HESI COMPREHENSIVE EXIT FINAL PAPER
2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS VERIFIED A+
◉ When assessing the laboratory findings of a 38-year-old client
with tuberculosis who is taking rifampin (Rifadin), which laboratory
finding would be most important to report to the primary health
care provider immediately?
A.Orange-colored urine
B.Potassium level, 4.9 mEq/L
C.Elevated liver enzyme levels
D.Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level, 12 mg/dL
Answer: C
Rationale:
Rifampin can cause hepatoxicity, so elevated liver enzyme levels
need to be closely monitored and reported to the health care
provider (C). Orange discoloration of the urine is an expected side
effect of this medication (A). The potassium level (B) is normal. A
BUN level of 12 mg/dL is within defined parameters (D).
◉ A client is receiving propylthiouracil (PTU) prior to thyroid
surgery. Which diagnostic test results indicate that the medication is
producing the desired effect?
,A.Increased hemoglobin and hematocrit levels
B.Increased serum calcium level
C.Decreased white blood cell (WBC) count
D.Decreased triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) levels
Answer: D
Rationale:
Propylthiouracil (PTU) is an adjunct therapy used to control
hyperthyroidism by inhibiting the production of thyroid hormones
(D). It is often prescribed in preparation for thyroidectomy or
radioactive iodine therapy. It is does not affect (A). (B) must be
monitored after surgery in case the parathyroid glands were
removed, but preoperative PTU does not increase the serum calcium
level. If the client has an infection preoperatively, antibiotics will be
given and (C) monitored.
◉ The nurse teaches a class on bioterrorism. Which method(s) of
transmission is(are) possible with the biologic agent Bacillus
anthracis (Anthrax)? (Select all that apply.)
A.Inhalation of powder form
B.Handling of infected animals
C.Spread from person to person through coughing
D.Eating undercooked meat from infected animals
E.Direct cutaneous contact with the powder
Answer: A,B,D,E
,Rationale:
Anthrax can be transmitted by the inhalation, cutaneous, and
digestive routes (A, B, D, and E); however, the disease is not spread
from person to person (C).
◉ The nurse assesses a woman in the emergency room who is in her
third trimester of pregnancy. Which finding(s) is(are) indicative of
abruptio placentae? (Select all that apply.)
A.Dark red vaginal bleeding
B.Rigid boardlike abdomen
C.Soft abdomen on palpation
D.Complaints of severe abdominal pain
E.Painless bright red vaginal bleeding
Answer: A,B,D
Rationale:
These are all signs of abruptio placentae (A, B, and D). The others
are signs of placenta previa (C and E).
◉ Which vital sign in a pediatric client is most important to report to
the primary health care provider?
A.Newborn with a heart rate of 140 beats/min
B.Three-year-old with a respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min
C.Six-year-old with a heart rate of 130 beats/min
, D.Twelve-year-old with a respiratory rate of 16 breaths/min
Answer: C
Rationale:
The normal heart rate for a 6- to 10-year-old is 70 to 110 beats/min
(C). The others are all within normal range for those ages (A, B, and
D).
◉ Which finding should be reported to the primary health care
provider when caring for a client who has a continuous bladder
irrigation after a transurethral resection of the prostate gland
(TURP)?
A.The client reports a continuous feeling of needing to void.
B.Urinary drainage is pink 24 hours after surgery.
C.The hemoglobin level is 8.4 g/dL 3 days postoperatively.
D.Sterile saline is being used for bladder irrigation.
Answer: C
Rationale:
A hemoglobin level of 8.4 g/dL is abnormally low and may indicate
hemorrhage (C). The others are all expected findings after a TURP
(A, B, and D).
◉ Which of the following cardiac rhythms is represented in the
image?
A.Normal sinus rhythm
2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS VERIFIED A+
◉ When assessing the laboratory findings of a 38-year-old client
with tuberculosis who is taking rifampin (Rifadin), which laboratory
finding would be most important to report to the primary health
care provider immediately?
A.Orange-colored urine
B.Potassium level, 4.9 mEq/L
C.Elevated liver enzyme levels
D.Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level, 12 mg/dL
Answer: C
Rationale:
Rifampin can cause hepatoxicity, so elevated liver enzyme levels
need to be closely monitored and reported to the health care
provider (C). Orange discoloration of the urine is an expected side
effect of this medication (A). The potassium level (B) is normal. A
BUN level of 12 mg/dL is within defined parameters (D).
◉ A client is receiving propylthiouracil (PTU) prior to thyroid
surgery. Which diagnostic test results indicate that the medication is
producing the desired effect?
,A.Increased hemoglobin and hematocrit levels
B.Increased serum calcium level
C.Decreased white blood cell (WBC) count
D.Decreased triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) levels
Answer: D
Rationale:
Propylthiouracil (PTU) is an adjunct therapy used to control
hyperthyroidism by inhibiting the production of thyroid hormones
(D). It is often prescribed in preparation for thyroidectomy or
radioactive iodine therapy. It is does not affect (A). (B) must be
monitored after surgery in case the parathyroid glands were
removed, but preoperative PTU does not increase the serum calcium
level. If the client has an infection preoperatively, antibiotics will be
given and (C) monitored.
◉ The nurse teaches a class on bioterrorism. Which method(s) of
transmission is(are) possible with the biologic agent Bacillus
anthracis (Anthrax)? (Select all that apply.)
A.Inhalation of powder form
B.Handling of infected animals
C.Spread from person to person through coughing
D.Eating undercooked meat from infected animals
E.Direct cutaneous contact with the powder
Answer: A,B,D,E
,Rationale:
Anthrax can be transmitted by the inhalation, cutaneous, and
digestive routes (A, B, D, and E); however, the disease is not spread
from person to person (C).
◉ The nurse assesses a woman in the emergency room who is in her
third trimester of pregnancy. Which finding(s) is(are) indicative of
abruptio placentae? (Select all that apply.)
A.Dark red vaginal bleeding
B.Rigid boardlike abdomen
C.Soft abdomen on palpation
D.Complaints of severe abdominal pain
E.Painless bright red vaginal bleeding
Answer: A,B,D
Rationale:
These are all signs of abruptio placentae (A, B, and D). The others
are signs of placenta previa (C and E).
◉ Which vital sign in a pediatric client is most important to report to
the primary health care provider?
A.Newborn with a heart rate of 140 beats/min
B.Three-year-old with a respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min
C.Six-year-old with a heart rate of 130 beats/min
, D.Twelve-year-old with a respiratory rate of 16 breaths/min
Answer: C
Rationale:
The normal heart rate for a 6- to 10-year-old is 70 to 110 beats/min
(C). The others are all within normal range for those ages (A, B, and
D).
◉ Which finding should be reported to the primary health care
provider when caring for a client who has a continuous bladder
irrigation after a transurethral resection of the prostate gland
(TURP)?
A.The client reports a continuous feeling of needing to void.
B.Urinary drainage is pink 24 hours after surgery.
C.The hemoglobin level is 8.4 g/dL 3 days postoperatively.
D.Sterile saline is being used for bladder irrigation.
Answer: C
Rationale:
A hemoglobin level of 8.4 g/dL is abnormally low and may indicate
hemorrhage (C). The others are all expected findings after a TURP
(A, B, and D).
◉ Which of the following cardiac rhythms is represented in the
image?
A.Normal sinus rhythm
