ESTUDYR
HESI RN EXIT EXAM: COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
1. In planning care for a 6-month-old infant, what must the nurse provide to assist in the
development of trust?
A. Security
B. Food
C. Warmth
D. Stimulation
Rationale: According to Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, infants (birth to
1 year) are in the Trust vs. Mistrust stage. Providing consistent security and meeting
basic needs allow the infant to develop a sense of safety and trust in their caregivers and
the environment.
2. A nurse has just received a medication order which is not legible. Which statement best
reflects assertive communication?
A. "I cannot read this, please write it better next time."
B. "I will ask another nurse to help me figure this out."
C. "I am unable to read this order. Please clarify the medication and dosage for
me."
D. "I’ll just guess what it says based on the patient’s condition."
Rationale: Assertive communication is direct and respectful. It focuses on the problem
("unable to read the order") and requests a clear solution ("clarify the medication")
without being aggressive or passive. This is vital for patient safety to avoid medication
errors.
3. What is the most important consideration when teaching parents how to reduce risks in
the home?
A. The cost of safety equipment
B. The proximity of the nearest hospital
C. The age and developmental level of the child
D. The number of siblings in the home
Rationale: Injury prevention must be tailored to the child's developmental stage. For
example, a crawling infant requires different safety measures (outlet covers) than a
toddler (stair gates) or a school-aged child (firearm safety).
4. A 35-year-old client with sickle cell crisis is talking on the phone and laughing. He
reports his pain is a 10 out of 10. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Document that the patient is faking the pain
B. Withhold pain medication because he is distracted
,ESTUDYR
C. Administer the prescribed analgesic for a pain level of 10
D. Wait until the patient stops laughing to reassess
Rationale: Pain is subjective and is "whatever the patient says it is." Patients with
chronic or recurring pain, such as sickle cell crisis, often develop coping mechanisms
(like distraction or social interaction) to manage high levels of pain. The nurse must trust
the patient’s self-report.
5. The nurse receives an order to give a client iron by deep injection (Z-track). The nurse
knows that the reason for this route is to:
A. Enhance absorption of the medication
B. Ensure that the entire dose of medication is given
C. Provide more even distribution of the drug
D. Prevent the drug from causing tissue irritation and staining
Rationale: Iron preparations can be extremely irritating to subcutaneous tissue and can
cause permanent skin staining. The Z-track method (deep IM injection) seals the
medication deep within the muscle, preventing leakage back into the upper tissue layers.
, ESTUDYR
HESI RN EXIT EXAM: COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
1. In planning care for a 6-month-old infant, what must the nurse provide to assist in the
development of trust?
A. Security
B. Food
C. Warmth
D. Stimulation
Rationale: According to Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, infants (birth to
1 year) are in the Trust vs. Mistrust stage. Providing consistent security and meeting
basic needs allow the infant to develop a sense of safety and trust in their caregivers and
the environment.
2. A nurse has just received a medication order which is not legible. Which statement best
reflects assertive communication?
A. "I cannot read this, please write it better next time."
B. "I will ask another nurse to help me figure this out."
C. "I am unable to read this order. Please clarify the medication and dosage for
me."
D. "I’ll just guess what it says based on the patient’s condition."
Rationale: Assertive communication is direct and respectful. It focuses on the problem
("unable to read the order") and requests a clear solution ("clarify the medication")
without being aggressive or passive. This is vital for patient safety to avoid medication
errors.
3. What is the most important consideration when teaching parents how to reduce risks in
the home?
A. The cost of safety equipment
B. The proximity of the nearest hospital
C. The age and developmental level of the child
D. The number of siblings in the home
Rationale: Injury prevention must be tailored to the child's developmental stage. For
example, a crawling infant requires different safety measures (outlet covers) than a
toddler (stair gates) or a school-aged child (firearm safety).
4. A 35-year-old client with sickle cell crisis is talking on the phone and laughing. He
reports his pain is a 10 out of 10. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Document that the patient is faking the pain
B. Withhold pain medication because he is distracted
,ESTUDYR
C. Administer the prescribed analgesic for a pain level of 10
D. Wait until the patient stops laughing to reassess
Rationale: Pain is subjective and is "whatever the patient says it is." Patients with
chronic or recurring pain, such as sickle cell crisis, often develop coping mechanisms
(like distraction or social interaction) to manage high levels of pain. The nurse must trust
the patient’s self-report.
5. The nurse receives an order to give a client iron by deep injection (Z-track). The nurse
knows that the reason for this route is to:
A. Enhance absorption of the medication
B. Ensure that the entire dose of medication is given
C. Provide more even distribution of the drug
D. Prevent the drug from causing tissue irritation and staining
Rationale: Iron preparations can be extremely irritating to subcutaneous tissue and can
cause permanent skin staining. The Z-track method (deep IM injection) seals the
medication deep within the muscle, preventing leakage back into the upper tissue layers.
, ESTUDYR
