HESI COMPASS COMPREHENSIVE EXIT EXAM PRACTICE
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS & DETAILED
RATIONALES| LATEST UPDATE
1. Enalapril maleate (Vasotec) 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 is an ACE inhibitor. Priority is to check blood pressure due to
risk of first-dose hypotension.
2. A client is scheduled to undergo an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series. 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: Upper GI series requires only NPO status. Laxative/enema prep is for
lower GI series. Barium can cause constipation, so a laxative is given after the test.
3. A nurse on the evening shift checks a physician's prescriptions and notes that
the dose of a prescribed medication is higher than the normal dose. The nurse
calls the physician's answering service and is told that the physician is off for the
night and will be available in the morning. The nurse should:
A. Call the nursing supervisor
B. Ask the answering service to contact the on-call physician
C. Withhold the medication until the physician can be reached in the morning
D. Administer the medication but consult the physician when he becomes
available
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse has identified a potential medication error. Any questionable
or unsafe order must be clarified before administration. The most appropriate
action is to have the on-call physician contacted immediately for clarification or a
new order.
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 ventricular
contractions (PVCs) on the monitor, checks the client's carotid pulse, and
determines that the PVCs are not resulting in perfusion. The appropriate action by
the nurse is:
A. Document the findings
B. Ask the ED physician to check the client
C. Continue to monitor the client's cardiac status
D. Inform the client that PVCs are expected after an MI
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Non-perfusing PVCs in the context of suspected myocardial infarction
require immediate medical evaluation. The physician needs to assess the client
and determine if antiarrhythmic treatment or other intervention is needed.
5. NPO status is imposed 8 hours before the procedure on a client scheduled to
undergo electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) at 1 p.m. On the morning of the
procedure, the nurse checks the client's record and notes that the client routinely
takes an oral antihypertensive medication each morning. The nurse should:
A. Administer the antihypertensive with a small sip of water
B. Withhold the antihypertensive and administer it at bedtime
C. Administer the medication by way of the intravenous (IV) route
D. Hold the antihypertensive and resume its administration the day after ECT
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Most oral medications, including antihypertensives, can be given with a
small sip of water before ECT unless specifically contraindicated. Withholding
blood pressure medication could cause rebound hypertension.
6. A client who recently underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery comes to
the physician's office for a follow-up visit. On assessment, the client tells the
nurse that he is feeling depressed. Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
A. "Tell me more about what you're feeling."
B. "That's a normal response after this type of surgery."
C. "It will take time, but, I promise you, you will get over this depression."
D. "Every client who has this surgery feels the same way for about a month."
Correct Answer: A
, Rationale: This is an open-ended therapeutic communication technique that
encourages the client to express feelings and shows empathy.
7. A client in labor experiences spontaneous rupture of the membranes. The
nurse immediately counts the fetal heart rate (FHR) for 1 full minute and then
checks the amniotic fluid. The nurse notes that the fluid is yellow and has a strong
odor. Which of the following actions should be the nurse's priority?
A. Contacting the physician
B. Documenting the findings
C. Checking the fluid for protein
D. Continuing to monitor the client and the FHR
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Yellow fluid with a foul odor suggests possible chorioamnionitis
(intrauterine infection). Immediate notification of the physician is required.
8. A client with heart failure is prescribed furosemide 40 mg IV. Which of the
following assessments should the nurse prioritize before administration?
A. Blood glucose level
B. Serum potassium level
C. Urine output and blood pressure
D. Respiratory rate
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause hypotension and
electrolyte imbalances. Assessing urine output and blood pressure helps evaluate
renal perfusion and risk of hypotension before administration.
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS & DETAILED
RATIONALES| LATEST UPDATE
1. Enalapril maleate (Vasotec) 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 is an ACE inhibitor. Priority is to check blood pressure due to
risk of first-dose hypotension.
2. A client is scheduled to undergo an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series. 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: Upper GI series requires only NPO status. Laxative/enema prep is for
lower GI series. Barium can cause constipation, so a laxative is given after the test.
3. A nurse on the evening shift checks a physician's prescriptions and notes that
the dose of a prescribed medication is higher than the normal dose. The nurse
calls the physician's answering service and is told that the physician is off for the
night and will be available in the morning. The nurse should:
A. Call the nursing supervisor
B. Ask the answering service to contact the on-call physician
C. Withhold the medication until the physician can be reached in the morning
D. Administer the medication but consult the physician when he becomes
available
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse has identified a potential medication error. Any questionable
or unsafe order must be clarified before administration. The most appropriate
action is to have the on-call physician contacted immediately for clarification or a
new order.
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 ventricular
contractions (PVCs) on the monitor, checks the client's carotid pulse, and
determines that the PVCs are not resulting in perfusion. The appropriate action by
the nurse is:
A. Document the findings
B. Ask the ED physician to check the client
C. Continue to monitor the client's cardiac status
D. Inform the client that PVCs are expected after an MI
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Non-perfusing PVCs in the context of suspected myocardial infarction
require immediate medical evaluation. The physician needs to assess the client
and determine if antiarrhythmic treatment or other intervention is needed.
5. NPO status is imposed 8 hours before the procedure on a client scheduled to
undergo electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) at 1 p.m. On the morning of the
procedure, the nurse checks the client's record and notes that the client routinely
takes an oral antihypertensive medication each morning. The nurse should:
A. Administer the antihypertensive with a small sip of water
B. Withhold the antihypertensive and administer it at bedtime
C. Administer the medication by way of the intravenous (IV) route
D. Hold the antihypertensive and resume its administration the day after ECT
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Most oral medications, including antihypertensives, can be given with a
small sip of water before ECT unless specifically contraindicated. Withholding
blood pressure medication could cause rebound hypertension.
6. A client who recently underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery comes to
the physician's office for a follow-up visit. On assessment, the client tells the
nurse that he is feeling depressed. Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
A. "Tell me more about what you're feeling."
B. "That's a normal response after this type of surgery."
C. "It will take time, but, I promise you, you will get over this depression."
D. "Every client who has this surgery feels the same way for about a month."
Correct Answer: A
, Rationale: This is an open-ended therapeutic communication technique that
encourages the client to express feelings and shows empathy.
7. A client in labor experiences spontaneous rupture of the membranes. The
nurse immediately counts the fetal heart rate (FHR) for 1 full minute and then
checks the amniotic fluid. The nurse notes that the fluid is yellow and has a strong
odor. Which of the following actions should be the nurse's priority?
A. Contacting the physician
B. Documenting the findings
C. Checking the fluid for protein
D. Continuing to monitor the client and the FHR
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Yellow fluid with a foul odor suggests possible chorioamnionitis
(intrauterine infection). Immediate notification of the physician is required.
8. A client with heart failure is prescribed furosemide 40 mg IV. Which of the
following assessments should the nurse prioritize before administration?
A. Blood glucose level
B. Serum potassium level
C. Urine output and blood pressure
D. Respiratory rate
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause hypotension and
electrolyte imbalances. Assessing urine output and blood pressure helps evaluate
renal perfusion and risk of hypotension before administration.
