HESI Exit Exam Ultimate Study Guide + Practice Test
2026/2027 – Verified Q&As with Detailed Rationales
(Test Bank Bundle - 88 Questions)
---
**QUESTION 1:**
The nurse is providing discharge teaching to a patient with a new diagnosis of heart failure. Which
statement indicates understanding of daily weight monitoring?
A) "I will weigh myself after breakfast each day."
B) "I will weigh myself on the same scale at the same time each day."
C) "I will weigh myself once a week."
D) "I will weigh myself with my shoes on."
> 🎯 **CORRECT ANSWER:** B) "I will weigh myself on the same scale at the same time each day."
> 💡 **CLINICAL RATIONALE:** Consistent weighing detects fluid retention early.
---
**QUESTION 2:**
A patient is prescribed furosemide for heart failure. Which lab finding requires immediate action?
A) Serum potassium 3.8 mEq/L.
B) Serum sodium 140 mEq/L.
C) Serum potassium 2.9 mEq/L.
D) BUN 15 mg/dL.
> 🎯 **CORRECT ANSWER:** C) Serum potassium 2.9 mEq/L.
> 💡 **CLINICAL RATIONALE:** Hypokalemia is a dangerous furosemide side effect.
---
**QUESTION 3:**
A client has a new colostomy. Which stoma characteristic indicates healthy tissue?
,A) Pale pink and dry.
B) Dark purple and moist.
C) Bright red and moist.
D) Dusky blue and swollen.
> 🎯 **CORRECT ANSWER:** C) Bright red and moist.
> 💡 **CLINICAL RATIONALE:** Normal stoma is vascular and moist.
---
**QUESTION 4:**
The nurse is suctioning a tracheostomy. Which action is correct?
A) Suction for 15 seconds maximum.
B) Hyperoxygenate before and after.
C) Insert catheter with suction on.
D) Rotate catheter during removal.
> 🎯 **CORRECT ANSWER:** B) Hyperoxygenate before and after.
> 💡 **CLINICAL RATIONALE:** Prevents hypoxia during suctioning.
---
**QUESTION 5:**
A patient with chest tubes has continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber. What does this indicate?
A) Normal drainage.
B) An air leak.
C) The lung has re-expanded.
D) The system is malfunctioning.
> 🎯 **CORRECT ANSWER:** B) An air leak.
> 💡 **CLINICAL RATIONALE:** Bubbling indicates air escaping from pleural space.
---
,**QUESTION 6:**
Which finding is most concerning in a patient with a head injury?
A) GCS of 14.
B) Unequal pupils.
C) Heart rate 80 bpm.
D) Blood pressure 130/80.
> 🎯 **CORRECT ANSWER:** B) Unequal pupils.
> 💡 **CLINICAL RATIONALE:** Indicates herniation or increased ICP.
---
**QUESTION 7:**
A diabetic patient has a blood glucose of 55 mg/dL. What is the priority action?
A) Administer insulin.
B) Give orange juice.
C) Call the physician.
D) Check urine ketones.
> 🎯 **CORRECT ANSWER:** B) Give orange juice.
> 💡 **CLINICAL RATIONALE:** Rapid-acting sugar treats hypoglycemia.
---
**QUESTION 8:**
The nurse assesses a wound with yellow slough and purulent drainage. Which wound classification is
this?
A) Clean.
B) Clean-contaminated.
C) Infected.
D) Contaminated.
> 🎯 **CORRECT ANSWER:** C) Infected.
> 💡 **CLINICAL RATIONALE:** Slough and pus indicate bacterial infection.
, ---
**QUESTION 9:**
Which patient position is best for a lumbar puncture?
A) Supine with knees bent.
B) Lateral decubitus with knees to chest.
C) Prone.
D) High Fowler's.
> 🎯 **CORRECT ANSWER:** B) Lateral decubitus with knees to chest.
> 💡 **CLINICAL RATIONALE:** Opens spinal interspaces for needle entry.
---
**QUESTION 10:**
The nurse is caring for a patient with Cushing's syndrome. Which finding is expected?
A) Hypotension.
B) Weight loss.
C) Moon face and buffalo hump.
D) Hypoglycemia.
> 🎯 **CORRECT ANSWER:** C) Moon face and buffalo hump.
> 💡 **CLINICAL RATIONALE:** Caused by chronic excess cortisol.
---
**QUESTION 11:**
A patient is on a clear liquid diet. Which item is allowed?
A) Milk.
B) Orange juice with pulp.
C) Chicken broth.
