HESI CRITICAL THINKING 2026 ACTUAL
EXAM PAPER QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A PLUS
◉ The Patient: An 80 year-old male who has used continuous
oxygen for the past three years.
The Situation: While making a home visit, the wife tells the nurse
that her husband was doing well on 2 litres of oxygen per minute
until late last night when he developed severe shortness of breath on
the way to the bathroom.
The Question: What action should the nurse take first?
Answer: Assess the patient's oxygen saturation by pulse oximeter.
◉ The Patient: A 41-year-old male.
The Situation: The patient is complaining of severe stomach pain
and states that he has been "vomiting all the time."
The Question: What should the nurse do first?
Answer: Administer a prescribed pain medication.
◉ The Patient: The wife of a wealthy owner of the town's bank.
, The Situation: The patient and her husband arrive on the unit. While
orienting the patient to the hospital room, the nurse notices that the
patient has placed a large amount of cash and some expensive
earrings in the drawer of the bedside table.
The Question: What is the best action for the nurse to take?
Answer: Advise the patient to have her husband take the items home
when he leaves.
◉ The Patient: A 45-year-old female who is 5' 2" tall, weighs 200
pounds, and has smoked since age 21.
The Situation: The patient comes to the clinic with a complaint of
"leg pain."
The Question: It is most important for the nurse to obtain
information about which previous occurrence?
Answer: A previous blood clot in the leg.
◉ The Patient: A 61-year-old female.
The Situation: The patient has a fever of unknown origin. The nurse
administered a fever-reducing medication 30 minutes ago. At this
time there has been no decrease in the patient's fever.
The Question: What action would be best for the nurse to take?
Answer: Sponge the patient with cool water.
◉ The Patient: A 70-year-old male who is relatively healthy.
EXAM PAPER QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A PLUS
◉ The Patient: An 80 year-old male who has used continuous
oxygen for the past three years.
The Situation: While making a home visit, the wife tells the nurse
that her husband was doing well on 2 litres of oxygen per minute
until late last night when he developed severe shortness of breath on
the way to the bathroom.
The Question: What action should the nurse take first?
Answer: Assess the patient's oxygen saturation by pulse oximeter.
◉ The Patient: A 41-year-old male.
The Situation: The patient is complaining of severe stomach pain
and states that he has been "vomiting all the time."
The Question: What should the nurse do first?
Answer: Administer a prescribed pain medication.
◉ The Patient: The wife of a wealthy owner of the town's bank.
, The Situation: The patient and her husband arrive on the unit. While
orienting the patient to the hospital room, the nurse notices that the
patient has placed a large amount of cash and some expensive
earrings in the drawer of the bedside table.
The Question: What is the best action for the nurse to take?
Answer: Advise the patient to have her husband take the items home
when he leaves.
◉ The Patient: A 45-year-old female who is 5' 2" tall, weighs 200
pounds, and has smoked since age 21.
The Situation: The patient comes to the clinic with a complaint of
"leg pain."
The Question: It is most important for the nurse to obtain
information about which previous occurrence?
Answer: A previous blood clot in the leg.
◉ The Patient: A 61-year-old female.
The Situation: The patient has a fever of unknown origin. The nurse
administered a fever-reducing medication 30 minutes ago. At this
time there has been no decrease in the patient's fever.
The Question: What action would be best for the nurse to take?
Answer: Sponge the patient with cool water.
◉ The Patient: A 70-year-old male who is relatively healthy.
