HESI Exit Exam Practice 2026:
Comprehensive Questions with
Detailed Rationales
1. What steps should you take for an older female client who was
just admitted to a long-term facility and is confused about the day
of the week? - answer-Remind the client what day of the week it
is
2. Which information about end-of-life care should a practical nurse
(PN) ensure the client has? - answer-Instructions for care should
be included in the clients living will
3. (Advance directives)
4. After a routine vaginal delivery of a healthy newborn, a client who
is pregnant is taken to the recovery room. You notice the client is
shaking asks if she's cold. What's next? - answer-Apply light warm
blanket and assure her that this is normal following delivery
5. The practical nurse (PN) is assessing an older client with left sided
heart failure what intervention is most important for the PN to
implement - answer-Auscultate all the lung fields
6. What is the most crucial step for the practical nurse to take while
giving prescription medication to an elderly resident of an
, extended care home who is having trouble hearing? - answer-
Determine if client has had difficulty hearing in the past
7. A full term 24 hour old infant in the nursery regulates and
suddenly turns cyanotic which immediate interventions should
the practical nurse (PN) take? - answer-Turn the infant to the right
side
8. The practical nurse (PN) views the midline episiotomy of a client
who reports pain in her stiches. What action should the action
should the PN take first? - answer-Observe suture line for
separation and hematoma formation
9. The practical nurse (PN) is obtaining fetal heart rates on a client in
their third trimester of pregnancy what fetal heart rate should be
reported to the registered nurse? - answer-180
10. Which problem has happened in an older client with these
issues? - answer-Evisceration
11. Which location should the practical nurse palpate to
determine if a client submandibular lymph node are enlarged? -
answer-Beneath the lower jaw
12. The most significant side effect that a practical nurse (PN)
should check for after administering an epidural to a client during
, labor is observation of the side effect. - answer-Maternal
hypotension
13. Which person has the highest risk of developing laryngeal
cancer? - answer-A older male who drinks a 6 pack of beer nightly
and smokes heavily
14. A home health practical nurse (PN) visits and older client
living with offspring who exhibits fear unkept and has lost a lot of
weight which action should the PN take> - answer-Report
suspected abuse to supervisor and protective services
15. Which interventions should the practical nurse (PN)
reinforce for a client with pruritis? - answer-Keep fingernails
trimmed short.
16. When gathering data about a client with dark skin tones
which site should the practical nurse (PN) observe? - answer-
Finger and toe nails
17. What important intervention does the nurse need to
ensure? - answer-Measure head circumference
18. If a baby is born to a diabetic mother what should the nurse
encourage? - answer-Offer nipple feedings or 10% dextrose
Comprehensive Questions with
Detailed Rationales
1. What steps should you take for an older female client who was
just admitted to a long-term facility and is confused about the day
of the week? - answer-Remind the client what day of the week it
is
2. Which information about end-of-life care should a practical nurse
(PN) ensure the client has? - answer-Instructions for care should
be included in the clients living will
3. (Advance directives)
4. After a routine vaginal delivery of a healthy newborn, a client who
is pregnant is taken to the recovery room. You notice the client is
shaking asks if she's cold. What's next? - answer-Apply light warm
blanket and assure her that this is normal following delivery
5. The practical nurse (PN) is assessing an older client with left sided
heart failure what intervention is most important for the PN to
implement - answer-Auscultate all the lung fields
6. What is the most crucial step for the practical nurse to take while
giving prescription medication to an elderly resident of an
, extended care home who is having trouble hearing? - answer-
Determine if client has had difficulty hearing in the past
7. A full term 24 hour old infant in the nursery regulates and
suddenly turns cyanotic which immediate interventions should
the practical nurse (PN) take? - answer-Turn the infant to the right
side
8. The practical nurse (PN) views the midline episiotomy of a client
who reports pain in her stiches. What action should the action
should the PN take first? - answer-Observe suture line for
separation and hematoma formation
9. The practical nurse (PN) is obtaining fetal heart rates on a client in
their third trimester of pregnancy what fetal heart rate should be
reported to the registered nurse? - answer-180
10. Which problem has happened in an older client with these
issues? - answer-Evisceration
11. Which location should the practical nurse palpate to
determine if a client submandibular lymph node are enlarged? -
answer-Beneath the lower jaw
12. The most significant side effect that a practical nurse (PN)
should check for after administering an epidural to a client during
, labor is observation of the side effect. - answer-Maternal
hypotension
13. Which person has the highest risk of developing laryngeal
cancer? - answer-A older male who drinks a 6 pack of beer nightly
and smokes heavily
14. A home health practical nurse (PN) visits and older client
living with offspring who exhibits fear unkept and has lost a lot of
weight which action should the PN take> - answer-Report
suspected abuse to supervisor and protective services
15. Which interventions should the practical nurse (PN)
reinforce for a client with pruritis? - answer-Keep fingernails
trimmed short.
16. When gathering data about a client with dark skin tones
which site should the practical nurse (PN) observe? - answer-
Finger and toe nails
17. What important intervention does the nurse need to
ensure? - answer-Measure head circumference
18. If a baby is born to a diabetic mother what should the nurse
encourage? - answer-Offer nipple feedings or 10% dextrose
