ALL HESI Fundamentals Exam Test Bank
updated 2025/2026
Section 1: Nursing Process & Clinical Judgment
1. The nurse collects subjective and objective data during which phase of the
nursing process?
A. Planning
B. Assessment [CORRECT]
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Rationale: Assessment is the first phase, involving systematic collection of
subjective (patient-reported) and objective (observable/measurable) data.
2. Which action best demonstrates the "evaluation" phase of the nursing
process?
A. Writing a patient-centered goal
B. Administering a prescribed analgesic
C. Comparing patient outcomes to expected goals [CORRECT]
D. Obtaining a health history
Rationale: Evaluation determines whether goals were met by comparing actual
outcomes with expected outcomes.
3. A nurse identifies "risk for falls" as a patient problem. This is an example of:
A. A medical diagnosis
B. A collaborative problem
C. A nursing diagnosis [CORRECT]
D. A syndrome diagnosis
Rationale: Nursing diagnoses describe human responses to health conditions;
"risk for falls" is a NANDA-I nursing diagnosis.
,4. Which are components of a correctly written patient-centered goal? Select all
that apply.
A. Patient-specific [CORRECT]
B. Measurable [CORRECT]
C. Time-bound [CORRECT]
D. Written in medical jargon
E. Focused on nursing actions rather than patient outcomes
Rationale: Goals should be patient-centered, specific, measurable, attainable,
realistic, and time-bound (SMART). They describe patient outcomes, not nurse
actions.
5. The nurse prioritizes care using Maslow's hierarchy. Which patient need
should be addressed first?
A. A patient requesting help with grooming
B. A patient with an oxygen saturation of 86% [CORRECT]
C. A patient expressing loneliness
D. A patient asking about discharge teaching
Rationale: Airway/breathing (physiologic need) takes priority over psychosocial,
esteem, and self-actualization needs.
6. Which statement is an example of subjective data?
A. Blood pressure 148/92 mm Hg
B. "I feel dizzy when I stand up." [CORRECT]
C. Respirations 22/min
D. 2+ pitting edema in lower extremities
Rationale: Subjective data are what the patient reports; objective data are
measurable or observable.
7. A nurse uses the SBAR format during handoff. What does the "A" represent?
A. Action
B. Assessment [CORRECT]
C. Allergy
D. Admission
,Rationale: SBAR = Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation.
8. Which action reflects critical thinking in nursing?
A. Following a provider's order without question
B. Questioning an order that appears unsafe and seeking clarification [CORRECT]
C. Delegating assessment to unlicensed assistive personnel
D. Documenting care before providing it
Rationale: Critical thinking includes questioning, analyzing, and advocating for
safety.
9. Which patient problem is the highest priority?
A. Impaired skin integrity
B. Acute pain
C. Ineffective airway clearance [CORRECT]
D. Disturbed body image
Rationale: Airway always takes priority (ABCs).
10. A nurse writes: "Patient will ambulate 50 feet by postoperative day 2." This
is a:
A. Nursing intervention
B. Short-term goal [CORRECT]
C. Long-term goal
D. Medical order
Rationale: A goal achievable within days is short-term; measurable and time-
bound.
11. Which activity can the RN delegate to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
A. Initial patient assessment
B. Administering oral medications
C. Measuring and recording vital signs on a stable patient [CORRECT]
D. Developing the care plan
Rationale: UAP may perform routine, stable tasks; assessment, medication
administration, and care planning require the RN.
, 12. Which are examples of objective data? Select all that apply.
A. "My stomach hurts."
B. Temperature 101.2°F [CORRECT]
C. Vomited 200 mL clear emesis [CORRECT]
D. Patient states, "I'm nauseated."
E. Pallor of skin and mucous membranes [CORRECT]
Rationale: Objective data are measurable/observable; subjective data are patient-
reported.
Section 2: Infection Control & Safety
13. The single most effective way to prevent the spread of infection is:
A. Wearing gloves
B. Hand hygiene [CORRECT]
C. Isolating all patients
D. Administering antibiotics
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the primary and most effective infection-control
measure.
14. A nurse is caring for a patient on airborne precautions. Which PPE is
required?
A. Gloves only
B. Surgical mask
C. N95 respirator and negative-pressure room [CORRECT]
D. Gown and gloves only
Rationale: Airborne precautions (e.g., TB, measles, varicella) require an N95 or
higher respirator and negative-pressure airflow.
