HESI PN EXIT Exam Study
Guide – Practice Questions
with Verified Answers. GRADED
A+. Latest 2026/2027 Update
A nurse who has recently completed orientation is beginning work in the labor
and delivery unit for the first time. When making assignments, which client
should the charge nurse assign to this new nurse?
A.A primigravida who is 8 cm dilated after 14 hours of labor
B.A client scheduled for a repeat cesarean birth at 38 weeks' gestation
C.A client being induced for fetal demise at 20 weeks' gestation
D.A multiparous client who is dilated 5 cm and 50% effaced - Answer✔✔-D
The new nurse should be assigned the least complicated client to gain
experience and confidence, as well as protect client safety. Of the clients
available for assignment, (D) is progressing well and is the least complicated.
(A, B and C) have actual or potential complications and should be assigned to a
more experienced nurse.
A client with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has white lesions
in the oral cavity that resemble milk curds. Nystatin (Mycostatin) preparation is
,prescribed as a swish and swallow. Which information is most important for the
nurse to provide the client?
A.Oral hygiene should be performed before the medication. B.Antifungal
medications are available in tablet, suppository, and liquid forms.
C.Candida albicans is the organism that causes the white lesions in the mouth.
D.The dietary intake of dairy and spicy foods should be limited. - Answer✔✔-A
HIV infection causes depression of cell-mediated immunity that allows an
overgrowth of Candida albicans (oral moniliasis), which appears as white,
cheesy plaque or lesions that resemble milk curds. To ensure effective contact
of the medication with the oral lesions, oral liquids should be consumed and
oral hygiene performed before swishing the liquid Mycostatin (A). (B and C)
provide the client with additional information about the pathogenesis and
treatment of opportunistic infections, but (A) allows the client to participate in
self-care of the oral infection. Dietary restriction of spicy foods reduces
discomfort associated with stomatitis, but restriction of dairy products is not
indicated (D).
A client who is admitted with emphysema is having difficulty breathing. In
which position should the nurse place the client?
A.High Fowler's position without a pillow behind the head
B.Semi-Fowler's position with a single pillow behind the head
C.Right side-lying position with the head of the bed elevated 45 degrees
D.Sitting upright and forward with both arms supported on an over the bed
table - Answer✔✔-D
Adequate lung expansion is dependent on deep breaths that allow the
respiratory muscles to increase the longitudinal and anterior-posterior size of
the thoracic cage. Sitting upright and leaning forward with the arms supported
,on an over the bed table (D) allows the thoracic cage to expand in all four
directions and reduces dyspnea. A high Fowler's position does not allow
maximum expansion of the posterior lobes of the lungs (A). A semi-Fowler's
position restricts expansion of the anterior-posterior diameter of the thoracic
cage (B). Positioning a client on the right side with the head of the bed elevated
(C) does not facilitate lung expansion.
A client with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) is taking 25 mg of
hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) PO and 40 mg of furosemide (Lasix) PO daily. Today,
at a routine clinic visit, the client's serum potassium level is 4 mEq/L. What is
the most likely cause of this client's potassium level?
A.The client is noncompliant with his medications.
B.The client recently consumed large quantities of pears or nuts.
C.The client's renal function has affected his potassium level.
D.The client needs to be started on a potassium supplement. - Answer✔✔-C
The client has a normalized potassium level despite diuretic use (C). The kidney
automatically secretes 90% of potassium consumed, but in chronic renal
insufficiency (CRI), less potassium is excreted than normal. Therefore, the two
potassium-wasting drugs, a thiazide diuretic and loop diuretic, are not likely to
affect potassium levels. The normal potassium level is 3.5 to 5 mEq/L, and with
a potassium level of 4 mEq/L, there is no reason to believe that the client is
noncompliant with his treatment (A). Pears and nuts do not affect the serum
potassium level (B). There is no need for a potassium supplement (D) because
the client's potassium level is within the normal range.
A registered nurse (RN) delivers telehealth services to clients via electronic
communication. Which nursing action creates the greatest risk for professional
liability and has the potential for a malpractice lawsuit?
, A.Participating in telephone consultations with clients
B.Identifying oneself by name and title to clients in telehealth communications
C.Sending medical records to health care providers via the Internet
D.Answering a client-initiated health question via electronic mail - Answer✔✔-
C
Sending medical records over the Internet, even with the latest security
protection, creates the greatest risk for liability because of the high potential of
breaching client confidentiality and the amount of information being
transferred (C). Client confidentiality is protected by federal wiretapping laws
making telephone consultation (A) a private and protected form of
communication. By stating one's name and credentials in telehealth
communication (B), one is taking responsibility for the encounter. E-mail
initiated by the client (D) poses less risk than sending records via the Internet.
Which pathophysiologic response supports the contraindication for opioids,
such as morphine, in clients with increased intracranial pressure (ICP)?
A.Sedation produced by opioids is a result of a prolonged half-life when the ICP
is elevated.
B.Higher doses of opioids are required when cerebral blood flow is reduced by
an elevated ICP.
C.Dysphoria from opioids contributes to altered levels of consciousness with
an elevated ICP.
D.Opioids suppress respirations, which increases Pco2 and contributes to an
elevated ICP. - Answer✔✔-D
The greatest risk associated with opioids such as morphine (D) is respiratory
depression that causes an increase in Pco2, which increases ICP and masks the
early signs of intracranial bleeding in head injury. (A, B, and C) do not support
the risks associated with opioid use in a client with increased ICP.
