HESI Specialty Exam | Verified
Questions and Correct Answers |
A+ Graded | 2025/2026 Edition
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION
This document provides a complete and verified set of questions and 100% correct answers
from the HESI Specialty Exam, tailored to the 2025/2026 testing standards. It includes
detailed content from specialty areas such as Pediatrics, Maternity, Critical Care, Psychiatric-
Mental Health, and Community Health, depending on the chosen focus. This A+ graded
study guide is structured to reflect real HESI specialty testing format and is ideal for nursing
students preparing for discipline-specific certification and graduation benchmarks.
SECTION 2: EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. A pediatric nurse observes a 3-year-old with a heart rate of 130 bpm. What
action is most appropriate?
A. Administer oxygen immediately
B. Assess for fever or distress
C. Initiate CPR
D. Refer to surgery
Correct Answer: B. Assess for fever or distress
Rationale: A heart rate of 130 bpm is within normal range for a 3-year-old (80-130
bpm) but warrants assessment for underlying causes like fever or dehydration.
2. A maternity nurse notes decreased fetal movement. What is the priority?
A. Schedule an ultrasound
B. Notify the healthcare provider
C. Encourage maternal rest
D. Administer IV fluids
Correct Answer: B. Notify the healthcare provider
Rationale: Decreased fetal movement is a critical sign of fetal distress, requiring
immediate provider notification.
3. A critical care nurse manages a patient with a BP of 90/50 mmHg. What
intervention is initial?
A. Administer vasopressors
B. Perform a fluid challenge
C. Insert a central line
D. Order a CT scan
Correct Answer: B. Perform a fluid challenge
Rationale: Hypotension may indicate hypovolemia; a fluid challenge is the first step
to assess response.
,4. A psychiatric nurse encounters a patient with auditory hallucinations. What is
the best response?
A. Ignore the hallucinations
B. Ask the patient to describe them
C. Administer antipsychotics immediately
D. Restrain the patient
Correct Answer: B. Ask the patient to describe them
Rationale: Assessing the hallucinations helps determine severity and guides treatment.
5. A community health nurse plans a vaccination clinic. What population is
priority?
A. Healthy adults
B. Children under 5
C. Elderly with chronic illness
D. Pregnant women
Correct Answer: C. Elderly with chronic illness
Rationale: The elderly with chronic conditions are at higher risk for complications,
making them a priority.
6. A pediatric patient has a temperature of 39°C (102.2°F). What is the next step?
A. Apply a cooling blanket
B. Administer acetaminophen
C. Order a lumbar puncture
D. Start antibiotics
Correct Answer: B. Administer acetaminophen
Rationale: Acetaminophen reduces fever safely; further diagnostics depend on clinical
assessment.
7. During labor, a nurse notes a fetal heart rate of 180 bpm. What action is needed?
A. Prepare for emergency cesarean
B. Reposition the mother
C. Continue monitoring
D. Administer oxytocin
Correct Answer: B. Reposition the mother
Rationale: Tachycardia may indicate cord compression; repositioning can relieve
pressure.
8. A critical care patient has a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 7. What is indicated?
A. Mild injury
B. Moderate injury
C. Severe injury
D. Normal function
Correct Answer: C. Severe injury
Rationale: A score of 7 indicates severe traumatic brain injury, requiring urgent
intervention.
9. A psychiatric patient exhibits flat affect. What is a likely diagnosis?
A. Bipolar disorder
B. Schizophrenia
C. Anxiety disorder
D. Major depression
Correct Answer: B. Schizophrenia
Rationale: Flat affect is a common negative symptom of schizophrenia.
10. A community health nurse identifies a rise in TB cases. What is the best action?
A. Start mass screening
, B. Isolate all residents
C. Educate on symptoms
D. Administer BCG vaccine
Correct Answer: A. Start mass screening
Rationale: Screening identifies cases early, enabling targeted treatment.
11. A 4-year-old refuses to eat. What is the nurse’s best approach?
A. Force-feed the child
B. Offer small, appealing portions
C. Consult a dietitian immediately
D. Restrict fluids
Correct Answer: B. Offer small, appealing portions
Rationale: Small, attractive portions encourage eating without distress.
12. A maternity patient has a BP of 150/95 mmHg at 38 weeks. What is suspected?
A. Gestational diabetes
B. Preeclampsia
C. Anemia
D. Placenta previa
Correct Answer: B. Preeclampsia
Rationale: Hypertension after 20 weeks suggests preeclampsia.
13. A critical care patient on a ventilator has low oxygen saturation. What to check
first?
A. Endotracheal tube placement
B. IV line patency
C. Medication dosage
D. Bed positioning
Correct Answer: A. Endotracheal tube placement
Rationale: Misplacement can cause hypoxia; checking is priority.
14. A psychiatric patient is suicidal. What is the nurse’s immediate action?
A. Conduct a risk assessment
B. Administer sedatives
C. Remove harmful objects
D. Refer to therapy
Correct Answer: C. Remove harmful objects
Rationale: Safety is the first step in managing suicidal risk.
15. A community health nurse plans a health fair. What topic is most relevant?
A. Weight loss diets
B. Chronic disease management
C. Cosmetic surgery
D. Fitness trends
Correct Answer: B. Chronic disease management
Rationale: Chronic diseases are a major public health concern.
16. A pediatric patient has stridor. What condition is likely?
A. Asthma
B. Croup
C. Pneumonia
D. Bronchitis
Correct Answer: B. Croup
Rationale: Stridor is a hallmark of croup.
