HESI CRITICAL CARE EXIT EXAM 2025-2026 /
CRITICAL CARE HESI EXIT EXAM 2026 ACTUAL
EXAM ALL 100 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS |ALREADY GRADED A+
Overview:
This exam prep covers the essential areas of critical care nursing, including hemodynamic
monitoring, ventilator management, cardiovascular emergencies, neurological disorders, sepsis,
trauma, and complex patient management. Each question is paired with detailed rationales,
reinforcing knowledge while strengthening clinical reasoning and test-taking strategies.
Key Features:
Complete set of 100 critical care exam questions.
Verified correct answers with clear, detailed explanations.
Comprehensive coverage of critical care concepts and patient scenarios.
Reflects the latest HESI Exit Exam standards for 2025–2026.
Includes prioritization, delegation, and advanced clinical judgment questions.
Purpose:
To prepare nursing students for the HESI Critical Care Exit Exam.
To reinforce advanced nursing knowledge in high-acuity patient care.
To improve critical thinking and test-taking strategies for success.
To serve as a reliable self-study and review resource.
Recommended For:
Final-semester RN students preparing for the HESI Critical Care Exit Exam.
Nursing students seeking focused practice in high-acuity/ICU-level care.
Learners who want detailed rationales to strengthen comprehension.
Nurse educators integrating exam-style practice into critical care courses.
The nurse cares for a client with a cuffed tracheostomy tube. Before performing oral care, the nurse
notes that the client's tracheostomy cuff is inflated. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate
action for the nurse to take?
1. Leave the cuff inflated and suction through the tracheostomy.
2. Deflate the cuff and suction through the tracheostomy tube.
3. Inflate the cuff pressure to 40 mm Hg before suctioning.
4. Adjust the wall suction pressure to 160 to 180 mm Hg before suctioning. - ANSWER-1
,A young adult brings a friend to the emergency department and states that the friend has been using
heroin. Which action by the nurse is the MOST appropriate?
1. Assess pupil size and reactivity.
2. Assess oxygen saturation levels.
3. Palpate dorsalis pedis pulses.
4. Ask the client if he knows today's date - ANSWER-2
The client tells the clinic nurse that the client is thinking about using nicotine polacrilex (Nicorette).
Which question is MOST important for the nurse to ask?
1. "Have you tried other methods to stop smoking?"
2. "How long have you been smoking?"
3. "Have you ever had chest pain?"
4. "Do you have a partial dental bridge?" - ANSWER-3
The nurse cares for the client with a client controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. The nurse determines that
the client has pressed the button 11 times and received 6 doses of morphine during the last hour. Which
is the MOST appropriate action for the nurse to take?
1. Assess the patency of the PCA IV tubing.
2. Determine the client's understanding of the PCA pump function.
3. Obtain an order to begin a PCA infusion of fentanyl.
4. Ask the client to describe the pain. - ANSWER-4
A pregnant woman receives an epidural anesthetic. After administration of the epidural anesthetic, the
client's blood pressure changes from 120/84 to 94/50. Which action by the nurse is MOST appropriate?
1. Place the client flat on her back.
2. Elevate the head of the bed 30 degrees.
3. Place the client on her left side with her legs flexed.
4. Place the client supine with the foot of the bed elevated - ANSWER-3
, A nursing order, "Increase fluid intake" is written for a client diagnosed with dehydration. Which finding
BEST indicates improving fluid status?
1. Urinary output of 1,500 mL in 24 hours.
2. Serum hematocrit 52%.
3. Oral fluid intake of 900 mL in 24 hours.
4. Blood pressure of 100/82. - ANSWER-1
The nurse prepares to administer the initial dose of oral enalapril (Vasotec) 20 mg in the morning. Which
medication should the nurse question giving to the client?
1. 20 mg oral escitalopram (Celexa) in the morning.
2. 40 mg oral furosemide (Lasix) in the morning.
3. 300 mg of oral gabapentin (Neurontin) twice daily.
4. 10 mg zolpidem (Ambien) at bedtime. - ANSWER-2
The home care nurse visits a client with a halo fixator traction device. Which client statement MOST
concerns the nurse?
1. "My wife looks at the pin sites every day."
2. "I like to bathe in the tub."
3. "I drove to the library yesterday."
4. "I drink with a straw." - ANSWER-3
the nurse cares for a client diagnosed with depression. Which statement by the client indicates
improvement?
1. "I have been sleeping 6 hours at night."
2. "I have lost 2 lbs in the past week."
3. "Lately, I have trouble watching television."
4. "I have much less muscle tension now." - ANSWER-1
The nurse on the maternity unit must accept a transfer client from a medical/surgical unit. The nurse
considers which transfer client appropriate?
