge from the hospital. Which observation by the nurse indicates
that the family member is capable of correctly performing the suctioning
technique?
A. Turns on the continuous wall suction to −190 mm Hg
B. Inserts the catheter until resistance or coughing occurs
C.Withdraws the catheter while maintaining suctioning
D.Reclears the tracheostomy after suctioning the mouth
Correct Answer: B.Inserts the catheter until resistance or coughing occurs
6) A client diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) 2 years ago is
regularly treated at a community hemodialysis facility. Before his scheduled
dialysis treatment, which electrolyte imbalance should the nurse anticipate?
A.Hypophosphatemia
B.Hypocalcemia
C.Hyponatremia
D.Hypokalemia
Correct Answer: B Hypocalcemia
7) As an adolescent is receiving care, he's inadvertently injured with a warm
compress. The nurse completes an incident report based on the knowledge that
identification of which of the following is a goal of the report?
1. To reprimand the involved staff members for their actions
2. To identify the learning needs of staff to prevent incident recurrences
3. To reprimand the nurse-manager responsible for the unit
4. To hold people accountable for their actions
Correct Answer: 2
, 8) As a client progresses through pregnancy, she develops constipation. What
is the primary cause of this problem during pregnancy?
1. Decreased appetite
2. Inadequate fluid intake
3. Prolonged gastric emptying
4. Reduced intestinal motility
Correct Answer: 4 Reduced intestinal motility
9) An adolescent with type 1 diabetes mellitus is experiencing a growth
spurt. Which treatment approach would be most effective for this client?
1. Administering insulin once per day
2. Administering multiple doses of insulin
3. Limiting dietary fat intake
4. Substituting an oral anti diabetic agent for insulin
Correct Answer: 2. Administering multiple doses of insulin
10) A client is admitted to the health care facility with bowel obstruction
secondary to colon cancer. The nurse obtains a health history, measures vital
signs, and auscultates for bowel sounds. Which step of the nursing process is
the nurse performing?
1. Planning
2. Data collection
3. Evaluation
4. Implementation
Correct Answer: 2. Data collection
11) The physician prescribes meperidine (Demerol), 1.1 mg/kg I.M., for a 16-
month-old child who has just had abdominal surgery. When administering this
drug, the nurse should use a needle of which size?
1. 18G
2. 20G
3. 23G
, 4. 27G
Correct Answer: 3 23G
12) Which finding in a neonate suggests hypothermia?
1. Bradycardia
2. Hyperglycemia
3. Metabolic alkalosis
4. Shivering
Correct Answer: 1 Bradycardia
13) Initial client assessment information includes blood pressure 160/110 mm
Hg, pulse 88 beats/minute, respiratory rate 22 breaths/minute, and reflexes
+3/+4 with 2 beat clonus. Urine specimen reveals +3 protein, negative sugar and
ketones. Based on these findings, the nurse would expect the client to have
which complaints?
1. Headache, blurred vision, and facial and extremity swelling
2. Abdominal pain, urinary frequency, and pedal edema
3. Diaphoresis, nystagmus, and dizziness
4. Lethargy, chest pain, and shortness of breath
Correct Answer: 1. Headache, blurred vision, and facial and extremity swelling
14) The nurse is assessing a male client with acute pancreatitis. Which finding
requires the MOST immediate intervention by the nurse?
A. The client's amylase level is three times higher than the normal level.
B. While the nurse is taking the client's blood pressure, he has a carpal spasm.
C. On a 1 to 10 scale, the client tells the nurse that his epigastric pain is at 7.
D. The client states that he will continue to drink alcohol after going home.
Correct Answer: B While the nurse is taking the client's blood pressure, he has a carpal
spasm.
15) During assessment of a client in the intensive care unit, the nurse notes
that the client's ARE CLEAR UPON AUSCULTATION, but jugular vein
distention and muffled heart sounds are present. Which intervention should the
nurse implement?
1) Which medication prescription should the nurse question?
A.Antianginal with a therapeutic effect of vasodilation
B.Anticholinergic with a side effect of pupillary dilation
C.Antihistamine with a side effect of sedation
D.Corticosteroid with a side effect of hyperglycemia
Correct Answer:B Anticholinergic with a side effect of pupillary dilation closure
glaucoma.
2) A 58-year-old client who has no health problems asks the nurse about
receiving the pneumococcal vaccine (Pneumovax). Which statement given by the
nurse would offer the client accurate information about this vaccine?
A. The vaccine is given annually before the flu season to those older than 50 years.
B. The immunization is administered once to older adults or those at risk for illness.
C. The vaccine is for all ages and is given primarily to those persons traveling
overseas to areas of infection.