D) Cream of wheat.
2026/2027 – Verified Q&As with Detailed Rationales
(Test Bank Bundle - 88 Questions)
---
**QUESTION 1:**
The nurse is providing discharge teaching to a patient with a new diagnosis of heart failure. Which
statement indicates understanding of daily weight monitoring?
A) "I will weigh myself after breakfast each day."
B) "I will weigh myself on the same scale at the same time each day."
C) "I will weigh myself once a week."
D) "I will weigh myself with my shoes on."
> 🎯 **CORRECT ANSWER:** B) "I will weigh myself on the same scale at the same time each day."
> 💡 **CLINICAL RATIONALE:** Consistent weighing detects fluid retention early.
---
**QUESTION 2:**
A patient is prescribed furosemide for heart failure. Which lab finding requires immediate action?
A) Serum potassium 3.8 mEq/L.
B) Serum sodium 140 mEq/L.
C) Serum potassium 2.9 mEq/L.
D) BUN 15 mg/dL.
> 🎯 **CORRECT ANSWER:** C) Serum potassium 2.9 mEq/L.
> 💡 **CLINICAL RATIONALE:** Hypokalemia is a dangerous furosemide side effect.
---
**QUESTION 3:**
A client has a new colostomy. Which stoma characteristic indicates healthy tissue?
,A) Pale pink and dry.
B) Dark purple and moist.
C) Bright red and moist.
D) Dusky blue and swollen.
> 🎯 **CORRECT ANSWER:** C) Bright red and moist.
> 💡 **CLINICAL RATIONALE:** Normal stoma is vascular and moist.
---
**QUESTION 4:**
The nurse is suctioning a tracheostomy. Which action is correct?
A) Suction for 15 seconds maximum.
B) Hyperoxygenate before and after.
C) Insert catheter with suction on.
D) Rotate catheter during removal.
> 🎯 **CORRECT ANSWER:** B) Hyperoxygenate before and after.
> 💡 **CLINICAL RATIONALE:** Prevents hypoxia during suctioning.
---
**QUESTION 5:**
A patient with chest tubes has continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber. What does this indicate?
A) Normal drainage.
B) An air leak.
C) The lung has re-expanded.
D) The system is malfunctioning.
> 🎯 **CORRECT ANSWER:** B) An air leak.
> 💡 **CLINICAL RATIONALE:** Bubbling indicates air escaping from pleural space.
---
,**QUESTION 6:**
Which finding is most concerning in a patient with a head injury?
A) GCS of 14.
B) Unequal pupils.
C) Heart rate 80 bpm.
D) Blood pressure 130/80.
> 🎯 **CORRECT ANSWER:** B) Unequal pupils.
> 💡 **CLINICAL RATIONALE:** Indicates herniation or increased ICP.
---
**QUESTION 7:**
A diabetic patient has a blood glucose of 55 mg/dL. What is the priority action?
A) Administer insulin.
B) Give orange juice.
C) Call the physician.
D) Check urine ketones.
> 🎯 **CORRECT ANSWER:** B) Give orange juice.
> 💡 **CLINICAL RATIONALE:** Rapid-acting sugar treats hypoglycemia.
---
**QUESTION 8:**
The nurse assesses a wound with yellow slough and purulent drainage. Which wound classification is
this?
A) Clean.
B) Clean-contaminated.
C) Infected.
D) Contaminated.
> 🎯 **CORRECT ANSWER:** C) Infected.
> 💡 **CLINICAL RATIONALE:** Slough and pus indicate bacterial infection.
, ---
**QUESTION 9:**
Which patient position is best for a lumbar puncture?
A) Supine with knees bent.
B) Lateral decubitus with knees to chest.
C) Prone.
D) High Fowler's.
> 🎯 **CORRECT ANSWER:** B) Lateral decubitus with knees to chest.
> 💡 **CLINICAL RATIONALE:** Opens spinal interspaces for needle entry.
---
**QUESTION 10:**
The nurse is caring for a patient with Cushing's syndrome. Which finding is expected?
A) Hypotension.
B) Weight loss.
C) Moon face and buffalo hump.
D) Hypoglycemia.
> 🎯 **CORRECT ANSWER:** C) Moon face and buffalo hump.
> 💡 **CLINICAL RATIONALE:** Caused by chronic excess cortisol.
---
**QUESTION 11:**
A patient is on a clear liquid diet. Which item is allowed?
A) Milk.
B) Orange juice with pulp.
C) Chicken broth.
D) Cream of wheat.
