HESI
Comprehensive Exam 2026 | Practice Questions, Answers & Detailed
Rationales | Complete Nursing Study Guide
Resource Features
➢ Comprehensive final practice questions
➢ Answers for self-assessment
➢ Detailed rationales
➢ NCLEX-style questions
➢ Clinical judgment practice
➢ Prioritization questions
, HESI Comprehensive Exam 2026 | Practice
Questions, Answers & Detailed Rationales |
Complete Nursing Study Guide
Question 1
Enalapril maleate is prescribed for a hospitalized client. Which assessment
does the nurse perform as a priority before administering the medication?
A) Checking the client's blood pressure
B) Checking the client's peripheral pulses
C) Checking the most recent potassium level
D) Checking the client's intake-and-output record for the last 24 hours
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Enalapril maleate is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)
inhibitor used to treat hypertension. One common side effect is postural
hypotension. Therefore the nurse would check the client's blood pressure
immediately before administering each dose. Checking the client's
peripheral pulses, the results of the most recent potassium level, and the
intake and output for the previous 24 hours are not specifically associated
with this medication.
Question 2
,A client is scheduled to undergo an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series, and
the nurse provides instructions to the client about the test. Which
statement by the client indicates a need for further instruction?
A) "The test will take about 30 minutes."
B) "I need to fast for 8 hours before the test."
C) "I need to drink citrate of magnesia the night before the test and give
myself a Fleet enema on the morning of the test."
D) "I need to take a laxative after the test is completed, because the liquid
that I'll have to drink for the test can be constipating."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: No special preparation is necessary before a GI series, except
that NPO (nothing by mouth) status must be maintained for 8 hours before
the test. An upper GI series involves visualization of the esophagus,
duodenum, and upper jejunum by means of the use of a contrast medium.
It involves swallowing a contrast medium (usually barium), which is
administered in a flavored milkshake. Films are taken at intervals during the
test, which takes about 30 minutes. After an upper GI series, the client is
prescribed a laxative to hasten elimination of the barium. Barium that
remains in the colon may become hard and difficult to expel, leading to
fecal impaction.
Question 3
A nurse on the evening shift checks a primary health care provider's
prescriptions and notes that the dose of a prescribed medication is higher
, than the normal dose. The nurse calls the primary health care provider's
answering service and is told that the primary health care provider is off for
the night and will be available in the morning. What should the nurse do
next?
A) Call the nursing supervisor
B) Ask the answering service to contact the on-call primary health care
provider
C) Withhold the medication until the primary health care provider can be
reached in the morning
D) Administer the medication but consult the primary health care provider
when he becomes available
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse has a duty to protect the client from harm. A nurse
who believes that a primary health care provider's prescription may be in
error is responsible for clarifying the prescription before carrying it out.
Therefore the nurse would not administer the medication; instead, the
nurse would withhold the medication until the dose can be clarified. The
nurse would not wait until the next morning to obtain clarification. It is
premature to call the nursing supervisor.
Question 4
An emergency department (ED) nurse is monitoring a client with suspected
acute myocardial infarction (MI) who is awaiting transfer to the coronary
intensive care unit. The nurse notes the sudden onset of premature
Comprehensive Exam 2026 | Practice Questions, Answers & Detailed
Rationales | Complete Nursing Study Guide
Resource Features
➢ Comprehensive final practice questions
➢ Answers for self-assessment
➢ Detailed rationales
➢ NCLEX-style questions
➢ Clinical judgment practice
➢ Prioritization questions
, HESI Comprehensive Exam 2026 | Practice
Questions, Answers & Detailed Rationales |
Complete Nursing Study Guide
Question 1
Enalapril maleate is prescribed for a hospitalized client. Which assessment
does the nurse perform as a priority before administering the medication?
A) Checking the client's blood pressure
B) Checking the client's peripheral pulses
C) Checking the most recent potassium level
D) Checking the client's intake-and-output record for the last 24 hours
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Enalapril maleate is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)
inhibitor used to treat hypertension. One common side effect is postural
hypotension. Therefore the nurse would check the client's blood pressure
immediately before administering each dose. Checking the client's
peripheral pulses, the results of the most recent potassium level, and the
intake and output for the previous 24 hours are not specifically associated
with this medication.
Question 2
,A client is scheduled to undergo an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series, and
the nurse provides instructions to the client about the test. Which
statement by the client indicates a need for further instruction?
A) "The test will take about 30 minutes."
B) "I need to fast for 8 hours before the test."
C) "I need to drink citrate of magnesia the night before the test and give
myself a Fleet enema on the morning of the test."
D) "I need to take a laxative after the test is completed, because the liquid
that I'll have to drink for the test can be constipating."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: No special preparation is necessary before a GI series, except
that NPO (nothing by mouth) status must be maintained for 8 hours before
the test. An upper GI series involves visualization of the esophagus,
duodenum, and upper jejunum by means of the use of a contrast medium.
It involves swallowing a contrast medium (usually barium), which is
administered in a flavored milkshake. Films are taken at intervals during the
test, which takes about 30 minutes. After an upper GI series, the client is
prescribed a laxative to hasten elimination of the barium. Barium that
remains in the colon may become hard and difficult to expel, leading to
fecal impaction.
Question 3
A nurse on the evening shift checks a primary health care provider's
prescriptions and notes that the dose of a prescribed medication is higher
, than the normal dose. The nurse calls the primary health care provider's
answering service and is told that the primary health care provider is off for
the night and will be available in the morning. What should the nurse do
next?
A) Call the nursing supervisor
B) Ask the answering service to contact the on-call primary health care
provider
C) Withhold the medication until the primary health care provider can be
reached in the morning
D) Administer the medication but consult the primary health care provider
when he becomes available
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse has a duty to protect the client from harm. A nurse
who believes that a primary health care provider's prescription may be in
error is responsible for clarifying the prescription before carrying it out.
Therefore the nurse would not administer the medication; instead, the
nurse would withhold the medication until the dose can be clarified. The
nurse would not wait until the next morning to obtain clarification. It is
premature to call the nursing supervisor.
Question 4
An emergency department (ED) nurse is monitoring a client with suspected
acute myocardial infarction (MI) who is awaiting transfer to the coronary
intensive care unit. The nurse notes the sudden onset of premature