15. Which patient requires droplet precautions?
A. Patient with tuberculosis
B. Patient with influenza [CORRECT]
updated 2025/2026
Section 1: Nursing Process & Clinical Judgment
1. The nurse collects subjective and objective data during which phase of the
nursing process?
A. Planning
B. Assessment [CORRECT]
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Rationale: Assessment is the first phase, involving systematic collection of
subjective (patient-reported) and objective (observable/measurable) data.
2. Which action best demonstrates the "evaluation" phase of the nursing
process?
A. Writing a patient-centered goal
B. Administering a prescribed analgesic
C. Comparing patient outcomes to expected goals [CORRECT]
D. Obtaining a health history
Rationale: Evaluation determines whether goals were met by comparing actual
outcomes with expected outcomes.
3. A nurse identifies "risk for falls" as a patient problem. This is an example of:
A. A medical diagnosis
B. A collaborative problem
C. A nursing diagnosis [CORRECT]
D. A syndrome diagnosis
Rationale: Nursing diagnoses describe human responses to health conditions;
"risk for falls" is a NANDA-I nursing diagnosis.
,4. Which are components of a correctly written patient-centered goal? Select all
that apply.
A. Patient-specific [CORRECT]
B. Measurable [CORRECT]
C. Time-bound [CORRECT]
D. Written in medical jargon
E. Focused on nursing actions rather than patient outcomes
Rationale: Goals should be patient-centered, specific, measurable, attainable,
realistic, and time-bound (SMART). They describe patient outcomes, not nurse
actions.
5. The nurse prioritizes care using Maslow's hierarchy. Which patient need
should be addressed first?
A. A patient requesting help with grooming
B. A patient with an oxygen saturation of 86% [CORRECT]
C. A patient expressing loneliness
D. A patient asking about discharge teaching
Rationale: Airway/breathing (physiologic need) takes priority over psychosocial,
esteem, and self-actualization needs.
6. Which statement is an example of subjective data?
A. Blood pressure 148/92 mm Hg
B. "I feel dizzy when I stand up." [CORRECT]
C. Respirations 22/min
D. 2+ pitting edema in lower extremities
Rationale: Subjective data are what the patient reports; objective data are
measurable or observable.
7. A nurse uses the SBAR format during handoff. What does the "A" represent?
A. Action
B. Assessment [CORRECT]
C. Allergy
D. Admission
,Rationale: SBAR = Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation.
8. Which action reflects critical thinking in nursing?
A. Following a provider's order without question
B. Questioning an order that appears unsafe and seeking clarification [CORRECT]
C. Delegating assessment to unlicensed assistive personnel
D. Documenting care before providing it
Rationale: Critical thinking includes questioning, analyzing, and advocating for
safety.
9. Which patient problem is the highest priority?
A. Impaired skin integrity
B. Acute pain
C. Ineffective airway clearance [CORRECT]
D. Disturbed body image
Rationale: Airway always takes priority (ABCs).
10. A nurse writes: "Patient will ambulate 50 feet by postoperative day 2." This
is a:
A. Nursing intervention
B. Short-term goal [CORRECT]
C. Long-term goal
D. Medical order
Rationale: A goal achievable within days is short-term; measurable and time-
bound.
11. Which activity can the RN delegate to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
A. Initial patient assessment
B. Administering oral medications
C. Measuring and recording vital signs on a stable patient [CORRECT]
D. Developing the care plan
Rationale: UAP may perform routine, stable tasks; assessment, medication
administration, and care planning require the RN.
, 12. Which are examples of objective data? Select all that apply.
A. "My stomach hurts."
B. Temperature 101.2°F [CORRECT]
C. Vomited 200 mL clear emesis [CORRECT]
D. Patient states, "I'm nauseated."
E. Pallor of skin and mucous membranes [CORRECT]
Rationale: Objective data are measurable/observable; subjective data are patient-
reported.
Section 2: Infection Control & Safety
13. The single most effective way to prevent the spread of infection is:
A. Wearing gloves
B. Hand hygiene [CORRECT]
C. Isolating all patients
D. Administering antibiotics
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the primary and most effective infection-control
measure.
14. A nurse is caring for a patient on airborne precautions. Which PPE is
required?
A. Gloves only
B. Surgical mask
C. N95 respirator and negative-pressure room [CORRECT]
D. Gown and gloves only
Rationale: Airborne precautions (e.g., TB, measles, varicella) require an N95 or
higher respirator and negative-pressure airflow.
15. Which patient requires droplet precautions?
A. Patient with tuberculosis
B. Patient with influenza [CORRECT]
