HESI RN CAT Practice 2026: Computer
Adaptive Exam Prep & Review | Pass on
First Try
1. A nurse is caring for a patient with heart failure. Which assessment finding
requires immediate action?
A. Bilateral +1 pedal edema
B. Crackles in lung bases
C. Weight gain of 2 lbs in 24 hours
D. Shortness of breath while talking
Correct ,,,answer,,,: D
Rationale: SOB while talking indicates significant respiratory compromise. ABCs
first. Crackles may be chronic; weight gain is slow. D is acute respiratory distress.
2. Which task can be delegated to a UAP (unlicensed assistive personnel)?
A. Assess a post-op incision
B. Ambulate a patient with a walker
C. Teach insulin injection technique
D. Evaluate a patient’s pain level
Correct ,,,answer,,,: B
Rationale: Ambulating a stable patient with a walker is within UAP scope.
Assessment, teaching, and evaluation are RN/LPN only.
3. A patient on warfarin has an INR of 5.5 and is bleeding from the gums. The
nurse should anticipate administering:
A. Protamine sulfate
B. Vitamin K
C. Aspirin
D. Enoxaparin
,Correct ,,,answer,,,: B
Rationale: Vitamin K reverses warfarin’s effect in active bleeding. Protamine is
for heparin. Aspirin worsens bleeding. Enoxaparin is an anticoagulant.
4. A postpartum patient reports a firm fundus and heavy lochia with large
clots. What should the nurse do first?
A. Administer oxytocin IV
B. Massage the fundus
C. Call the provider
D. Measure blood pressure
Correct ,,,answer,,,: B
Rationale: Fundal massage first to expel clots and improve tone. Oxytocin may be
given after if massage fails. BP is secondary.
5. A patient with COPD has a SpO2 of 86% on 2L O2. The nurse increases O2
to 4L. Later, the patient is lethargic. What is the most likely cause?
A. Hyperoxia
B. CO2 narcosis
C. Pneumothorax
D. Atelectasis
Correct ,,,answer,,,: B
Rationale: COPD patients often retain CO2; high O2 reduces respiratory drive →
CO2 narcosis → lethargy.
6. Which finding in a patient with a chest tube suggests an air leak?
A. Constant bubbling in the water seal chamber
B. Tidaling with inspiration
C. Absence of drainage
D. Subcutaneous emphysema
Correct ,,,answer,,,: A
Rationale: Continuous bubbling indicates air leak. Tidaling is normal.
Subcutaneous emphysema can occur but isn’t diagnostic for air leak.
,7. A patient with major depression starts phenelzine (MAOI). Which snack is
contraindicated?
A. Apple slices
B. Yogurt with fresh strawberries
C. Aged cheese and salami
D. Saltine crackers
Correct ,,,answer,,,: C
Rationale: Aged cheese/salami contain tyramine → hypertensive crisis with
MAOIs.
8. A nurse receives report on 4 patients. Which should be seen first?
A. Day 1 post-op, pain 5/10
B. Cirrhosis, confused, asterixis
C. UTI, temperature 100.1°F
D. Anxiety, requesting sleep aid
Correct ,,,answer,,,: B
Rationale: Confusion + asterixis in cirrhosis = possible hepatic encephalopathy
(life-threatening).
9. A patient with new colostomy has a stoma that is pale and dry. What should
the nurse do?
A. Apply a moisture barrier
B. Notify the surgeon
C. Change the appliance
D. Document as normal
Correct ,,,answer,,,: B
Rationale: Pale/dry stoma indicates possible ischemia. Normal stoma is pink-red
and moist.
10. A patient on digoxin has a potassium level of 3.1 mEq/L. What is the
priority action?
A. Give digoxin as ordered
, B. Hold digoxin and notify provider
C. Administer IV potassium push
D. Repeat lab in 4 hours
Correct ,,,answer,,,: B
Rationale: Hypokalemia increases digoxin toxicity risk. Hold and notify. Never
push IV potassium.
11. A nurse is teaching a patient with a new ileostomy. Which food requires
the most caution?
A. White rice
B. Corn
C. Applesauce
D. White bread
Correct ,,,answer,,,: B
Rationale: Corn is high in fiber and difficult to digest → risk of blockage. Other
options are low-residue.
12. A patient is admitted with possible appendicitis. Which order should the
nurse question?
A. NPO status
B. IV fluids at 125 mL/hr
C. Morphine for pain
D. Warm compresses to abdomen
Correct ,,,answer,,,: D
Rationale: Heat can cause rupture if appendix is inflamed. Cold may help, but heat
is contraindicated.
13. A patient with bipolar disorder (manic phase) is not eating. Best nursing
action?
