HESI PN EXIT EXAM VERSION 1-
VERSION 10 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
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Core Domains
Fundamentals of Nursing
Medical-Surgical Nursing
Pharmacology and Medication Safety
Maternal and Newborn Nursing
Pediatric Nursing
Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
Leadership, Management, and Delegation
Safety, Infection Control, and Prioritization
Community Health Nursing
Introduction
The HESI PN Exit Exam assesses the clinical judgment and nursing
knowledge required for safe, effective entry-level practical nursing
practice. It evaluates competency across major client-need
categories, including fundamentals, medical-surgical, pharmacology,
maternal-newborn, pediatric, psychiatric, leadership, and
community health. The exam employs multiple-choice, select-all-
,that-apply, ordered-response, and Next Generation NCLEX-style case
studies to test real-world application and decision-making.
Candidates must demonstrate the ability to analyze clinical data,
prioritize care, and apply evidence-based nursing interventions
across diverse patient populations.
Section One: Questions 1–400
Question 1
A Korean female exchange student avoids eye contact when asked
about sexual activity. What should the PN do?
A. Omit the question
B. Use an interpreter
C. Reword the question
D. Ask the question again more loudly
C. Reword the question
RATIONALE: Open-ended questions build trust and encourage
honest communication. The PN should rephrase the question to be
more culturally sensitive and direct, understanding that avoidance
of eye contact may be a cultural norm rather than a sign of
deception.
Question 2
A confused long-term care resident has no ID band. What should
the PN do before giving medication?
A. Ask staff to confirm identity
B. Wait for family
,C. Reorient the resident
D. Verify room and bed number
D. Verify room and bed number
RATIONALE: Facility-approved identifiers must be used to
confirm identity. Room and bed number provide objective
verification when the ID band is missing. Relying on staff memory
increases error risk. Medication safety requires multiple identifiers.
Question 3
A burn client with 40% TBSA has urine output of 20 mL/hr. What
action is required?
A. Encourage oral intake
B. Monitor closely
C. Administer pain meds
D. Report immediately
D. Report immediately
RATIONALE: Urine output below 30 mL/hr indicates
inadequate perfusion. Burn patients are at high risk for hypovolemic
shock. Immediate intervention may prevent renal failure. This is a
critical finding.
Question 4
A child receiving a blood transfusion reports itching and flushing
after 15 minutes. What is the PN's first action?
A. Apply lotion
B. Stop transfusion
, C. Check IV site
D. Obtain vital signs
B. Stop transfusion
RATIONALE: Itching and flushing are early signs of a
transfusion reaction. Stopping the transfusion prevents progression.
Further assessment follows cessation. Continuing the infusion can
be life-threatening.
Question 5
The PN is caring for a client with COPD. Which finding requires
immediate intervention?
A. Barrel-shaped chest
B. Oxygen saturation of 88%
C. Use of accessory muscles
D. Productive cough with sputum
C. Use of accessory muscles
RATIONALE: Use of accessory muscles indicates increased work
of breathing and respiratory distress. This suggests the client may
be decompensating and requires prompt intervention. Barrel chest
and productive cough are common in COPD. Oxygen saturation of
88% may be acceptable for some COPD clients.
Question 6
A client receiving IV potassium chloride complains of burning at
the IV site. What should the PN do first?
VERSION 10 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
Fundamentals of Nursing
Medical-Surgical Nursing
Pharmacology and Medication Safety
Maternal and Newborn Nursing
Pediatric Nursing
Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
Leadership, Management, and Delegation
Safety, Infection Control, and Prioritization
Community Health Nursing
Introduction
The HESI PN Exit Exam assesses the clinical judgment and nursing
knowledge required for safe, effective entry-level practical nursing
practice. It evaluates competency across major client-need
categories, including fundamentals, medical-surgical, pharmacology,
maternal-newborn, pediatric, psychiatric, leadership, and
community health. The exam employs multiple-choice, select-all-
,that-apply, ordered-response, and Next Generation NCLEX-style case
studies to test real-world application and decision-making.
Candidates must demonstrate the ability to analyze clinical data,
prioritize care, and apply evidence-based nursing interventions
across diverse patient populations.
Section One: Questions 1–400
Question 1
A Korean female exchange student avoids eye contact when asked
about sexual activity. What should the PN do?
A. Omit the question
B. Use an interpreter
C. Reword the question
D. Ask the question again more loudly
C. Reword the question
RATIONALE: Open-ended questions build trust and encourage
honest communication. The PN should rephrase the question to be
more culturally sensitive and direct, understanding that avoidance
of eye contact may be a cultural norm rather than a sign of
deception.
Question 2
A confused long-term care resident has no ID band. What should
the PN do before giving medication?
A. Ask staff to confirm identity
B. Wait for family
,C. Reorient the resident
D. Verify room and bed number
D. Verify room and bed number
RATIONALE: Facility-approved identifiers must be used to
confirm identity. Room and bed number provide objective
verification when the ID band is missing. Relying on staff memory
increases error risk. Medication safety requires multiple identifiers.
Question 3
A burn client with 40% TBSA has urine output of 20 mL/hr. What
action is required?
A. Encourage oral intake
B. Monitor closely
C. Administer pain meds
D. Report immediately
D. Report immediately
RATIONALE: Urine output below 30 mL/hr indicates
inadequate perfusion. Burn patients are at high risk for hypovolemic
shock. Immediate intervention may prevent renal failure. This is a
critical finding.
Question 4
A child receiving a blood transfusion reports itching and flushing
after 15 minutes. What is the PN's first action?
A. Apply lotion
B. Stop transfusion
, C. Check IV site
D. Obtain vital signs
B. Stop transfusion
RATIONALE: Itching and flushing are early signs of a
transfusion reaction. Stopping the transfusion prevents progression.
Further assessment follows cessation. Continuing the infusion can
be life-threatening.
Question 5
The PN is caring for a client with COPD. Which finding requires
immediate intervention?
A. Barrel-shaped chest
B. Oxygen saturation of 88%
C. Use of accessory muscles
D. Productive cough with sputum
C. Use of accessory muscles
RATIONALE: Use of accessory muscles indicates increased work
of breathing and respiratory distress. This suggests the client may
be decompensating and requires prompt intervention. Barrel chest
and productive cough are common in COPD. Oxygen saturation of
88% may be acceptable for some COPD clients.
Question 6
A client receiving IV potassium chloride complains of burning at
the IV site. What should the PN do first?
