HESI RN EXIT Exam Questions
and Answers (100% Verified
Answers) – 2026 Latest
Update
1. In planning care for a 6 month-old infant, what
must the nurse provide to assist in the development
of trust?
A) Food
B) Warmth
C) Security
D) Comfort
Correct Answer: C) Security
Rationale: According to Erikson's psychosocial development
theory, infancy (birth to 18 months) is the stage of trust
versus mistrust. Providing security helps the infant develop a
sense of trust.
2. A nurse has just received a medication order which
is not legible. Which statement best reflects assertive
communication?
A) "I cannot give this medication as it is written. I have no
idea of what you mean."
B) "Would you please clarify what you have written so I am
sure I am reading it correctly?"
C) "I am having difficulty reading your handwriting. It would
save me time if you would be more careful."
D) "Please print in the future so I do not have to spend extra
time attempting to read your writing."
Correct Answer: B) "Would you please clarify what you
have written so I am sure I am reading it correctly?"
Rationale: Assertive communication is respectful and direct;
asking for clarification in a professional manner ensures
client safety without being aggressive.
3. What is the most important consideration when
teaching parents how to reduce risks in the home?
1
,A) Age and knowledge level of the parents
B) Proximity to emergency services
C) Number of children in the home
D) Age of children in the home
Correct Answer: D) Age of children in the home
Rationale: The age of the children determines their
developmental abilities and specific safety risks, making it
the most important consideration for home safety teaching.
4. A 35 year-old client with sickle cell crisis is talking
on the telephone but stops as the nurse enters the
room to request something for pain. The nurse should
A) Administer a placebo
B) Encourage increased fluid intake
C) Administer the prescribed analgesia
D) Recommend relaxation exercises for pain control
Correct Answer: C) Administer the prescribed
analgesia
Rationale: Pain in sickle cell crisis is severe and real; the
nurse should administer prescribed analgesia promptly.
5. While caring for a toddler with croup, which initial
sign of croup requires the nurse's immediate
attention?
A) Respiratory rate of 42
B) Lethargy for the past hour
C) Apical pulse of 54
D) Coughing up copious secretions
Correct Answer: A) Respiratory rate of 42
Rationale: A respiratory rate of 42 in a toddler indicates
respiratory distress and requires immediate attention.
6. A client is admitted with low T3 and T4 levels and
an elevated TSH level. On initial assessment, the
nurse would anticipate which of the following
assessment findings?
2
,A) Lethargy
B) Heat intolerance
C) Diarrhea
D) Skin eruptions
Correct Answer: A) Lethargy
Rationale: Low T3/T4 with elevated TSH indicates
hypothyroidism, which causes lethargy, fatigue, and cold
intolerance.
7. The emergency room nurse admits a child who
experienced a seizure at school. The father comments
that this is the first occurrence and denies any family
history of epilepsy. What is the best response by the
nurse?
A) "Do not worry. Epilepsy can be treated with medications."
B) "The seizure may or may not mean your child has
epilepsy."
C) "Since this was the first convulsion, it may not happen
again."
D) "Long term treatment will prevent future seizures."
Correct Answer: B) "The seizure may or may not mean
your child has epilepsy."
Rationale: A single seizure does not confirm epilepsy; this
response is honest and avoids giving false reassurance.
8. Alcohol and drug abuse impairs judgment and
increases risk taking behavior. What nursing
diagnosis best applies?
A) Risk for injury
B) Risk for knowledge deficit
C) Altered thought process
D) Disturbance in self-esteem
Correct Answer: A) Risk for injury
Rationale: Impaired judgment and risk-taking behavior
directly increase the risk for injury.
3
, 9. Which of these findings would the nurse more
closely associate with anemia in a 10 month-old
infant?
A) Hemoglobin level of 12 g/dl
B) Pale mucosa of the eyelids and lips
C) Hypoactivity
D) A heart rate between 140 to 160
Correct Answer: B) Pale mucosa of the eyelids and lips
Rationale: Pale mucosa of the eyelids and lips is a classic
sign of anemia in infants.
10. The nurse is caring for a client in hypertensive
crisis in an intensive care unit. The priority
assessment in the first hour of care is
A) Heart rate
B) Pedal pulses
C) Lung sounds
D) Pupil responses
Correct Answer: D) Pupil responses
Rationale: In hypertensive crisis, assessing pupil responses
helps detect increased intracranial pressure and neurological
deterioration.
11. Which of these clients who are all in the terminal
stage of cancer is least appropriate to suggest the
use of patient controlled analgesia (PCA) with a
pump?
A) A young adult with a history of Down's syndrome
B) A teenager who reads at a 4th grade level
C) An elderly client with numerous arthritic nodules on the
hands
D) A preschooler with intermittent episodes of alertness
Correct Answer: D) A preschooler with intermittent
episodes of alertness
Rationale: A preschooler with intermittent alertness cannot
reliably use a PCA pump, making it inappropriate.
