HESI EXIT EXAM NEXT GENERATION (NGN) —
STUDY GUIDE | LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027 | ACTUAL
EXAM | PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
EXAM REVIEW | 100% CORRECT ANSWERS |
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
1.
A client with a history of falls is admitted to the medical-surgical
unit. Which intervention is the priority for fall prevention?
A) Raise all four side rails at all times
B) Place the call light within reach and use a bed alarm
C) Restrain the client in a chair near the nurses' station
D) Keep the room dark to promote sleep
Correct Answer: B
The priority fall prevention intervention is to keep the call light
accessible and use a bed alarm to alert staff when the client
attempts to get up. Raising all four side rails is considered a
restraint and may increase fall risk; physical restraints require a
provider order and are not first-line; a dark room increases the
risk of falls. The nurse should also ensure the client's
environment is free of clutter and the bed is in the lowest
position.
2.
A client with heart failure is prescribed furosemide 40 mg IV
push. The nurse notes the client's serum potassium is 3.0
,mEq/L. What is the most appropriate action?
A) Administer the furosemide as ordered and monitor urine
output
B) Hold the furosemide and notify the provider of the
potassium level
C) Give the furosemide with a potassium supplement
D) Administer the furosemide and encourage a high-potassium
diet
Correct Answer: B
Furosemide is a loop diuretic that further depletes potassium. A
potassium level of 3.0 mEq/L is hypokalemia and increases the
risk of cardiac arrhythmias. The nurse should hold the
medication and notify the provider for potassium replacement
before administration. Giving the medication or encouraging
diet alone does not address the immediate risk.
3.
A client is receiving a blood transfusion and develops chills,
back pain, and dark urine. What is the priority nursing action?
A) Slow the transfusion and reassess in 30 minutes
B) Stop the transfusion immediately and notify the provider
C) Administer an antipyretic and continue the transfusion
D) Flush the IV line with normal saline and restart the blood
Correct Answer: B
Chills, back pain, and dark urine are signs of a hemolytic
,transfusion reaction, which is life-threatening. The transfusion
must be stopped immediately, the provider notified, and the
client assessed for shock. Continuing or restarting the
transfusion is unsafe; flushing with saline alone is insufficient
without stopping the blood and notifying the provider.
4.
A nurse is assessing a client with a new diagnosis of deep vein
thrombosis (DVT). Which finding requires immediate
intervention?
A) Calf pain on ambulation
B) Unilateral leg swelling and warmth
C) Sudden onset of dyspnea and chest pain
D) Redness along the affected vein
Correct Answer: C
Sudden dyspnea and chest pain in a client with DVT suggest
pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening complication requiring
immediate intervention. Calf pain, swelling, warmth, and
redness are signs of DVT but do not indicate an acute embolic
event. The nurse should notify the provider, administer oxygen,
and prepare for diagnostic tests.
5.
A client is prescribed digoxin 0.25 mg PO daily. Before
administering the medication, the nurse should assess:
A) Respiratory rate and oxygen saturation
, B) Apical heart rate for 1 minute and serum digoxin level
C) Blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c
D) Urine output and creatinine clearance only
Correct Answer: B
Digoxin requires assessment of the apical heart rate for 1 full
minute before administration; if the heart rate is below 60
beats/min, the dose should be held and the provider notified.
Serum digoxin levels should also be monitored to prevent
toxicity, which presents with nausea, visual disturbances, and
arrhythmias. Other options are not specific to digoxin.
6.
A nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube. The water seal
chamber is continuously bubbling. What is the appropriate
action?
A) Document as a normal finding
B) Assess for an air leak in the system and notify the provider if
not corrected
C) Clamp the chest tube immediately
D) Increase wall suction until bubbling stops
Correct Answer: B
Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber indicates an air
leak, which may be from the client or the system. The nurse
should assess the tube connections and insertion site and notify
the provider if the leak persists. Clamping the chest tube can
STUDY GUIDE | LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027 | ACTUAL
EXAM | PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
EXAM REVIEW | 100% CORRECT ANSWERS |
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
1.
A client with a history of falls is admitted to the medical-surgical
unit. Which intervention is the priority for fall prevention?
A) Raise all four side rails at all times
B) Place the call light within reach and use a bed alarm
C) Restrain the client in a chair near the nurses' station
D) Keep the room dark to promote sleep
Correct Answer: B
The priority fall prevention intervention is to keep the call light
accessible and use a bed alarm to alert staff when the client
attempts to get up. Raising all four side rails is considered a
restraint and may increase fall risk; physical restraints require a
provider order and are not first-line; a dark room increases the
risk of falls. The nurse should also ensure the client's
environment is free of clutter and the bed is in the lowest
position.
2.
A client with heart failure is prescribed furosemide 40 mg IV
push. The nurse notes the client's serum potassium is 3.0
,mEq/L. What is the most appropriate action?
A) Administer the furosemide as ordered and monitor urine
output
B) Hold the furosemide and notify the provider of the
potassium level
C) Give the furosemide with a potassium supplement
D) Administer the furosemide and encourage a high-potassium
diet
Correct Answer: B
Furosemide is a loop diuretic that further depletes potassium. A
potassium level of 3.0 mEq/L is hypokalemia and increases the
risk of cardiac arrhythmias. The nurse should hold the
medication and notify the provider for potassium replacement
before administration. Giving the medication or encouraging
diet alone does not address the immediate risk.
3.
A client is receiving a blood transfusion and develops chills,
back pain, and dark urine. What is the priority nursing action?
A) Slow the transfusion and reassess in 30 minutes
B) Stop the transfusion immediately and notify the provider
C) Administer an antipyretic and continue the transfusion
D) Flush the IV line with normal saline and restart the blood
Correct Answer: B
Chills, back pain, and dark urine are signs of a hemolytic
,transfusion reaction, which is life-threatening. The transfusion
must be stopped immediately, the provider notified, and the
client assessed for shock. Continuing or restarting the
transfusion is unsafe; flushing with saline alone is insufficient
without stopping the blood and notifying the provider.
4.
A nurse is assessing a client with a new diagnosis of deep vein
thrombosis (DVT). Which finding requires immediate
intervention?
A) Calf pain on ambulation
B) Unilateral leg swelling and warmth
C) Sudden onset of dyspnea and chest pain
D) Redness along the affected vein
Correct Answer: C
Sudden dyspnea and chest pain in a client with DVT suggest
pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening complication requiring
immediate intervention. Calf pain, swelling, warmth, and
redness are signs of DVT but do not indicate an acute embolic
event. The nurse should notify the provider, administer oxygen,
and prepare for diagnostic tests.
5.
A client is prescribed digoxin 0.25 mg PO daily. Before
administering the medication, the nurse should assess:
A) Respiratory rate and oxygen saturation
, B) Apical heart rate for 1 minute and serum digoxin level
C) Blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c
D) Urine output and creatinine clearance only
Correct Answer: B
Digoxin requires assessment of the apical heart rate for 1 full
minute before administration; if the heart rate is below 60
beats/min, the dose should be held and the provider notified.
Serum digoxin levels should also be monitored to prevent
toxicity, which presents with nausea, visual disturbances, and
arrhythmias. Other options are not specific to digoxin.
6.
A nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube. The water seal
chamber is continuously bubbling. What is the appropriate
action?
A) Document as a normal finding
B) Assess for an air leak in the system and notify the provider if
not corrected
C) Clamp the chest tube immediately
D) Increase wall suction until bubbling stops
Correct Answer: B
Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber indicates an air
leak, which may be from the client or the system. The nurse
should assess the tube connections and insertion site and notify
the provider if the leak persists. Clamping the chest tube can