CRITICAL CARE HESI EXIT EXAM 2026 ACTUAL
EXAM ALL 100 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS |ALREADY GRADED A+
Overview:
This exam prep covers the essential areas of critical care nursing, including hemodynamic
monitoring, ventilator management, cardiovascular emergencies, neurological disorders, sepsis,
trauma, and complex patient management. Each question is paired with detailed rationales,
reinforcing knowledge while strengthening clinical reasoning and test-taking strategies.
Key Features:
Complete set of 100 critical care exam questions.
Verified correct answers with clear, detailed explanations.
Comprehensive coverage of critical care concepts and patient scenarios.
Reflects the latest HESI Exit Exam standards for 2025–2026.
Includes prioritization, delegation, and advanced clinical judgment questions.
Purpose:
To prepare nursing students for the HESI Critical Care Exit Exam.
To reinforce advanced nursing knowledge in high-acuity patient care.
To improve critical thinking and test-taking strategies for success.
To serve as a reliable self-study and review resource.
Recommended For:
Final-semester RN students preparing for the HESI Critical Care Exit Exam.
Nursing students seeking focused practice in high-acuity/ICU-level care.
Learners who want detailed rationales to strengthen comprehension.
Nurse educators integrating exam-style practice into critical care courses.
The nurse cares for a client with a cuffed tracheostomy tube. Before performing oral care, the nurse
notes that the client's tracheostomy cuff is inflated. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate
action for the nurse to take?
1. Leave the cuff inflated and suction through the tracheostomy.
2. Deflate the cuff and suction through the tracheostomy tube.
3. Inflate the cuff pressure to 40 mm Hg before suctioning.
4. Adjust the wall suction pressure to 160 to 180 mm Hg before suctioning. - ANSWER-1
,A young adult brings a friend to the emergency department and states that the friend has been using
heroin. Which action by the nurse is the MOST appropriate?
1. Assess pupil size and reactivity.
2. Assess oxygen saturation levels.
3. Palpate dorsalis pedis pulses.
4. Ask the client if he knows today's date - ANSWER-2
The client tells the clinic nurse that the client is thinking about using nicotine polacrilex (Nicorette).
Which question is MOST important for the nurse to ask?
1. "Have you tried other methods to stop smoking?"
2. "How long have you been smoking?"
3. "Have you ever had chest pain?"
4. "Do you have a partial dental bridge?" - ANSWER-3
The nurse cares for the client with a client controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. The nurse determines that
the client has pressed the button 11 times and received 6 doses of morphine during the last hour. Which
is the MOST appropriate action for the nurse to take?
1. Assess the patency of the PCA IV tubing.
2. Determine the client's understanding of the PCA pump function.
3. Obtain an order to begin a PCA infusion of fentanyl.
4. Ask the client to describe the pain. - ANSWER-4
A pregnant woman receives an epidural anesthetic. After administration of the epidural anesthetic, the
client's blood pressure changes from 120/84 to 94/50. Which action by the nurse is MOST appropriate?
1. Place the client flat on her back.
2. Elevate the head of the bed 30 degrees.
3. Place the client on her left side with her legs flexed.
4. Place the client supine with the foot of the bed elevated - ANSWER-3
, A nursing order, "Increase fluid intake" is written for a client diagnosed with dehydration. Which finding
BEST indicates improving fluid status?
1. Urinary output of 1,500 mL in 24 hours.
2. Serum hematocrit 52%.
3. Oral fluid intake of 900 mL in 24 hours.
4. Blood pressure of 100/82. - ANSWER-1
The nurse prepares to administer the initial dose of oral enalapril (Vasotec) 20 mg in the morning. Which
medication should the nurse question giving to the client?
1. 20 mg oral escitalopram (Celexa) in the morning.
2. 40 mg oral furosemide (Lasix) in the morning.
3. 300 mg of oral gabapentin (Neurontin) twice daily.
4. 10 mg zolpidem (Ambien) at bedtime. - ANSWER-2
The home care nurse visits a client with a halo fixator traction device. Which client statement MOST
concerns the nurse?
1. "My wife looks at the pin sites every day."
2. "I like to bathe in the tub."
3. "I drove to the library yesterday."
4. "I drink with a straw." - ANSWER-3
the nurse cares for a client diagnosed with depression. Which statement by the client indicates
improvement?
1. "I have been sleeping 6 hours at night."
2. "I have lost 2 lbs in the past week."
3. "Lately, I have trouble watching television."
4. "I have much less muscle tension now." - ANSWER-1
The nurse on the maternity unit must accept a transfer client from a medical/surgical unit. The nurse
considers which transfer client appropriate?