4
and Answers (100% Verified
Answers) – 2026 Latest
Update
1. In planning care for a 6 month-old infant, what
must the nurse provide to assist in the development
of trust?
A) Food
B) Warmth
C) Security
D) Comfort
Correct Answer: C) Security
Rationale: According to Erikson's psychosocial development
theory, infancy (birth to 18 months) is the stage of trust
versus mistrust. Providing security helps the infant develop a
sense of trust.
2. A nurse has just received a medication order which
is not legible. Which statement best reflects assertive
communication?
A) "I cannot give this medication as it is written. I have no
idea of what you mean."
B) "Would you please clarify what you have written so I am
sure I am reading it correctly?"
C) "I am having difficulty reading your handwriting. It would
save me time if you would be more careful."
D) "Please print in the future so I do not have to spend extra
time attempting to read your writing."
Correct Answer: B) "Would you please clarify what you
have written so I am sure I am reading it correctly?"
Rationale: Assertive communication is respectful and direct;
asking for clarification in a professional manner ensures
client safety without being aggressive.
3. What is the most important consideration when
teaching parents how to reduce risks in the home?
1
,A) Age and knowledge level of the parents
B) Proximity to emergency services
C) Number of children in the home
D) Age of children in the home
Correct Answer: D) Age of children in the home
Rationale: The age of the children determines their
developmental abilities and specific safety risks, making it
the most important consideration for home safety teaching.
4. A 35 year-old client with sickle cell crisis is talking
on the telephone but stops as the nurse enters the
room to request something for pain. The nurse should
A) Administer a placebo
B) Encourage increased fluid intake
C) Administer the prescribed analgesia
D) Recommend relaxation exercises for pain control
Correct Answer: C) Administer the prescribed
analgesia
Rationale: Pain in sickle cell crisis is severe and real; the
nurse should administer prescribed analgesia promptly.
5. While caring for a toddler with croup, which initial
sign of croup requires the nurse's immediate
attention?
A) Respiratory rate of 42
B) Lethargy for the past hour
C) Apical pulse of 54
D) Coughing up copious secretions
Correct Answer: A) Respiratory rate of 42
Rationale: A respiratory rate of 42 in a toddler indicates
respiratory distress and requires immediate attention.
6. A client is admitted with low T3 and T4 levels and
an elevated TSH level. On initial assessment, the
nurse would anticipate which of the following
assessment findings?
2
,A) Lethargy
B) Heat intolerance
C) Diarrhea
D) Skin eruptions
Correct Answer: A) Lethargy
Rationale: Low T3/T4 with elevated TSH indicates
hypothyroidism, which causes lethargy, fatigue, and cold
intolerance.
7. The emergency room nurse admits a child who
experienced a seizure at school. The father comments
that this is the first occurrence and denies any family
history of epilepsy. What is the best response by the
nurse?
A) "Do not worry. Epilepsy can be treated with medications."
B) "The seizure may or may not mean your child has
epilepsy."
C) "Since this was the first convulsion, it may not happen
again."
D) "Long term treatment will prevent future seizures."
Correct Answer: B) "The seizure may or may not mean
your child has epilepsy."
Rationale: A single seizure does not confirm epilepsy; this
response is honest and avoids giving false reassurance.
8. Alcohol and drug abuse impairs judgment and
increases risk taking behavior. What nursing
diagnosis best applies?
A) Risk for injury
B) Risk for knowledge deficit
C) Altered thought process
D) Disturbance in self-esteem
Correct Answer: A) Risk for injury
Rationale: Impaired judgment and risk-taking behavior
directly increase the risk for injury.
3
, 9. Which of these findings would the nurse more
closely associate with anemia in a 10 month-old
infant?
A) Hemoglobin level of 12 g/dl
B) Pale mucosa of the eyelids and lips
C) Hypoactivity
D) A heart rate between 140 to 160
Correct Answer: B) Pale mucosa of the eyelids and lips
Rationale: Pale mucosa of the eyelids and lips is a classic
sign of anemia in infants.
10. The nurse is caring for a client in hypertensive
crisis in an intensive care unit. The priority
assessment in the first hour of care is
A) Heart rate
B) Pedal pulses
C) Lung sounds
D) Pupil responses
Correct Answer: D) Pupil responses
Rationale: In hypertensive crisis, assessing pupil responses
helps detect increased intracranial pressure and neurological
deterioration.
11. Which of these clients who are all in the terminal
stage of cancer is least appropriate to suggest the
use of patient controlled analgesia (PCA) with a
pump?
A) A young adult with a history of Down's syndrome
B) A teenager who reads at a 4th grade level
C) An elderly client with numerous arthritic nodules on the
hands
D) A preschooler with intermittent episodes of alertness
Correct Answer: D) A preschooler with intermittent
episodes of alertness
Rationale: A preschooler with intermittent alertness cannot
reliably use a PCA pump, making it inappropriate.
4
