EXIT HESI PN Study Guide – Things I
Forget About | Verified Questions,
Answers & Rationales for Practical
Nursing Exam (2025–2026)
Q1: How should iron medication be administered to prevent teeth staining?
Answer: Use a straw and drink citrus juice afterward .
Rationale: Liquid iron preparations can stain tooth enamel. Using a straw
bypasses the teeth, and citrus juice (vitamin C) enhances iron absorption .
Q2: A patient is receiving warfarin (Coumadin). What INR range indicates
therapeutic effect for a patient with a cardiac condition?
Answer: 2.0–3.0 .
Rationale: For most indications (atrial fibrillation, mechanical valves, DVT
treatment), therapeutic INR is 2.0–3.0. Normal INR in a healthy person is 1.0–2.0 .
Q3: What foods are high in vitamin K that a patient on warfarin should eat
consistently?
Answer: Dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, collard greens) .
,Rationale: Vitamin K antagonizes warfarin's effects. Patients should maintain
consistent vitamin K intake rather than avoiding it entirely. Sudden changes in
intake can cause INR fluctuations .
Q4: A vial of cefazolin 1 gram is reconstituted with 2 mL sterile water,
yielding a total volume of 2 mL. How many mL should be administered for a
400 mg IM dose?
Answer: 0.8 mL
Rationale: 1 gram = 1000 mg. Concentration = 1000 mg / 2 mL = 500 mg/mL. For
400 mg: 400 mg ÷ 500 mg/mL = 0.8 mL .
Q5: Which laboratory test is used to monitor warfarin therapy?
Answer: PT (Prothrombin Time) / INR .
Rationale: PT measures the time it takes for blood to clot. INR standardizes PT
results across different laboratories. Normal PT is 11–13 seconds .
Q6: What safety precaution should a patient on warfarin use for shaving?
Answer: Use an electric razor .
Rationale: Warfarin increases bleeding risk. Electric razors reduce the risk of
nicks and cuts compared to straight or safety razors .
,Q7: A patient with type 2 diabetes has a hemoglobin A1C drawn. What is the
target A1C after 3 months of management?
Answer: Below 7% .
Rationale: The American Diabetes Association recommends an A1C <7% for
most nonpregnant adults with diabetes. A1C reflects average blood glucose over
the previous 3 months .
Q8: What medication is used to control seizures in a patient with eclampsia?
Answer: Magnesium sulfate .
Rationale: Magnesium sulfate is the first-line anticonvulsant for eclampsia and
severe preeclampsia. It prevents and treats seizures by reducing neuromuscular
irritability .
Q9: Which drug interaction occurs with isoniazid (INH) for TB treatment?
Answer: Interacts with phenytoin (Dilantin) .
Rationale: INH inhibits phenytoin metabolism, leading to increased phenytoin
levels and potential toxicity. Phenytoin levels should be monitored when these
drugs are given together .
, Q10: Which drug causes orange discoloration of tears and urine?
Answer: Rifampicin (rifampin) .
Rationale: Rifampin is a first-line TB medication that causes harmless orange-red
discoloration of body fluids (urine, tears, sweat, sputum). Patients must be warned
about this to prevent unnecessary alarm .
Questions 11–20: Lab Values & Diagnostics
Q11: What is the normal hemoglobin range for an adult female?
Answer: 12–16 g/dL .
Rationale: Normal hemoglobin for adult females is 12–16 g/dL; for adult males,
14–18 g/dL. Values below these ranges indicate anemia .
Q12: What is the normal hematocrit range for an adult female?
Answer: 37–47% (or 38–44%) .
Rationale: Hematocrit measures the percentage of red blood cells in total blood
volume. Normal ranges vary slightly by laboratory but generally are 37–47% for
females and 43–49% for males .
Q13: What is the normal white blood cell (WBC) count?
Answer: 5,000–10,000/mm³ .
Forget About | Verified Questions,
Answers & Rationales for Practical
Nursing Exam (2025–2026)
Q1: How should iron medication be administered to prevent teeth staining?
Answer: Use a straw and drink citrus juice afterward .
Rationale: Liquid iron preparations can stain tooth enamel. Using a straw
bypasses the teeth, and citrus juice (vitamin C) enhances iron absorption .
Q2: A patient is receiving warfarin (Coumadin). What INR range indicates
therapeutic effect for a patient with a cardiac condition?
Answer: 2.0–3.0 .
Rationale: For most indications (atrial fibrillation, mechanical valves, DVT
treatment), therapeutic INR is 2.0–3.0. Normal INR in a healthy person is 1.0–2.0 .
Q3: What foods are high in vitamin K that a patient on warfarin should eat
consistently?
Answer: Dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, collard greens) .
,Rationale: Vitamin K antagonizes warfarin's effects. Patients should maintain
consistent vitamin K intake rather than avoiding it entirely. Sudden changes in
intake can cause INR fluctuations .
Q4: A vial of cefazolin 1 gram is reconstituted with 2 mL sterile water,
yielding a total volume of 2 mL. How many mL should be administered for a
400 mg IM dose?
Answer: 0.8 mL
Rationale: 1 gram = 1000 mg. Concentration = 1000 mg / 2 mL = 500 mg/mL. For
400 mg: 400 mg ÷ 500 mg/mL = 0.8 mL .
Q5: Which laboratory test is used to monitor warfarin therapy?
Answer: PT (Prothrombin Time) / INR .
Rationale: PT measures the time it takes for blood to clot. INR standardizes PT
results across different laboratories. Normal PT is 11–13 seconds .
Q6: What safety precaution should a patient on warfarin use for shaving?
Answer: Use an electric razor .
Rationale: Warfarin increases bleeding risk. Electric razors reduce the risk of
nicks and cuts compared to straight or safety razors .
,Q7: A patient with type 2 diabetes has a hemoglobin A1C drawn. What is the
target A1C after 3 months of management?
Answer: Below 7% .
Rationale: The American Diabetes Association recommends an A1C <7% for
most nonpregnant adults with diabetes. A1C reflects average blood glucose over
the previous 3 months .
Q8: What medication is used to control seizures in a patient with eclampsia?
Answer: Magnesium sulfate .
Rationale: Magnesium sulfate is the first-line anticonvulsant for eclampsia and
severe preeclampsia. It prevents and treats seizures by reducing neuromuscular
irritability .
Q9: Which drug interaction occurs with isoniazid (INH) for TB treatment?
Answer: Interacts with phenytoin (Dilantin) .
Rationale: INH inhibits phenytoin metabolism, leading to increased phenytoin
levels and potential toxicity. Phenytoin levels should be monitored when these
drugs are given together .
, Q10: Which drug causes orange discoloration of tears and urine?
Answer: Rifampicin (rifampin) .
Rationale: Rifampin is a first-line TB medication that causes harmless orange-red
discoloration of body fluids (urine, tears, sweat, sputum). Patients must be warned
about this to prevent unnecessary alarm .
Questions 11–20: Lab Values & Diagnostics
Q11: What is the normal hemoglobin range for an adult female?
Answer: 12–16 g/dL .
Rationale: Normal hemoglobin for adult females is 12–16 g/dL; for adult males,
14–18 g/dL. Values below these ranges indicate anemia .
Q12: What is the normal hematocrit range for an adult female?
Answer: 37–47% (or 38–44%) .
Rationale: Hematocrit measures the percentage of red blood cells in total blood
volume. Normal ranges vary slightly by laboratory but generally are 37–47% for
females and 43–49% for males .
Q13: What is the normal white blood cell (WBC) count?
Answer: 5,000–10,000/mm³ .
