NIGHTINGALE COLLEGE HESI CAT EXAM
ACTUAL TEST PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ A client who has localized eczematous eruptions on b oth hands is
diagnosed as having contact dermatitis. What instruction should the
nurse include in this client's discharge teaching plan?
A. Wear latex gloves whenever outdoors.
B. Apply an oil-based ointment to the affected areas.
C. Take prescribed antihistamine near bedtime.
D. Soak hands in warm soapy water three times a day. Answer: B. Apply
an oil-based ointment to the affected areas
⩥ While transcribing a new prescription, the nurse notes that the
prescribed dosage is much lower than the recommended dosage listed in
the drug reference guide. Which client data supports the dosage
reduction?
A. Decreased serum creatinine
B. Increased serum protein.
C. Increased liver enzymes.
D. Prolonged prothrombin time. Answer: C. Increased liver enzymes.
,⩥ The nurse assigns an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to take the
vital signs of a client who is positive for Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV). What protective apparel should the nurse counsel the UAP
to wear when carrying out this assignment?
A. None.
B. Gown, gloves, mask.
C. Gloves and mask.
D. Gloves only. Answer: A. None.
⩥ A client with Guillain-Barre syndrome requires a tracheostomy and
mechanical ventilation due to the progression of the disease. What
nursing intervention is most helpful in aiding this clinet to communicate
with the staff and family?
A. Speak slowly and disntinctly while in direct view of the client.
B. Teach the client to point to a letter board word chart to communicate
needs.
C. Provide the client with a pencil and tablet of paper.
D. With the client, develop a system of eye blinks to communicate "yes"
or "no." Answer: D. With the client, develop a system of eye blinks to
communicate "yes" or "no."
⩥ A client with peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is admitted to the emergency
room complaining of sudden severe upper abdominal pain. Assessment
indicates an extremely tender and rigid abdomen, B/P of 90/60 mmHg,
,and pulse of 110 beat/minute. The emergency department nurse should
anticipate implementation of which intervention?
A. Preparing the client for emergency abdominal surgery.
B. Infusing the proton pump inhibitor Protonix intravenously.
C. Administering an iced saline lavage.
D. Inserting a nasogastric tube to decompress the bowel. Answer: A.
Preparing the client for emergency abdominal surgery.
⩥ Which finding should the nurse expect a client to exhibit who is newly
diagnosed with fibromyalgia?
A. Recent joint trauma.
B. Disruption in sleep patterns.
C. Unexplained weight gain.
D. Itching and rash. Answer: B. Disruption in sleep patterns.
⩥ A male client with diabetes mellitus reports that he has had trouble
following his diet, and the result of his fasting blood glucose test is 90
mg/dl. What action should the nurse implement first?
A. Obtain a urine specimen from the client to test for ketonuria.
B. Assure the client that his diabetes control is within normal limits.
C. Schedule the client to attend classes about diet management.
D. Review the findings of his glycosylated hemoglobin test. Answer: D.
Review the findings of his glycosylated hemoglobin test.
, ⩥ A multipara postpartum client complain intense cramping while
breastfeeding. What instruction should the nurse provide to the client?
A. Change the infant's position during the next feeding.
B. Void and completely empty bladder before each feeding.
C. Take a prescribed analgesic an hour prior to breastfeeding.
D. Drink two glasses of water 30 minutes prior to breastfeeding.
Answer: C. Take a prescribed analgesic an hour prior to breastfeeding.
⩥ A nurse is preparing to teach the parents of a child who had a surgical
repair of myelomeningocele how to change an occlusive dressing on the
child's back. Which statement by the parents indicates that they
understand this procedure?
A. "We should rapidly remove the tape from the edges of the dressing
when changing it."
B. "The dressing should be wetted periodically to keep the skin incision
moist."
C. "The dressing will help dry the sutures for ease of removal."
D. " The purpose of the dressing is to protect the incision from fecal
contamination." Answer: D. " The purpose of the dressing is to protect
the incision from fecal contamination."
⩥ While the nurse is preparing to administer a high volume saline enema
to a male client, the client appears anxious and states that he is not able
to turn on his right side without help because of a recent stroke. What
action should the nurse take first?
