HESI Fundamentals Examination
Practice Exam 100 Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant
Download Pdf
1. A nurse is assisting a client with ambulation when the client begins to feel
faint and starts to fall. What is the priority nursing action?
A) Check the client's carotid pulse.
B) Encourage the client to reach the toilet.
C) Call for help in a loud voice.
D) Gently lower the client to the floor.
D) Gently lower the client to the floor.
Lowering the client to the floor is the most prudent intervention to prevent
injury to both the client and the nurse when the client cannot support their
own weight. Checking the pulse and calling for help are important but should
occur after the client is in a safe position.
2. A nurse is transferring a client from the bed to a chair. Which technique
best ensures safety?
A) Place the chair parallel to the bed with its back toward the head of the bed.
B) Stand with feet spread apart and knees aligned with the client's knees, then
pivot the client.
C) Assist the client to stand by lifting upward under the axillae.
D) Stand beside the client and place the client's arms around the nurse's neck.
,B) Stand with feet spread apart and knees aligned with the client's knees,
then pivot the client.
This position provides the nurse with a wide base of support while stabilizing
the client's knees. The chair should be placed at a 45-degree angle to the bed,
not parallel. Lifting under the axillae can damage nerves, and having the
client place arms around the nurse's neck strains the nurse's back and
increases fall risk.
3. When turning an immobile bedridden client without assistance, which
action best ensures client safety?
A) Securely grasp the client's arm and leg.
B) Put bed rails up on the side of the bed opposite from the nurse.
C) Correctly position and use a turn sheet.
D) Lower the head of the client's bed slowly.
B) Put bed rails up on the side of the bed opposite from the nurse.
Because the nurse can only stand on one side of the bed, bed rails should be
up on the opposite side to prevent the client from falling out of bed. Grasping
the client's arm and leg can cause injury. While a turn sheet and lowering the
bed head are useful techniques, they do not have the same priority for safety
as bed rails.
4. The nurse is performing nasotracheal suctioning. After suctioning the
client's trachea for fifteen seconds, large amounts of thick yellow secretions
return. What action should the nurse implement next?
A) Encourage the client to cough to help loosen secretions.
B) Advise the client to increase the intake of oral fluids.
C) Rotate the suction catheter to obtain any remaining secretions.
D) Re-oxygenate the client before attempting to suction again.
D) Re-oxygenate the client before attempting to suction again.
,Suctioning should not be continued for longer than ten to fifteen seconds
because the client's oxygenation is compromised during this time. The nurse
must re-oxygenate the client before any additional suctioning attempts.
5. A client with a wrist restraint in place has a right hand that is cool to the
touch, with a blue tint and capillary refill greater than 3 seconds. What action
should the nurse implement first?
A) Loosen the right wrist restraint.
B) Apply a pulse oximeter to the right hand.
C) Compare hand color bilaterally.
D) Palpate the right radial pulse.
A) Loosen the right wrist restraint.
Blue fingers (cyanosis) indicate decreased circulation, and the priority nursing
action is to restore circulation by loosening the restraint. While comparing
hand color and palpating the pulse are important, they do not have the
priority of loosening the restraint to restore blood flow.
6. A hospitalized male client receiving nasogastric tube feedings via a small-
bore tube and continuous pump infusion reports a severe coughing episode a
few minutes ago but feels fine now. What action is best for the nurse to take?
A) Record the coughing incident. No further action is required at this time.
B) Stop the feeding, explain to the family why it is being stopped, and notify the
healthcare provider.
C) After clearing the tube with 30 ml of air, check the pH of fluid withdrawn
from the tube.
D) Inject 30 ml of air into the tube while auscultating the epigastrium for
gurgling.
C) After clearing the tube with 30 ml of air, check the pH of fluid withdrawn
from the tube.
Coughing can precipitate displacement of the tip of a small-bore feeding tube
upward into the esophagus, placing the client at risk for aspiration. Checking
, the pH of fluid withdrawn from the tube is a more sensitive method for
assessing tube placement. The auscultation method has been found to be
unreliable for small-bore tubes.
7. The nurse is administering medications through a nasogastric tube
connected to suction. After ensuring correct tube placement, what action
should the nurse take next?
A) Clamp the tube for 20 minutes.
B) Flush the tube with water.
C) Administer the medications as prescribed.
D) Crush the tablets and dissolve in sterile water.
B) Flush the tube with water.
The NGT should be flushed before, after, and in between each medication
administered. Once all medications are administered, the tube should be
clamped for 20 minutes. Medications may be administered only after the
tubing has been flushed.
8. A client in hospice care complains of increasing pain. The provider
prescribes an analgesic every four hours as needed. Which action should the
nurse implement?
A) Give an around-the-clock schedule for administration of analgesics.
B) Administer analgesic medication as needed when the pain is severe.
C) Provide medication to keep the client sedated and unaware of stimuli.
D) Offer a medication-free period so the client can do daily activities.
A) Give an around-the-clock schedule for administration of analgesics.
For clients in hospice care, around-the-clock (ATC) scheduling of analgesics is
preferred to maintain consistent pain relief and prevent breakthrough pain
rather than waiting for severe pain as with PRN dosing.