A. Offer high-calorie finger foods
B. Tell the patient to sit down to eat
C. Restrict all visitors during meals
Adaptive Exam Prep & Review | Pass on
First Try
1. A nurse is caring for a patient with heart failure. Which assessment finding
requires immediate action?
A. Bilateral +1 pedal edema
B. Crackles in lung bases
C. Weight gain of 2 lbs in 24 hours
D. Shortness of breath while talking
Correct ,,,answer,,,: D
Rationale: SOB while talking indicates significant respiratory compromise. ABCs
first. Crackles may be chronic; weight gain is slow. D is acute respiratory distress.
2. Which task can be delegated to a UAP (unlicensed assistive personnel)?
A. Assess a post-op incision
B. Ambulate a patient with a walker
C. Teach insulin injection technique
D. Evaluate a patient’s pain level
Correct ,,,answer,,,: B
Rationale: Ambulating a stable patient with a walker is within UAP scope.
Assessment, teaching, and evaluation are RN/LPN only.
3. A patient on warfarin has an INR of 5.5 and is bleeding from the gums. The
nurse should anticipate administering:
A. Protamine sulfate
B. Vitamin K
C. Aspirin
D. Enoxaparin
,Correct ,,,answer,,,: B
Rationale: Vitamin K reverses warfarin’s effect in active bleeding. Protamine is
for heparin. Aspirin worsens bleeding. Enoxaparin is an anticoagulant.
4. A postpartum patient reports a firm fundus and heavy lochia with large
clots. What should the nurse do first?
A. Administer oxytocin IV
B. Massage the fundus
C. Call the provider
D. Measure blood pressure
Correct ,,,answer,,,: B
Rationale: Fundal massage first to expel clots and improve tone. Oxytocin may be
given after if massage fails. BP is secondary.
5. A patient with COPD has a SpO2 of 86% on 2L O2. The nurse increases O2
to 4L. Later, the patient is lethargic. What is the most likely cause?
A. Hyperoxia
B. CO2 narcosis
C. Pneumothorax
D. Atelectasis
Correct ,,,answer,,,: B
Rationale: COPD patients often retain CO2; high O2 reduces respiratory drive →
CO2 narcosis → lethargy.
6. Which finding in a patient with a chest tube suggests an air leak?
A. Constant bubbling in the water seal chamber
B. Tidaling with inspiration
C. Absence of drainage
D. Subcutaneous emphysema
Correct ,,,answer,,,: A
Rationale: Continuous bubbling indicates air leak. Tidaling is normal.
Subcutaneous emphysema can occur but isn’t diagnostic for air leak.
,7. A patient with major depression starts phenelzine (MAOI). Which snack is
contraindicated?
A. Apple slices
B. Yogurt with fresh strawberries
C. Aged cheese and salami
D. Saltine crackers
Correct ,,,answer,,,: C
Rationale: Aged cheese/salami contain tyramine → hypertensive crisis with
MAOIs.
8. A nurse receives report on 4 patients. Which should be seen first?
A. Day 1 post-op, pain 5/10
B. Cirrhosis, confused, asterixis
C. UTI, temperature 100.1°F
D. Anxiety, requesting sleep aid
Correct ,,,answer,,,: B
Rationale: Confusion + asterixis in cirrhosis = possible hepatic encephalopathy
(life-threatening).
9. A patient with new colostomy has a stoma that is pale and dry. What should
the nurse do?
A. Apply a moisture barrier
B. Notify the surgeon
C. Change the appliance
D. Document as normal
Correct ,,,answer,,,: B
Rationale: Pale/dry stoma indicates possible ischemia. Normal stoma is pink-red
and moist.
10. A patient on digoxin has a potassium level of 3.1 mEq/L. What is the
priority action?
A. Give digoxin as ordered
, B. Hold digoxin and notify provider
C. Administer IV potassium push
D. Repeat lab in 4 hours
Correct ,,,answer,,,: B
Rationale: Hypokalemia increases digoxin toxicity risk. Hold and notify. Never
push IV potassium.
11. A nurse is teaching a patient with a new ileostomy. Which food requires
the most caution?
A. White rice
B. Corn
C. Applesauce
D. White bread
Correct ,,,answer,,,: B
Rationale: Corn is high in fiber and difficult to digest → risk of blockage. Other
options are low-residue.
12. A patient is admitted with possible appendicitis. Which order should the
nurse question?
A. NPO status
B. IV fluids at 125 mL/hr
C. Morphine for pain
D. Warm compresses to abdomen
Correct ,,,answer,,,: D
Rationale: Heat can cause rupture if appendix is inflamed. Cold may help, but heat
is contraindicated.
13. A patient with bipolar disorder (manic phase) is not eating. Best nursing
action?
A. Offer high-calorie finger foods
B. Tell the patient to sit down to eat
C. Restrict all visitors during meals
