HESI A2 V1- Critical Thinking
Questions and Answers | Latest
Version | 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
A nurse enters a room and sees smoke coming from an electrical outlet near the patient’s bed.
What is the first action the nurse should take?
✔✔Remove the patient from immediate danger.
A patient begins choking while eating in the hospital cafeteria. What should the nurse do first?
✔✔Ask if the patient can speak or cough.
The nurse notices an IV infusion pump alarming with an occlusion. What is the best initial
action?
✔✔Check the IV tubing for kinks or blockages.
A patient reports sudden chest pain and shortness of breath. What is the nurse’s first priority?
✔✔Assess airway, breathing, and circulation.
A nurse finds a patient lying on the floor after a fall. What should the nurse do first?
1
,✔✔Assess the patient for injury before moving them.
While giving medications, the nurse realizes a pill was dropped on the floor. What is the correct
action?
✔✔Discard the pill and obtain a new dose.
A nurse suspects that a coworker is impaired while on duty. What is the best action?
✔✔Report the concern to the charge nurse or supervisor.
The nurse is caring for a confused patient who keeps trying to pull out the IV line. What is the
best initial intervention?
✔✔Redirect and reorient the patient while ensuring safety.
A patient refuses a prescribed injection. What should the nurse do first?
✔✔Respect the refusal and explore the patient’s concerns.
A nurse smells alcohol on a coworker’s breath during the night shift. What is the priority action?
✔✔Report the coworker immediately to ensure patient safety.
2
, During a shift handoff, a nurse realizes an important medication was missed. What should the
nurse do?
✔✔Administer the medication safely and document the delay.
A patient with a new colostomy is crying and says, “I can’t live like this.” What is the best
nursing response?
✔✔Acknowledge their feelings and provide emotional support.
The nurse finds a medication error after administration. What is the first step?
✔✔Assess the patient for adverse effects.
A patient is admitted with shortness of breath and is restless. What is the nurse’s first priority?
✔✔Check oxygen saturation and apply oxygen if needed.
A visitor asks for confidential information about a patient. What should the nurse do?
✔✔Refuse to share information and protect patient privacy.
3
Questions and Answers | Latest
Version | 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
A nurse enters a room and sees smoke coming from an electrical outlet near the patient’s bed.
What is the first action the nurse should take?
✔✔Remove the patient from immediate danger.
A patient begins choking while eating in the hospital cafeteria. What should the nurse do first?
✔✔Ask if the patient can speak or cough.
The nurse notices an IV infusion pump alarming with an occlusion. What is the best initial
action?
✔✔Check the IV tubing for kinks or blockages.
A patient reports sudden chest pain and shortness of breath. What is the nurse’s first priority?
✔✔Assess airway, breathing, and circulation.
A nurse finds a patient lying on the floor after a fall. What should the nurse do first?
1
,✔✔Assess the patient for injury before moving them.
While giving medications, the nurse realizes a pill was dropped on the floor. What is the correct
action?
✔✔Discard the pill and obtain a new dose.
A nurse suspects that a coworker is impaired while on duty. What is the best action?
✔✔Report the concern to the charge nurse or supervisor.
The nurse is caring for a confused patient who keeps trying to pull out the IV line. What is the
best initial intervention?
✔✔Redirect and reorient the patient while ensuring safety.
A patient refuses a prescribed injection. What should the nurse do first?
✔✔Respect the refusal and explore the patient’s concerns.
A nurse smells alcohol on a coworker’s breath during the night shift. What is the priority action?
✔✔Report the coworker immediately to ensure patient safety.
2
, During a shift handoff, a nurse realizes an important medication was missed. What should the
nurse do?
✔✔Administer the medication safely and document the delay.
A patient with a new colostomy is crying and says, “I can’t live like this.” What is the best
nursing response?
✔✔Acknowledge their feelings and provide emotional support.
The nurse finds a medication error after administration. What is the first step?
✔✔Assess the patient for adverse effects.
A patient is admitted with shortness of breath and is restless. What is the nurse’s first priority?
✔✔Check oxygen saturation and apply oxygen if needed.
A visitor asks for confidential information about a patient. What should the nurse do?
✔✔Refuse to share information and protect patient privacy.
3
