HESI Comprehensive Exam 2026 | Practice Questions, Answers & Detailed Rationales | Complete Nursing Study Guide

HESI
Comprehensive Exam 2026 | Practice Questions, Answers & Detailed
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Rationales | Complete Nursing Study Guide
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Resource Features x




➢ Comprehensive final practice questions x x x




➢ Answers for self-assessment
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➢ Detailed rationales
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➢ NCLEX-style questions x




➢ Clinical judgment practice
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➢ Prioritization questions x

, HESI Comprehensive Exam 2026 | Practice
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Questions, Answers & Detailed Rationales |
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x Complete Nursing Study Guide x x x




Question 1 x




Enalapril maleate is prescribed for a hospitalized client. Which assessment
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does the nurse perform as a priority before administering the medication?
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A) Checking the client's blood pressure
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B) Checking the client's peripheral pulses
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C) Checking the most recent potassium level
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D) Checking the client's intake-and-output record for the last 24 hours
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Correct Answer: A x x




Rationale: Enalapril maleate is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)
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inhibitor used to treat hypertension. One common side effect is postural
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hypotension. Therefore the nurse would check the client's blood pressure
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immediately before administering each dose. Checking the client's
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peripheral pulses, the results of the most recent potassium level, and the
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intake and output for the previous 24 hours are not specifically associated
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with this medication.
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Question 2 x

,A client is scheduled to undergo an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series, and the
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nurse provides instructions to the client about the test. Which statement by
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the client indicates a need for further instruction?
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A) "The test will take about 30 minutes."
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B) "I need to fast for 8 hours before the test."
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C) "I need to drink citrate of magnesia the night before the test and give
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myself a Fleet enema on the morning of the test."
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D) "I need to take a laxative after the test is completed, because the liquid
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that I'll have to drink for the test can be constipating."
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Correct Answer: C x x




Rationale: No special preparation is necessary before a GI series, except that
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NPO (nothing by mouth) status must be maintained for 8 hours before the
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test. An upper GI series involves visualization of the esophagus, duodenum,
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and upper jejunum by means of the use of a contrast medium. It involves
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swallowing a contrast medium (usually barium), which is administered in a
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flavored milkshake. Films are taken at intervals during the test, which takes
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about 30 minutes. After an upper GI series, the client is prescribed a laxative
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to hasten elimination of the barium. Barium that remains in the colon may
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become hard and difficult to expel, leading to fecal impaction.
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Question 3 x




A nurse on the evening shift checks a primary health care provider's
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prescriptions and notes that the dose of a prescribed medication is higher
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than the normal dose. The nurse calls the primary health care provider's
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, answering service and is told that the primary health care provider is off for
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the night and will be available in the morning. What should the nurse do
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next?
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A) Call the nursing supervisor
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B) Ask the answering service to contact the on-call primary health care
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provider
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C) Withhold the medication until the primary health care provider can be
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reached in the morning
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D) Administer the medication but consult the primary health care provider
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when he becomes available
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Correct Answer: B x x




Rationale: The nurse has a duty to protect the client from harm. A nurse who
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believes that a primary health care provider's prescription may be in error is
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responsible for clarifying the prescription before carrying it out. Therefore
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the nurse would not administer the medication; instead, the nurse would
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withhold the medication until the dose can be clarified. The nurse would not
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wait until the next morning to obtain clarification. It is premature to call the
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nursing supervisor.
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Question 4 x




An emergency department (ED) nurse is monitoring a client with suspected
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acute myocardial infarction (MI) who is awaiting transfer to the coronary
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intensive care unit. The nurse notes the sudden onset of premature
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ventricular contractions (PVCs) on the monitor, checks the client's carotid
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