HESI EXIT EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (ORIGINAL PRACTICE ITEMS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
Nursing Process
Safe and Effective Care Environment
Safety and Infection Control
Health Promotion and Maintenance
Psychosocial Integrity
Physiological Integrity
Basic Care and Comfort
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
Reduction of Risk Potential
Physiological Adaptation
, This exam is designed to assess nursing knowledge, clinical judgment, and priority-setting skills through
multiple-choice and scenario-based questions. It focuses on the application of foundational concepts, safe
patient care, ethical practice, and evidence-based decision-making in real-world settings. Questions are
written in an exam-style format to strengthen recall, critical thinking, and test-taking confidence. The
assessment emphasizes practical nursing judgment across common client needs, acute care situations,
medication safety, infection control, maternal-child care, mental health, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Use each item to evaluate understanding of key nursing principles and the ability to choose the safest, most
appropriate action in varied clinical circumstances.
SECTION ONE
. A nurse is caring for a client with shortness of breath and cyanosis. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Obtain a full set of vital signs.
B. Apply supplemental oxygen.
C. Notify the provider.
D. Place the client in high Fowler position.
🟢 Correct answer: B. Apply supplemental oxygen.
🔴 RATIONALE: Oxygen is the immediate intervention to improve oxygenation in a client showing signs of
hypoxia.
. Which finding requires the nurse’s immediate attention?
, A. Blood pressure of 148/88 mm Hg.
B. Respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min.
C. Temperature of 37.8 C.
D. Urine output of 45 mL/hr.
🟢 Correct answer: B. Respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min.
🔴 RATIONALE: Tachypnea can indicate respiratory distress and requires prompt assessment.
. A nurse is teaching a client about hand hygiene for Clostridioides difficile infection. Which statement indicates
understanding?
A. “I will use alcohol-based sanitizer after every contact.”
B. “I will wash my hands with soap and water.”
C. “I only need gloves when touching the client.”
D. “I can use sanitizer if my hands are visibly clean.”
🟢 Correct answer: B. “I will wash my hands with soap and water.”
🔴 RATIONALE: Spores of C. difficile are not reliably removed by alcohol hand rub and require soap and
water.
. A nurse is assigning tasks to the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which task is appropriate?
A. Evaluate a newly admitted client’s pain level.
B. Teach incentive spirometer use.
C. Assist a stable client with bathing.
D. Develop a discharge plan.
, 🟢 Correct answer: C. Assist a stable client with bathing.
🔴 RATIONALE: UAP may perform routine care for stable clients.
. Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. Client reporting mild incisional pain.
B. Client with a new onset of confusion.
C. Client requesting a snack.
D. Client asking for discharge instructions.
🟢 Correct answer: B. Client with a new onset of confusion.
🔴 RATIONALE: Sudden confusion may indicate hypoxia, infection, or neurologic change and is a priority.
. A nurse is caring for a client with a prescription for morphine. Which finding should the nurse withhold the
medication for?
A. Respiratory rate of 10 breaths/min.
B. Blood pressure of 138/84 mm Hg.
C. Pain score of 8/10.
D. Pulse rate of 92 beats/min.
🟢 Correct answer: A. Respiratory rate of 10 breaths/min.
🔴 RATIONALE: Opioids can depress respirations, so a low respiratory rate is a contraindication.
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
Nursing Process
Safe and Effective Care Environment
Safety and Infection Control
Health Promotion and Maintenance
Psychosocial Integrity
Physiological Integrity
Basic Care and Comfort
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
Reduction of Risk Potential
Physiological Adaptation
, This exam is designed to assess nursing knowledge, clinical judgment, and priority-setting skills through
multiple-choice and scenario-based questions. It focuses on the application of foundational concepts, safe
patient care, ethical practice, and evidence-based decision-making in real-world settings. Questions are
written in an exam-style format to strengthen recall, critical thinking, and test-taking confidence. The
assessment emphasizes practical nursing judgment across common client needs, acute care situations,
medication safety, infection control, maternal-child care, mental health, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Use each item to evaluate understanding of key nursing principles and the ability to choose the safest, most
appropriate action in varied clinical circumstances.
SECTION ONE
. A nurse is caring for a client with shortness of breath and cyanosis. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Obtain a full set of vital signs.
B. Apply supplemental oxygen.
C. Notify the provider.
D. Place the client in high Fowler position.
🟢 Correct answer: B. Apply supplemental oxygen.
🔴 RATIONALE: Oxygen is the immediate intervention to improve oxygenation in a client showing signs of
hypoxia.
. Which finding requires the nurse’s immediate attention?
, A. Blood pressure of 148/88 mm Hg.
B. Respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min.
C. Temperature of 37.8 C.
D. Urine output of 45 mL/hr.
🟢 Correct answer: B. Respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min.
🔴 RATIONALE: Tachypnea can indicate respiratory distress and requires prompt assessment.
. A nurse is teaching a client about hand hygiene for Clostridioides difficile infection. Which statement indicates
understanding?
A. “I will use alcohol-based sanitizer after every contact.”
B. “I will wash my hands with soap and water.”
C. “I only need gloves when touching the client.”
D. “I can use sanitizer if my hands are visibly clean.”
🟢 Correct answer: B. “I will wash my hands with soap and water.”
🔴 RATIONALE: Spores of C. difficile are not reliably removed by alcohol hand rub and require soap and
water.
. A nurse is assigning tasks to the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which task is appropriate?
A. Evaluate a newly admitted client’s pain level.
B. Teach incentive spirometer use.
C. Assist a stable client with bathing.
D. Develop a discharge plan.
, 🟢 Correct answer: C. Assist a stable client with bathing.
🔴 RATIONALE: UAP may perform routine care for stable clients.
. Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. Client reporting mild incisional pain.
B. Client with a new onset of confusion.
C. Client requesting a snack.
D. Client asking for discharge instructions.
🟢 Correct answer: B. Client with a new onset of confusion.
🔴 RATIONALE: Sudden confusion may indicate hypoxia, infection, or neurologic change and is a priority.
. A nurse is caring for a client with a prescription for morphine. Which finding should the nurse withhold the
medication for?
A. Respiratory rate of 10 breaths/min.
B. Blood pressure of 138/84 mm Hg.
C. Pain score of 8/10.
D. Pulse rate of 92 beats/min.
🟢 Correct answer: A. Respiratory rate of 10 breaths/min.
🔴 RATIONALE: Opioids can depress respirations, so a low respiratory rate is a contraindication.