Guide – Practice Questions
with Verified Answers. GRADED
A+. Latest 2026/2027 Update
A nurse who has recently completed orientation is beginning work in the labor
and delivery unit for the first time. When making assignments, which client
should the charge nurse assign to this new nurse?
A.A primigravida who is 8 cm dilated after 14 hours of labor
B.A client scheduled for a repeat cesarean birth at 38 weeks' gestation
C.A client being induced for fetal demise at 20 weeks' gestation
D.A multiparous client who is dilated 5 cm and 50% effaced - Answer✔✔-D
The new nurse should be assigned the least complicated client to gain
experience and confidence, as well as protect client safety. Of the clients
available for assignment, (D) is progressing well and is the least complicated.
(A, B and C) have actual or potential complications and should be assigned to a
more experienced nurse.
A client with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has white lesions
in the oral cavity that resemble milk curds. Nystatin (Mycostatin) preparation is
,prescribed as a swish and swallow. Which information is most important for the
nurse to provide the client?
A.Oral hygiene should be performed before the medication. B.Antifungal
medications are available in tablet, suppository, and liquid forms.
C.Candida albicans is the organism that causes the white lesions in the mouth.
D.The dietary intake of dairy and spicy foods should be limited. - Answer✔✔-A
HIV infection causes depression of cell-mediated immunity that allows an
overgrowth of Candida albicans (oral moniliasis), which appears as white,
cheesy plaque or lesions that resemble milk curds. To ensure effective contact
of the medication with the oral lesions, oral liquids should be consumed and
oral hygiene performed before swishing the liquid Mycostatin (A). (B and C)
provide the client with additional information about the pathogenesis and
treatment of opportunistic infections, but (A) allows the client to participate in
self-care of the oral infection. Dietary restriction of spicy foods reduces
discomfort associated with stomatitis, but restriction of dairy products is not
indicated (D).
A client who is admitted with emphysema is having difficulty breathing. In
which position should the nurse place the client?
A.High Fowler's position without a pillow behind the head
B.Semi-Fowler's position with a single pillow behind the head
C.Right side-lying position with the head of the bed elevated 45 degrees
D.Sitting upright and forward with both arms supported on an over the bed
table - Answer✔✔-D
Adequate lung expansion is dependent on deep breaths that allow the
respiratory muscles to increase the longitudinal and anterior-posterior size of
the thoracic cage. Sitting upright and leaning forward with the arms supported
,on an over the bed table (D) allows the thoracic cage to expand in all four
directions and reduces dyspnea. A high Fowler's position does not allow
maximum expansion of the posterior lobes of the lungs (A). A semi-Fowler's
position restricts expansion of the anterior-posterior diameter of the thoracic
cage (B). Positioning a client on the right side with the head of the bed elevated
(C) does not facilitate lung expansion.
A client with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) is taking 25 mg of
hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) PO and 40 mg of furosemide (Lasix) PO daily. Today,
at a routine clinic visit, the client's serum potassium level is 4 mEq/L. What is
the most likely cause of this client's potassium level?
A.The client is noncompliant with his medications.
B.The client recently consumed large quantities of pears or nuts.
C.The client's renal function has affected his potassium level.
D.The client needs to be started on a potassium supplement. - Answer✔✔-C
The client has a normalized potassium level despite diuretic use (C). The kidney
automatically secretes 90% of potassium consumed, but in chronic renal
insufficiency (CRI), less potassium is excreted than normal. Therefore, the two
potassium-wasting drugs, a thiazide diuretic and loop diuretic, are not likely to
affect potassium levels. The normal potassium level is 3.5 to 5 mEq/L, and with
a potassium level of 4 mEq/L, there is no reason to believe that the client is
noncompliant with his treatment (A). Pears and nuts do not affect the serum
potassium level (B). There is no need for a potassium supplement (D) because
the client's potassium level is within the normal range.
A registered nurse (RN) delivers telehealth services to clients via electronic
communication. Which nursing action creates the greatest risk for professional
liability and has the potential for a malpractice lawsuit?
, A.Participating in telephone consultations with clients
B.Identifying oneself by name and title to clients in telehealth communications
C.Sending medical records to health care providers via the Internet
D.Answering a client-initiated health question via electronic mail - Answer✔✔-
C
Sending medical records over the Internet, even with the latest security
protection, creates the greatest risk for liability because of the high potential of
breaching client confidentiality and the amount of information being
transferred (C). Client confidentiality is protected by federal wiretapping laws
making telephone consultation (A) a private and protected form of
communication. By stating one's name and credentials in telehealth
communication (B), one is taking responsibility for the encounter. E-mail
initiated by the client (D) poses less risk than sending records via the Internet.
Which pathophysiologic response supports the contraindication for opioids,
such as morphine, in clients with increased intracranial pressure (ICP)?
A.Sedation produced by opioids is a result of a prolonged half-life when the ICP
is elevated.
B.Higher doses of opioids are required when cerebral blood flow is reduced by
an elevated ICP.
C.Dysphoria from opioids contributes to altered levels of consciousness with
an elevated ICP.
D.Opioids suppress respirations, which increases Pco2 and contributes to an
elevated ICP. - Answer✔✔-D
The greatest risk associated with opioids such as morphine (D) is respiratory
depression that causes an increase in Pco2, which increases ICP and masks the
early signs of intracranial bleeding in head injury. (A, B, and C) do not support
the risks associated with opioid use in a client with increased ICP.
