Hesi Exit Exam Practice Questions
and Answers | Latest Version |
2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
A patient reports sudden chest pain radiating to the left arm. What is the first nursing action?
A. Wait to see if it resolves
B. Sit with the patient
✔✔C. Assess vital signs and apply cardiac monitoring
D. Give pain medication immediately
Rationale: Rapid assessment and cardiac monitoring are essential for early detection of
myocardial infarction.
A patient with diabetes reports a blood glucose level of 38 mg/dL and is lethargic. What should
the nurse do first?
✔✔A. Administer a rapid-acting carbohydrate
B. Wait for the next scheduled meal
C. Notify the provider after an hour
D. Encourage exercise
Rationale: Hypoglycemia is an immediate threat; rapid-acting carbohydrates restore glucose
quickly.
1
,A postoperative patient is confused and attempting to get out of bed. What is the priority nursing
action?
A. Call security
✔✔B. Implement fall precautions and stay with the patient
C. Sedate the patient immediately
D. Document only
Rationale: Safety is the priority; fall precautions prevent injury.
A child is admitted with fever and seizure activity. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Start IV fluids immediately
✔✔B. Ensure safety, maintain airway, and monitor seizure activity
C. Call provider after seizure
D. Document only
Rationale: Protecting airway and preventing injury during a seizure is critical.
A patient develops sudden swelling of lips and tongue after eating peanuts. What is the first
nursing action?
A. Give oral antihistamine
2
,✔✔B. Assess airway and prepare emergency intervention
C. Document and observe
D. Notify family
Rationale: Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening; airway assessment is the priority.
A postoperative patient reports persistent nausea. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Document only
B. Provide food
✔✔C. Assess severity and administer antiemetic as prescribed
D. Wait to see if it resolves
Rationale: Managing nausea prevents dehydration and promotes comfort.
A patient with COPD reports increased shortness of breath. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Encourage coughing only
B. Sit with patient
✔✔C. Administer prescribed oxygen and assess respiratory effort
D. Monitor next shift
Rationale: Oxygen supplementation and assessment are crucial to prevent hypoxemia.
3
, A patient is scheduled for surgery and asks why fasting is required. What is the nurse’s best
response?
A. To make the stomach empty faster
B. Because food interferes with anesthesia
✔✔C. To reduce risk of aspiration during anesthesia
D. To speed recovery
Rationale: Fasting reduces the risk of aspiration during anesthesia.
A patient develops a rash after IV antibiotic administration. What is the first nursing action?
A. Apply topical cream
B. Continue infusion
✔✔C. Stop infusion and notify provider
D. Document only
Rationale: Stopping the infusion prevents worsening of a possible allergic reaction.
A patient on anticoagulants reports black, tarry stools. What should the nurse do first?
A. Monitor at next shift
4
and Answers | Latest Version |
2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
A patient reports sudden chest pain radiating to the left arm. What is the first nursing action?
A. Wait to see if it resolves
B. Sit with the patient
✔✔C. Assess vital signs and apply cardiac monitoring
D. Give pain medication immediately
Rationale: Rapid assessment and cardiac monitoring are essential for early detection of
myocardial infarction.
A patient with diabetes reports a blood glucose level of 38 mg/dL and is lethargic. What should
the nurse do first?
✔✔A. Administer a rapid-acting carbohydrate
B. Wait for the next scheduled meal
C. Notify the provider after an hour
D. Encourage exercise
Rationale: Hypoglycemia is an immediate threat; rapid-acting carbohydrates restore glucose
quickly.
1
,A postoperative patient is confused and attempting to get out of bed. What is the priority nursing
action?
A. Call security
✔✔B. Implement fall precautions and stay with the patient
C. Sedate the patient immediately
D. Document only
Rationale: Safety is the priority; fall precautions prevent injury.
A child is admitted with fever and seizure activity. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Start IV fluids immediately
✔✔B. Ensure safety, maintain airway, and monitor seizure activity
C. Call provider after seizure
D. Document only
Rationale: Protecting airway and preventing injury during a seizure is critical.
A patient develops sudden swelling of lips and tongue after eating peanuts. What is the first
nursing action?
A. Give oral antihistamine
2
,✔✔B. Assess airway and prepare emergency intervention
C. Document and observe
D. Notify family
Rationale: Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening; airway assessment is the priority.
A postoperative patient reports persistent nausea. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Document only
B. Provide food
✔✔C. Assess severity and administer antiemetic as prescribed
D. Wait to see if it resolves
Rationale: Managing nausea prevents dehydration and promotes comfort.
A patient with COPD reports increased shortness of breath. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Encourage coughing only
B. Sit with patient
✔✔C. Administer prescribed oxygen and assess respiratory effort
D. Monitor next shift
Rationale: Oxygen supplementation and assessment are crucial to prevent hypoxemia.
3
, A patient is scheduled for surgery and asks why fasting is required. What is the nurse’s best
response?
A. To make the stomach empty faster
B. Because food interferes with anesthesia
✔✔C. To reduce risk of aspiration during anesthesia
D. To speed recovery
Rationale: Fasting reduces the risk of aspiration during anesthesia.
A patient develops a rash after IV antibiotic administration. What is the first nursing action?
A. Apply topical cream
B. Continue infusion
✔✔C. Stop infusion and notify provider
D. Document only
Rationale: Stopping the infusion prevents worsening of a possible allergic reaction.
A patient on anticoagulants reports black, tarry stools. What should the nurse do first?
A. Monitor at next shift
4