17. A maternity patient reports leaking fluid. What is the nurse’s priority?
A. Check for amniotic fluid
Questions and Correct Answers |
A+ Graded | 2025/2026 Edition
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION
This document provides a complete and verified set of questions and 100% correct answers
from the HESI Specialty Exam, tailored to the 2025/2026 testing standards. It includes
detailed content from specialty areas such as Pediatrics, Maternity, Critical Care, Psychiatric-
Mental Health, and Community Health, depending on the chosen focus. This A+ graded
study guide is structured to reflect real HESI specialty testing format and is ideal for nursing
students preparing for discipline-specific certification and graduation benchmarks.
SECTION 2: EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. A pediatric nurse observes a 3-year-old with a heart rate of 130 bpm. What
action is most appropriate?
A. Administer oxygen immediately
B. Assess for fever or distress
C. Initiate CPR
D. Refer to surgery
Correct Answer: B. Assess for fever or distress
Rationale: A heart rate of 130 bpm is within normal range for a 3-year-old (80-130
bpm) but warrants assessment for underlying causes like fever or dehydration.
2. A maternity nurse notes decreased fetal movement. What is the priority?
A. Schedule an ultrasound
B. Notify the healthcare provider
C. Encourage maternal rest
D. Administer IV fluids
Correct Answer: B. Notify the healthcare provider
Rationale: Decreased fetal movement is a critical sign of fetal distress, requiring
immediate provider notification.
3. A critical care nurse manages a patient with a BP of 90/50 mmHg. What
intervention is initial?
A. Administer vasopressors
B. Perform a fluid challenge
C. Insert a central line
D. Order a CT scan
Correct Answer: B. Perform a fluid challenge
Rationale: Hypotension may indicate hypovolemia; a fluid challenge is the first step
to assess response.
,4. A psychiatric nurse encounters a patient with auditory hallucinations. What is
the best response?
A. Ignore the hallucinations
B. Ask the patient to describe them
C. Administer antipsychotics immediately
D. Restrain the patient
Correct Answer: B. Ask the patient to describe them
Rationale: Assessing the hallucinations helps determine severity and guides treatment.
5. A community health nurse plans a vaccination clinic. What population is
priority?
A. Healthy adults
B. Children under 5
C. Elderly with chronic illness
D. Pregnant women
Correct Answer: C. Elderly with chronic illness
Rationale: The elderly with chronic conditions are at higher risk for complications,
making them a priority.
6. A pediatric patient has a temperature of 39°C (102.2°F). What is the next step?
A. Apply a cooling blanket
B. Administer acetaminophen
C. Order a lumbar puncture
D. Start antibiotics
Correct Answer: B. Administer acetaminophen
Rationale: Acetaminophen reduces fever safely; further diagnostics depend on clinical
assessment.
7. During labor, a nurse notes a fetal heart rate of 180 bpm. What action is needed?
A. Prepare for emergency cesarean
B. Reposition the mother
C. Continue monitoring
D. Administer oxytocin
Correct Answer: B. Reposition the mother
Rationale: Tachycardia may indicate cord compression; repositioning can relieve
pressure.
8. A critical care patient has a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 7. What is indicated?
A. Mild injury
B. Moderate injury
C. Severe injury
D. Normal function
Correct Answer: C. Severe injury
Rationale: A score of 7 indicates severe traumatic brain injury, requiring urgent
intervention.
9. A psychiatric patient exhibits flat affect. What is a likely diagnosis?
A. Bipolar disorder
B. Schizophrenia
C. Anxiety disorder
D. Major depression
Correct Answer: B. Schizophrenia
Rationale: Flat affect is a common negative symptom of schizophrenia.
10. A community health nurse identifies a rise in TB cases. What is the best action?
A. Start mass screening
, B. Isolate all residents
C. Educate on symptoms
D. Administer BCG vaccine
Correct Answer: A. Start mass screening
Rationale: Screening identifies cases early, enabling targeted treatment.
11. A 4-year-old refuses to eat. What is the nurse’s best approach?
A. Force-feed the child
B. Offer small, appealing portions
C. Consult a dietitian immediately
D. Restrict fluids
Correct Answer: B. Offer small, appealing portions
Rationale: Small, attractive portions encourage eating without distress.
12. A maternity patient has a BP of 150/95 mmHg at 38 weeks. What is suspected?
A. Gestational diabetes
B. Preeclampsia
C. Anemia
D. Placenta previa
Correct Answer: B. Preeclampsia
Rationale: Hypertension after 20 weeks suggests preeclampsia.
13. A critical care patient on a ventilator has low oxygen saturation. What to check
first?
A. Endotracheal tube placement
B. IV line patency
C. Medication dosage
D. Bed positioning
Correct Answer: A. Endotracheal tube placement
Rationale: Misplacement can cause hypoxia; checking is priority.
14. A psychiatric patient is suicidal. What is the nurse’s immediate action?
A. Conduct a risk assessment
B. Administer sedatives
C. Remove harmful objects
D. Refer to therapy
Correct Answer: C. Remove harmful objects
Rationale: Safety is the first step in managing suicidal risk.
15. A community health nurse plans a health fair. What topic is most relevant?
A. Weight loss diets
B. Chronic disease management
C. Cosmetic surgery
D. Fitness trends
Correct Answer: B. Chronic disease management
Rationale: Chronic diseases are a major public health concern.
16. A pediatric patient has stridor. What condition is likely?
A. Asthma
B. Croup
C. Pneumonia
D. Bronchitis
Correct Answer: B. Croup
Rationale: Stridor is a hallmark of croup.
17. A maternity patient reports leaking fluid. What is the nurse’s priority?
A. Check for amniotic fluid
