HESI A2 CRITICAL THINKING TEST BANK 2026
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ The Patient: An 80 year-old male who has used continuous oxygen for
the past three years.
The Situation: While making a home visit, the wife tells the nurse that
her husband was doing well on 2 litres of oxygen per minute until late
last night when he developed severe shortness of breath on the way to
the bathroom.
The Question: What action should the nurse take first? Answer: Assess
the patient's oxygen saturation by pulse oximeter.
◉ The Patient: A 41-year-old male.
The Situation: The patient is complaining of severe stomach pain and
states that he has been "vomiting all the time."
The Question: What should the nurse do first? Answer: Administer a
prescribed pain medication.
◉ The Patient: The wife of a wealthy owner of the town's bank.
The Situation: The patient and her husband arrive on the unit. While
orienting the patient to the hospital room, the nurse notices that the
patient has placed a large amount of cash and some expensive earrings in
the drawer of the bedside table.
, The Question: What is the best action for the nurse to take? Answer:
Advise the patient to have her husband take the items home when he
leaves.
◉ The Patient: A 45-year-old female who is 5' 2" tall, weighs 200
pounds, and has smoked since age 21.
The Situation: The patient comes to the clinic with a complaint of "leg
pain."
The Question: It is most important for the nurse to obtain information
about which previous occurrence? Answer: A previous blood clot in the
leg.
◉ The Patient: A 61-year-old female.
The Situation: The patient has a fever of unknown origin. The nurse
administered a fever-reducing medication 30 minutes ago. At this time
there has been no decrease in the patient's fever.
The Question: What action would be best for the nurse to take? Answer:
Sponge the patient with cool water.
◉ The Patient: A 70-year-old male who is relatively healthy.
The Situation: A liquid mediation is prescribed for this patient.
The Question: Prior to administering the prescribed medication, what
intervention has the highest priority? Answer: Determine if the patient is
allergic to the medication.
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ The Patient: An 80 year-old male who has used continuous oxygen for
the past three years.
The Situation: While making a home visit, the wife tells the nurse that
her husband was doing well on 2 litres of oxygen per minute until late
last night when he developed severe shortness of breath on the way to
the bathroom.
The Question: What action should the nurse take first? Answer: Assess
the patient's oxygen saturation by pulse oximeter.
◉ The Patient: A 41-year-old male.
The Situation: The patient is complaining of severe stomach pain and
states that he has been "vomiting all the time."
The Question: What should the nurse do first? Answer: Administer a
prescribed pain medication.
◉ The Patient: The wife of a wealthy owner of the town's bank.
The Situation: The patient and her husband arrive on the unit. While
orienting the patient to the hospital room, the nurse notices that the
patient has placed a large amount of cash and some expensive earrings in
the drawer of the bedside table.
, The Question: What is the best action for the nurse to take? Answer:
Advise the patient to have her husband take the items home when he
leaves.
◉ The Patient: A 45-year-old female who is 5' 2" tall, weighs 200
pounds, and has smoked since age 21.
The Situation: The patient comes to the clinic with a complaint of "leg
pain."
The Question: It is most important for the nurse to obtain information
about which previous occurrence? Answer: A previous blood clot in the
leg.
◉ The Patient: A 61-year-old female.
The Situation: The patient has a fever of unknown origin. The nurse
administered a fever-reducing medication 30 minutes ago. At this time
there has been no decrease in the patient's fever.
The Question: What action would be best for the nurse to take? Answer:
Sponge the patient with cool water.
◉ The Patient: A 70-year-old male who is relatively healthy.
The Situation: A liquid mediation is prescribed for this patient.
The Question: Prior to administering the prescribed medication, what
intervention has the highest priority? Answer: Determine if the patient is
allergic to the medication.
