HESI PN FUNDAMENTALS
RETAKE PRACTICE EXAM 2026–2027
(50 Original Practice Questions with Correct Answers & Rationales)
Health Sciences & Practical Nursing | Fundamentals Remediation Practice
Key Domains: Patient Safety • Infection Control • Basic Care & Comfort • Vital Signs • Medication Administration •
Mobility • Hygiene • Clinical Judgment
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This is an ORIGINAL educational practice resource for study and remediation purposes only. It is
NOT an official HESI® / Elsevier examination, does NOT contain proprietary HESI secure exam items or publisher test-bank
content, and is NOT affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced by Elsevier, HESI, or any nursing school. Content is aligned with
common practical nursing fundamentals competencies used in remediation after fundamentals assessments (safety, infection
control, comfort, medications, mobility, clinical judgment). HESI blueprints, scoring, and rationales are proprietary and change—
always follow your program’s HESI remediation plan, faculty instructions, and approved textbooks/skills resources. This resource is
for independent practice and concept reinforcement only.
Introduction
This structured 50-question practice set supports PN fundamentals retake/remediation with clinical
judgment–style items. Correct answers appear in bold cyan with concise safety rationales explaining
why the correct action is best and why alternatives are weaker. Use after reviewing your weak areas
from prior HESI performance—not as a substitute for official remediation requirements.
How to Use for Retake Preparation
• Complete under timed conditions (~60–75 minutes) before checking answers.
• Map every missed item to your remediation topics / active learning templates.
• Rewrite the “why” in one sentence connecting safety, infection control, or priority setting.
• Pair weak skill topics with skills lab practice (sterile field, transfers, med checks, VS).
• Retake missed domains 48 hours later to confirm retention.
EXAM QUESTIONS (1–50)
Total: 50 original multiple-choice items. Correct answers in bold cyan with rationales.
PART A — Safety, Priority Setting & Clinical Judgment (Q1–7)
1. A practical nurse is prioritizing care after handoff. Which client should be assessed first?
A. A client who wants the lights dimmed
B. A client requesting a blanket
C. A client with new confusion, respiratory rate 28, and SpO2 89% on room air
D. A stable client waiting for discharge teaching on stool softeners
Correct Answer: C. A client with new confusion, respiratory rate 28, and SpO2 89% on room air
Rationale: ABCs and acute changes come first. Hypoxemia with tachypnea and new confusion is a first-level
priority over comfort or routine teaching.
, 2. Which action correctly uses two client identifiers before giving a medication?
A. Ask, 'Are you Mrs. Smith?' and accept a nod
B. Skip identification if the PN cared for the client yesterday
C. Identify the client by room number only
D. Ask the client to state name and date of birth and compare both to the armband and MAR
Correct Answer: D. Ask the client to state name and date of birth and compare both to the
armband and MAR
Rationale: Use at least two identifiers (name and DOB/MRN). Room number is not an identifier. Avoid leading
yes/no questions.
3. Which intervention best reduces fall risk for an older adult?
A. All four side rails up and leave the client alone for long periods
B. No ambulation help so the client becomes independent without assessment
C. Bed in highest position for staff convenience
D. Bed in lowest position, call light within reach, nonslip footwear, and prompt toileting
assistance
Correct Answer: D. Bed in lowest position, call light within reach, nonslip footwear, and
prompt toileting assistance
Rationale: Multifactorial fall prevention includes environment, toileting, footwear, and bed height. Four side
rails can be a restraint and increase injury risk.
4. The fire response acronym RACE stands for:
A. Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish/Evacuate
B. Remove oxygen, Apply water, Close eyes, Escape only
C. Report, Assess, Critique, Evaluate only
D. Run, Argue, Call, Exit
Correct Answer: A. Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish/Evacuate
Rationale: RACE prioritizes life safety then containment. PASS (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep) is for extinguisher
use.
5. A client on oxygen is found smoking in the bathroom. What is the priority action?
A. Increase the oxygen flow while the client finishes smoking
B. Leave and chart later only
C. Stop the unsafe behavior, remove ignition risk, ensure client safety, and reinforce
oxygen/fire precautions
D. Move a second oxygen tank closer to the cigarette
Correct Answer: C. Stop the unsafe behavior, remove ignition risk, ensure client safety, and
reinforce oxygen/fire precautions
Rationale: Oxygen supports combustion. Priority is eliminate ignition source and protect the client—never
increase O2 during smoking.
