HESI RN COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2026 ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS SCORED A+
✔✔The nurse is assessing the posterior pharynx during a physical examination. Which
technique should the nurse use?
A. Press the tongue down one side at a time with a tongue depressor.
B. Ask the client to open the mouth and say "ah"
C. Listen for hoarseness after asking the client to speak
D. Palpate the neck and ask the client to swallow. - ✔✔A. Press the tongue down one
side at a time with a tongue depressor.
✔✔A nurse is completing a nutritional assessment with a client. What is the easiest
method for the nurse to use to get information about the client's nutritional intake?
A. 24-hour dietary recall
B. Food diary
C. Intake and output record
D. Lab information (albumin, pre-albumin) - ✔✔A. 24-hour dietary recall
✔✔The nurse is preparing to assess the hearing of a client with a history of prolonged
exposure to occupational noise. Which hearing test provides the most reliable
assessment of hearing status?
A. Audiometry
B. Whispered voice
C. Weber.
D. Rinne - ✔✔A. Audiometry
✔✔The nurse palpates a weak pedal pulse in the client's right foot. Which assessment
findings should the RN document that are consistent with diminished peripheral
circulation? (Select all that apply.)
A. Diminished hair on legs
B. Bruising on extremities
C. Skin cool to touch
D. Capillary refill less than 3 seconds
E. Darkened skin on extremities - ✔✔A. Diminished hair on legs
C. Skin cool to touch
✔✔Which findings can the nurse determine by palpating a client's skin? (Select all that
apply.)
A. Pruritis
B. Diaphoresis
, C. Pallor
D. Jaundice
E. Scaling - ✔✔B. Diaphoresis
E. Scaling
✔✔The RN is caring for an Asian client who refuses to make eye contact during
conversations. How should the RN assess this client's response?
A. The client cannot understand the nurse.
B. The client is uncomfortable with the nurse
C. The client is treating the nurse with respect
D. The client is purposefully disrespecting the nurse. - ✔✔C. The client is treating the
nurse with respect
✔✔The nurse is interviewing a client who reports having a persistent, productive cough
during the winter caused by bronchitis. Which additional finding should the nurse assess
for bronchitis?
A. Phlegm production and wheezing
B. Smoking history
C. Hemoptysis
D. Night sweats - ✔✔A. Phlegm production and wheezing
✔✔A RN is performing a mini-mental state examination for a client who is being
admitted to an assisted living community. Which communication techniques should the
RN implement to decrease anxiety in the client? (Select all that apply.)
A. Use simple sentences during the examination.
B. Move to another question if the client seems confused.
C. Reduce environmental detractors during the examination.
D. Allow family to answer for the client to decrease frustration.
E. Ask questions one at a time to decrease confusion. - ✔✔A. Use simple sentences
during the examination.
C. Reduce environmental detractors during the examination.
E. Ask questions one at a time to decrease confusion.
✔✔A client with progressive hearing loss appears distressed when the registered nurse
asks open-ended questions about the client's health history. Which forms of
communication should the RN use?
A. Face the client so the client can see the RN's mouth.
B. Increase one's speech volume when interacting with the client
C. Repeat information to the client if misunderstood
D. Check if the client's hearing aides are working properly
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS SCORED A+
✔✔The nurse is assessing the posterior pharynx during a physical examination. Which
technique should the nurse use?
A. Press the tongue down one side at a time with a tongue depressor.
B. Ask the client to open the mouth and say "ah"
C. Listen for hoarseness after asking the client to speak
D. Palpate the neck and ask the client to swallow. - ✔✔A. Press the tongue down one
side at a time with a tongue depressor.
✔✔A nurse is completing a nutritional assessment with a client. What is the easiest
method for the nurse to use to get information about the client's nutritional intake?
A. 24-hour dietary recall
B. Food diary
C. Intake and output record
D. Lab information (albumin, pre-albumin) - ✔✔A. 24-hour dietary recall
✔✔The nurse is preparing to assess the hearing of a client with a history of prolonged
exposure to occupational noise. Which hearing test provides the most reliable
assessment of hearing status?
A. Audiometry
B. Whispered voice
C. Weber.
D. Rinne - ✔✔A. Audiometry
✔✔The nurse palpates a weak pedal pulse in the client's right foot. Which assessment
findings should the RN document that are consistent with diminished peripheral
circulation? (Select all that apply.)
A. Diminished hair on legs
B. Bruising on extremities
C. Skin cool to touch
D. Capillary refill less than 3 seconds
E. Darkened skin on extremities - ✔✔A. Diminished hair on legs
C. Skin cool to touch
✔✔Which findings can the nurse determine by palpating a client's skin? (Select all that
apply.)
A. Pruritis
B. Diaphoresis
, C. Pallor
D. Jaundice
E. Scaling - ✔✔B. Diaphoresis
E. Scaling
✔✔The RN is caring for an Asian client who refuses to make eye contact during
conversations. How should the RN assess this client's response?
A. The client cannot understand the nurse.
B. The client is uncomfortable with the nurse
C. The client is treating the nurse with respect
D. The client is purposefully disrespecting the nurse. - ✔✔C. The client is treating the
nurse with respect
✔✔The nurse is interviewing a client who reports having a persistent, productive cough
during the winter caused by bronchitis. Which additional finding should the nurse assess
for bronchitis?
A. Phlegm production and wheezing
B. Smoking history
C. Hemoptysis
D. Night sweats - ✔✔A. Phlegm production and wheezing
✔✔A RN is performing a mini-mental state examination for a client who is being
admitted to an assisted living community. Which communication techniques should the
RN implement to decrease anxiety in the client? (Select all that apply.)
A. Use simple sentences during the examination.
B. Move to another question if the client seems confused.
C. Reduce environmental detractors during the examination.
D. Allow family to answer for the client to decrease frustration.
E. Ask questions one at a time to decrease confusion. - ✔✔A. Use simple sentences
during the examination.
C. Reduce environmental detractors during the examination.
E. Ask questions one at a time to decrease confusion.
✔✔A client with progressive hearing loss appears distressed when the registered nurse
asks open-ended questions about the client's health history. Which forms of
communication should the RN use?
A. Face the client so the client can see the RN's mouth.
B. Increase one's speech volume when interacting with the client
C. Repeat information to the client if misunderstood
D. Check if the client's hearing aides are working properly