Practice Exam 100 Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant
Download Pdf
1. A nurse is assisting a client with ambulation when the client begins to feel
faint and starts to fall. What is the priority nursing action?
A) Check the client's carotid pulse.
B) Encourage the client to reach the toilet.
C) Call for help in a loud voice.
D) Gently lower the client to the floor.
D) Gently lower the client to the floor.
Lowering the client to the floor is the most prudent intervention to prevent
injury to both the client and the nurse when the client cannot support their
own weight. Checking the pulse and calling for help are important but should
occur after the client is in a safe position.
2. A nurse is transferring a client from the bed to a chair. Which technique
best ensures safety?
A) Place the chair parallel to the bed with its back toward the head of the bed.
B) Stand with feet spread apart and knees aligned with the client's knees, then
pivot the client.
C) Assist the client to stand by lifting upward under the axillae.
D) Stand beside the client and place the client's arms around the nurse's neck.
,B) Stand with feet spread apart and knees aligned with the client's knees,
then pivot the client.
This position provides the nurse with a wide base of support while stabilizing
the client's knees. The chair should be placed at a 45-degree angle to the bed,
not parallel. Lifting under the axillae can damage nerves, and having the
client place arms around the nurse's neck strains the nurse's back and
increases fall risk.
3. When turning an immobile bedridden client without assistance, which
action best ensures client safety?
A) Securely grasp the client's arm and leg.
B) Put bed rails up on the side of the bed opposite from the nurse.
C) Correctly position and use a turn sheet.
D) Lower the head of the client's bed slowly.
B) Put bed rails up on the side of the bed opposite from the nurse.
Because the nurse can only stand on one side of the bed, bed rails should be
up on the opposite side to prevent the client from falling out of bed. Grasping
the client's arm and leg can cause injury. While a turn sheet and lowering the
bed head are useful techniques, they do not have the same priority for safety
as bed rails.
4. The nurse is performing nasotracheal suctioning. After suctioning the
client's trachea for fifteen seconds, large amounts of thick yellow secretions
return. What action should the nurse implement next?
A) Encourage the client to cough to help loosen secretions.
B) Advise the client to increase the intake of oral fluids.
C) Rotate the suction catheter to obtain any remaining secretions.
D) Re-oxygenate the client before attempting to suction again.
D) Re-oxygenate the client before attempting to suction again.
,Suctioning should not be continued for longer than ten to fifteen seconds
because the client's oxygenation is compromised during this time. The nurse
must re-oxygenate the client before any additional suctioning attempts.
5. A client with a wrist restraint in place has a right hand that is cool to the
touch, with a blue tint and capillary refill greater than 3 seconds. What action
should the nurse implement first?
A) Loosen the right wrist restraint.
B) Apply a pulse oximeter to the right hand.
C) Compare hand color bilaterally.
D) Palpate the right radial pulse.
A) Loosen the right wrist restraint.
Blue fingers (cyanosis) indicate decreased circulation, and the priority nursing
action is to restore circulation by loosening the restraint. While comparing
hand color and palpating the pulse are important, they do not have the
priority of loosening the restraint to restore blood flow.
6. A hospitalized male client receiving nasogastric tube feedings via a small-
bore tube and continuous pump infusion reports a severe coughing episode a
few minutes ago but feels fine now. What action is best for the nurse to take?
A) Record the coughing incident. No further action is required at this time.
B) Stop the feeding, explain to the family why it is being stopped, and notify the
healthcare provider.
C) After clearing the tube with 30 ml of air, check the pH of fluid withdrawn
from the tube.
D) Inject 30 ml of air into the tube while auscultating the epigastrium for
gurgling.
C) After clearing the tube with 30 ml of air, check the pH of fluid withdrawn
from the tube.
Coughing can precipitate displacement of the tip of a small-bore feeding tube
upward into the esophagus, placing the client at risk for aspiration. Checking
, the pH of fluid withdrawn from the tube is a more sensitive method for
assessing tube placement. The auscultation method has been found to be
unreliable for small-bore tubes.
7. The nurse is administering medications through a nasogastric tube
connected to suction. After ensuring correct tube placement, what action
should the nurse take next?
A) Clamp the tube for 20 minutes.
B) Flush the tube with water.
C) Administer the medications as prescribed.
D) Crush the tablets and dissolve in sterile water.
B) Flush the tube with water.
The NGT should be flushed before, after, and in between each medication
administered. Once all medications are administered, the tube should be
clamped for 20 minutes. Medications may be administered only after the
tubing has been flushed.
8. A client in hospice care complains of increasing pain. The provider
prescribes an analgesic every four hours as needed. Which action should the
nurse implement?
A) Give an around-the-clock schedule for administration of analgesics.
B) Administer analgesic medication as needed when the pain is severe.
C) Provide medication to keep the client sedated and unaware of stimuli.
D) Offer a medication-free period so the client can do daily activities.
A) Give an around-the-clock schedule for administration of analgesics.
For clients in hospice care, around-the-clock (ATC) scheduling of analgesics is
preferred to maintain consistent pain relief and prevent breakthrough pain
rather than waiting for severe pain as with PRN dosing.