ACTUAL TEST PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ A client who has localized eczematous eruptions on b oth hands is
diagnosed as having contact dermatitis. What instruction should the
nurse include in this client's discharge teaching plan?
A. Wear latex gloves whenever outdoors.
B. Apply an oil-based ointment to the affected areas.
C. Take prescribed antihistamine near bedtime.
D. Soak hands in warm soapy water three times a day. Answer: B. Apply
an oil-based ointment to the affected areas
⩥ While transcribing a new prescription, the nurse notes that the
prescribed dosage is much lower than the recommended dosage listed in
the drug reference guide. Which client data supports the dosage
reduction?
A. Decreased serum creatinine
B. Increased serum protein.
C. Increased liver enzymes.
D. Prolonged prothrombin time. Answer: C. Increased liver enzymes.
,⩥ The nurse assigns an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to take the
vital signs of a client who is positive for Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV). What protective apparel should the nurse counsel the UAP
to wear when carrying out this assignment?
A. None.
B. Gown, gloves, mask.
C. Gloves and mask.
D. Gloves only. Answer: A. None.
⩥ A client with Guillain-Barre syndrome requires a tracheostomy and
mechanical ventilation due to the progression of the disease. What
nursing intervention is most helpful in aiding this clinet to communicate
with the staff and family?
A. Speak slowly and disntinctly while in direct view of the client.
B. Teach the client to point to a letter board word chart to communicate
needs.
C. Provide the client with a pencil and tablet of paper.
D. With the client, develop a system of eye blinks to communicate "yes"
or "no." Answer: D. With the client, develop a system of eye blinks to
communicate "yes" or "no."
⩥ A client with peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is admitted to the emergency
room complaining of sudden severe upper abdominal pain. Assessment
indicates an extremely tender and rigid abdomen, B/P of 90/60 mmHg,
,and pulse of 110 beat/minute. The emergency department nurse should
anticipate implementation of which intervention?
A. Preparing the client for emergency abdominal surgery.
B. Infusing the proton pump inhibitor Protonix intravenously.
C. Administering an iced saline lavage.
D. Inserting a nasogastric tube to decompress the bowel. Answer: A.
Preparing the client for emergency abdominal surgery.
⩥ Which finding should the nurse expect a client to exhibit who is newly
diagnosed with fibromyalgia?
A. Recent joint trauma.
B. Disruption in sleep patterns.
C. Unexplained weight gain.
D. Itching and rash. Answer: B. Disruption in sleep patterns.
⩥ A male client with diabetes mellitus reports that he has had trouble
following his diet, and the result of his fasting blood glucose test is 90
mg/dl. What action should the nurse implement first?
A. Obtain a urine specimen from the client to test for ketonuria.
B. Assure the client that his diabetes control is within normal limits.
C. Schedule the client to attend classes about diet management.
D. Review the findings of his glycosylated hemoglobin test. Answer: D.
Review the findings of his glycosylated hemoglobin test.
, ⩥ A multipara postpartum client complain intense cramping while
breastfeeding. What instruction should the nurse provide to the client?
A. Change the infant's position during the next feeding.
B. Void and completely empty bladder before each feeding.
C. Take a prescribed analgesic an hour prior to breastfeeding.
D. Drink two glasses of water 30 minutes prior to breastfeeding.
Answer: C. Take a prescribed analgesic an hour prior to breastfeeding.
⩥ A nurse is preparing to teach the parents of a child who had a surgical
repair of myelomeningocele how to change an occlusive dressing on the
child's back. Which statement by the parents indicates that they
understand this procedure?
A. "We should rapidly remove the tape from the edges of the dressing
when changing it."
B. "The dressing should be wetted periodically to keep the skin incision
moist."
C. "The dressing will help dry the sutures for ease of removal."
D. " The purpose of the dressing is to protect the incision from fecal
contamination." Answer: D. " The purpose of the dressing is to protect
the incision from fecal contamination."
⩥ While the nurse is preparing to administer a high volume saline enema
to a male client, the client appears anxious and states that he is not able
to turn on his right side without help because of a recent stroke. What
action should the nurse take first?