D. The vaccine will prevent the occurrence of pneumococcal pneumonia for up to 5
years.
Correct Answer: B The immunization is administered once to older adults or those
at risk for illness.
3) A client is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of severe acute
diverticulitis. Which nursing intervention has the highest priority?
A. Place the client on NPO status.
B. Assess the client's temperature.
C. Obtain a stool specimen.
D.Administer IV fluids.
Correct Answer: A.Place the client on NPO status.
4) The nurse includes frequent oral care in the plan of care for a client
scheduled for an esophagogastrostomy for esophageal cancer. This
intervention is included in the client's plan of care to address which nursing
diagnosis?
,A.Fluid volume deficit
B.Self-care deficit
C.Risk for infection
D.Impaired nutrition
Correct Answer: C.Risk for infection
5) A family member was taught to suction a client's tracheostomy prior to the
client's discharge from the hospital. Which observation by the nurse indicates
that the family member is capable of correctly performing the suctioning
technique?
A. Turns on the continuous wall suction to −190 mm Hg
B. Inserts the catheter until resistance or coughing occurs
C.Withdraws the catheter while maintaining suctioning
D.Reclears the tracheostomy after suctioning the mouth
Correct Answer: B.Inserts the catheter until resistance or coughing occurs
6) A client diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) 2 years ago is
regularly treated at a community hemodialysis facility. Before his scheduled
dialysis treatment, which electrolyte imbalance should the nurse anticipate?
A.Hypophosphatemia
B.Hypocalcemia
C.Hyponatremia
D.Hypokalemia
Correct Answer: B Hypocalcemia
7) As an adolescent is receiving care, he's inadvertently injured with a warm
compress. The nurse completes an incident report based on the knowledge that
identification of which of the following is a goal of the report?
1. To reprimand the involved staff members for their actions
2. To identify the learning needs of staff to prevent incident recurrences
3. To reprimand the nurse-manager responsible for the unit
4. To hold people accountable for their actions
Correct Answer: 2
, 8) As a client progresses through pregnancy, she develops constipation. What
is the primary cause of this problem during pregnancy?
1. Decreased appetite
2. Inadequate fluid intake
3. Prolonged gastric emptying
4. Reduced intestinal motility
Correct Answer: 4 Reduced intestinal motility
9) An adolescent with type 1 diabetes mellitus is experiencing a growth
spurt. Which treatment approach would be most effective for this client?
1. Administering insulin once per day
2. Administering multiple doses of insulin
3. Limiting dietary fat intake
4. Substituting an oral anti diabetic agent for insulin
Correct Answer: 2. Administering multiple doses of insulin
10) A client is admitted to the health care facility with bowel obstruction
secondary to colon cancer. The nurse obtains a health history, measures vital
signs, and auscultates for bowel sounds. Which step of the nursing process is
the nurse performing?
1. Planning
2. Data collection
3. Evaluation
4. Implementation
Correct Answer: 2. Data collection
11) The physician prescribes meperidine (Demerol), 1.1 mg/kg I.M., for a 16-
month-old child who has just had abdominal surgery. When administering this
drug, the nurse should use a needle of which size?
1. 18G
2. 20G
3. 23G
, 4. 27G
Correct Answer: 3 23G
12) Which finding in a neonate suggests hypothermia?
1. Bradycardia
2. Hyperglycemia
3. Metabolic alkalosis
4. Shivering
Correct Answer: 1 Bradycardia
13) Initial client assessment information includes blood pressure 160/110 mm
Hg, pulse 88 beats/minute, respiratory rate 22 breaths/minute, and reflexes
+3/+4 with 2 beat clonus. Urine specimen reveals +3 protein, negative sugar and
ketones. Based on these findings, the nurse would expect the client to have
which complaints?
1. Headache, blurred vision, and facial and extremity swelling
2. Abdominal pain, urinary frequency, and pedal edema
3. Diaphoresis, nystagmus, and dizziness
4. Lethargy, chest pain, and shortness of breath
Correct Answer: 1. Headache, blurred vision, and facial and extremity swelling
14) The nurse is assessing a male client with acute pancreatitis. Which finding
requires the MOST immediate intervention by the nurse?
A. The client's amylase level is three times higher than the normal level.
B. While the nurse is taking the client's blood pressure, he has a carpal spasm.
C. On a 1 to 10 scale, the client tells the nurse that his epigastric pain is at 7.
D. The client states that he will continue to drink alcohol after going home.
Correct Answer: B While the nurse is taking the client's blood pressure, he has a carpal
spasm.
15) During assessment of a client in the intensive care unit, the nurse notes
that the client's ARE CLEAR UPON AUSCULTATION, but jugular vein
distention and muffled heart sounds are present. Which intervention should the
nurse implement?
