HESI Exit Exam Version 1 – Exam Prep & Complete Q&A
| Latest Update 2026 | Graded A+
1. What term is used to describe a pulse that disappears with light pressure?
Weak pulse volume
Normal pulse volume
Bounding pulse volume
Thready pulse volume
2. What is the recommended initial intervention for an acute soft tissue injury such as a
muscle strain or sprain?
Apply ice to the injured site at 15-minute intervals for the first 24 hours.
Exert pressure proximal to the injury site for 15 minutes.
Provide passive range of motion exercises to the ankle every 2 hours. Apply a
continuous heat source such as a heating pad.
3. A nurse is assessing a client who was admitted to the facility for observation following
a closed head injury. Which of the following is the priority assessment the nurse
should perform to determine a change in the client's neurological status?
Examination of pupils
Body posture
Level of consciousness
Vital signs
4. Why is it important for the practical nurse (PN) to explain the examination to the
client before obtaining consent?
, To expedite the process of obtaining consent.
To ensure the client is informed and understands the procedure they are
consenting to.
To fulfill a legal requirement without regard for the client's understanding.
To allow the family to make decisions on behalf of the client.
5. What is the priority action for a practical nurse when a client on statin medication
reports muscle soreness and fatigue?
Administer a PRN dose of Tylenol
Encourage liquids
Monitor the client's serum lipid levels
Report the findings to the charge nurse
6. If a client with a serum sodium level of 125 mEq/L reports consuming large amounts
of water and ice chips, what nursing intervention should be prioritized?
Encourage more ice chips to hydrate the client.
Monitor blood pressure for hypotension.
Limit fluid intake to prevent further dilution of serum sodium.
Increase sodium intake through dietary changes.
7. If a practical nurse fails to obtain consent from the parents before administering the
Hepatitis B vaccine to a newborn, what could be the potential consequences?
Legal repercussions for administering treatment without consent
The infant will experience immediate side effects
The vaccine will be ineffective
The parents will be required to pay a fine
,8. What is the correct instruction for a client when collecting stool specimens for occult
blood?
Only the first specimen is needed.
Specimens should be collected after taking a laxative.
Collect all specimens in one container.
Defecate into the container separately from urinating in the toilet.
9. A client is to be discharged from same-day surgery 7 hours after his inguinal hernia
repair. Which nursing observation indicates this client is ready to be discharged?
The client tolerates eating a hamburger.
The client is pain free.
The client walks in the hallway unassisted.
The client voids 500 mL of urine.
10. A client who returns from surgery for bowel resection complains of severe pain
around the incision. Which assessment is most important for the practical nurse (PN)
to obtain prior to the administration of morphine sulfate?
Core temperature.
Rate of respirations.
Presence of bowel sounds.
Appearance of the incision.
11. The nurse should monitor the client more frequently and notify the pCP immediately
if a client's respiratory rate falls below how many breaths per minute when an opiod
analgesic is administered?
, 20
15
25
10 breaths
12. A patient with a pneumothorax has had a chest tube inserted 10 hours ago, and a
drainage system attached. The nurse goes in to assess the patient's drainage system.
Which of the following requires immediate intervention?
The nurse observes tidaling in the water-seal chamber that stops suddenly.
The nurse assesses the collection chamber and notices 700 mL of fluid.
The nurse notes intermittent bubbling in the water-seal chamber while the
patient is exhaling.
The suction is set to -20 cm H2O
13. A nurse is teaching the importance of hand-washing to a client. Which of the following
statements should the nurse make about hand hygiene in a healthcare setting?
effective hand-washing can decrease hospital infection rates it is not
important to wash your hands after removing gloves
healthcare-associated infections are a rare event in health care delivery
infections in health care staff are not considered healthcareassociated
infections
14. A nurse is providing teaching about dietary options for a client who has cholelithiasis.
Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
| Latest Update 2026 | Graded A+
1. What term is used to describe a pulse that disappears with light pressure?
Weak pulse volume
Normal pulse volume
Bounding pulse volume
Thready pulse volume
2. What is the recommended initial intervention for an acute soft tissue injury such as a
muscle strain or sprain?
Apply ice to the injured site at 15-minute intervals for the first 24 hours.
Exert pressure proximal to the injury site for 15 minutes.
Provide passive range of motion exercises to the ankle every 2 hours. Apply a
continuous heat source such as a heating pad.
3. A nurse is assessing a client who was admitted to the facility for observation following
a closed head injury. Which of the following is the priority assessment the nurse
should perform to determine a change in the client's neurological status?
Examination of pupils
Body posture
Level of consciousness
Vital signs
4. Why is it important for the practical nurse (PN) to explain the examination to the
client before obtaining consent?
, To expedite the process of obtaining consent.
To ensure the client is informed and understands the procedure they are
consenting to.
To fulfill a legal requirement without regard for the client's understanding.
To allow the family to make decisions on behalf of the client.
5. What is the priority action for a practical nurse when a client on statin medication
reports muscle soreness and fatigue?
Administer a PRN dose of Tylenol
Encourage liquids
Monitor the client's serum lipid levels
Report the findings to the charge nurse
6. If a client with a serum sodium level of 125 mEq/L reports consuming large amounts
of water and ice chips, what nursing intervention should be prioritized?
Encourage more ice chips to hydrate the client.
Monitor blood pressure for hypotension.
Limit fluid intake to prevent further dilution of serum sodium.
Increase sodium intake through dietary changes.
7. If a practical nurse fails to obtain consent from the parents before administering the
Hepatitis B vaccine to a newborn, what could be the potential consequences?
Legal repercussions for administering treatment without consent
The infant will experience immediate side effects
The vaccine will be ineffective
The parents will be required to pay a fine
,8. What is the correct instruction for a client when collecting stool specimens for occult
blood?
Only the first specimen is needed.
Specimens should be collected after taking a laxative.
Collect all specimens in one container.
Defecate into the container separately from urinating in the toilet.
9. A client is to be discharged from same-day surgery 7 hours after his inguinal hernia
repair. Which nursing observation indicates this client is ready to be discharged?
The client tolerates eating a hamburger.
The client is pain free.
The client walks in the hallway unassisted.
The client voids 500 mL of urine.
10. A client who returns from surgery for bowel resection complains of severe pain
around the incision. Which assessment is most important for the practical nurse (PN)
to obtain prior to the administration of morphine sulfate?
Core temperature.
Rate of respirations.
Presence of bowel sounds.
Appearance of the incision.
11. The nurse should monitor the client more frequently and notify the pCP immediately
if a client's respiratory rate falls below how many breaths per minute when an opiod
analgesic is administered?
, 20
15
25
10 breaths
12. A patient with a pneumothorax has had a chest tube inserted 10 hours ago, and a
drainage system attached. The nurse goes in to assess the patient's drainage system.
Which of the following requires immediate intervention?
The nurse observes tidaling in the water-seal chamber that stops suddenly.
The nurse assesses the collection chamber and notices 700 mL of fluid.
The nurse notes intermittent bubbling in the water-seal chamber while the
patient is exhaling.
The suction is set to -20 cm H2O
13. A nurse is teaching the importance of hand-washing to a client. Which of the following
statements should the nurse make about hand hygiene in a healthcare setting?
effective hand-washing can decrease hospital infection rates it is not
important to wash your hands after removing gloves
healthcare-associated infections are a rare event in health care delivery
infections in health care staff are not considered healthcareassociated
infections
14. A nurse is providing teaching about dietary options for a client who has cholelithiasis.
Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