6. When restraints are ordered for a client at risk of pulling out a critical tube, the PN should:
A. Apply the tightest restraint available indefinitely without checks
RETAKE PRACTICE EXAM 2026–2027
(50 Original Practice Questions with Correct Answers & Rationales)
Health Sciences & Practical Nursing | Fundamentals Remediation Practice
Key Domains: Patient Safety • Infection Control • Basic Care & Comfort • Vital Signs • Medication Administration •
Mobility • Hygiene • Clinical Judgment
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This is an ORIGINAL educational practice resource for study and remediation purposes only. It is
NOT an official HESI® / Elsevier examination, does NOT contain proprietary HESI secure exam items or publisher test-bank
content, and is NOT affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced by Elsevier, HESI, or any nursing school. Content is aligned with
common practical nursing fundamentals competencies used in remediation after fundamentals assessments (safety, infection
control, comfort, medications, mobility, clinical judgment). HESI blueprints, scoring, and rationales are proprietary and change—
always follow your program’s HESI remediation plan, faculty instructions, and approved textbooks/skills resources. This resource is
for independent practice and concept reinforcement only.
Introduction
This structured 50-question practice set supports PN fundamentals retake/remediation with clinical
judgment–style items. Correct answers appear in bold cyan with concise safety rationales explaining
why the correct action is best and why alternatives are weaker. Use after reviewing your weak areas
from prior HESI performance—not as a substitute for official remediation requirements.
How to Use for Retake Preparation
• Complete under timed conditions (~60–75 minutes) before checking answers.
• Map every missed item to your remediation topics / active learning templates.
• Rewrite the “why” in one sentence connecting safety, infection control, or priority setting.
• Pair weak skill topics with skills lab practice (sterile field, transfers, med checks, VS).
• Retake missed domains 48 hours later to confirm retention.
EXAM QUESTIONS (1–50)
Total: 50 original multiple-choice items. Correct answers in bold cyan with rationales.
PART A — Safety, Priority Setting & Clinical Judgment (Q1–7)
1. A practical nurse is prioritizing care after handoff. Which client should be assessed first?
A. A client who wants the lights dimmed
B. A client requesting a blanket
C. A client with new confusion, respiratory rate 28, and SpO2 89% on room air
D. A stable client waiting for discharge teaching on stool softeners
Correct Answer: C. A client with new confusion, respiratory rate 28, and SpO2 89% on room air
Rationale: ABCs and acute changes come first. Hypoxemia with tachypnea and new confusion is a first-level
priority over comfort or routine teaching.
, 2. Which action correctly uses two client identifiers before giving a medication?
A. Ask, 'Are you Mrs. Smith?' and accept a nod
B. Skip identification if the PN cared for the client yesterday
C. Identify the client by room number only
D. Ask the client to state name and date of birth and compare both to the armband and MAR
Correct Answer: D. Ask the client to state name and date of birth and compare both to the
armband and MAR
Rationale: Use at least two identifiers (name and DOB/MRN). Room number is not an identifier. Avoid leading
yes/no questions.
3. Which intervention best reduces fall risk for an older adult?
A. All four side rails up and leave the client alone for long periods
B. No ambulation help so the client becomes independent without assessment
C. Bed in highest position for staff convenience
D. Bed in lowest position, call light within reach, nonslip footwear, and prompt toileting
assistance
Correct Answer: D. Bed in lowest position, call light within reach, nonslip footwear, and
prompt toileting assistance
Rationale: Multifactorial fall prevention includes environment, toileting, footwear, and bed height. Four side
rails can be a restraint and increase injury risk.
4. The fire response acronym RACE stands for:
A. Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish/Evacuate
B. Remove oxygen, Apply water, Close eyes, Escape only
C. Report, Assess, Critique, Evaluate only
D. Run, Argue, Call, Exit
Correct Answer: A. Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish/Evacuate
Rationale: RACE prioritizes life safety then containment. PASS (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep) is for extinguisher
use.
5. A client on oxygen is found smoking in the bathroom. What is the priority action?
A. Increase the oxygen flow while the client finishes smoking
B. Leave and chart later only
C. Stop the unsafe behavior, remove ignition risk, ensure client safety, and reinforce
oxygen/fire precautions
D. Move a second oxygen tank closer to the cigarette
Correct Answer: C. Stop the unsafe behavior, remove ignition risk, ensure client safety, and
reinforce oxygen/fire precautions
Rationale: Oxygen supports combustion. Priority is eliminate ignition source and protect the client—never
increase O2 during smoking.
6. When restraints are ordered for a client at risk of pulling out a critical tube, the PN should:
A. Apply the tightest restraint available indefinitely without checks
