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HESI COMPASS COMPREHENSIVE EXIT EXAM 2026/2027
AND PRACTICE EXAM TEST BANK WITH A STUDY GUIDE
| ALL VERSIONS OF THE EXAM WITH ALL MODULES
COVERED | ACCURATE AND VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS FOR GUARANTEED PASS | 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 - ANSWERS--A. Checking the client's blood pressure
Checking the client's blood pressure
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 mediation.
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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." -
ANSWERS--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."
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. No special
preparation is necessary before a GI series, except that NPO status
must be maintained for 8 hours before the test. 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.
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
,3|Page
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 - ANSWERS--B. Ask the answering service to
contact the on-call physician
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. Documenting the findings
B. Asking the ED physician to check the client
C. Continuing to monitor the client's cardiac status
D. Informing the client that PVCs are expected after an MI -
ANSWERS--B. Asking the ED physician to check the client
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
, 4|Page
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 on the
day after the ECT - ANSWERS--A. Administer the antihypertensive
with a small sip of water
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." - ANSWERS--A. "Tell me more about what you're feeling."
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?
HESI COMPASS COMPREHENSIVE EXIT EXAM 2026/2027
AND PRACTICE EXAM TEST BANK WITH A STUDY GUIDE
| ALL VERSIONS OF THE EXAM WITH ALL MODULES
COVERED | ACCURATE AND VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS FOR GUARANTEED PASS | 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 - ANSWERS--A. Checking the client's blood pressure
Checking the client's blood pressure
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 mediation.
,2|Page
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." -
ANSWERS--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."
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. No special
preparation is necessary before a GI series, except that NPO status
must be maintained for 8 hours before the test. 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.
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
,3|Page
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 - ANSWERS--B. Ask the answering service to
contact the on-call physician
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. Documenting the findings
B. Asking the ED physician to check the client
C. Continuing to monitor the client's cardiac status
D. Informing the client that PVCs are expected after an MI -
ANSWERS--B. Asking the ED physician to check the client
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
, 4|Page
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 on the
day after the ECT - ANSWERS--A. Administer the antihypertensive
with a small sip of water
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." - ANSWERS--A. "Tell me more about what you're feeling."
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?
