HESI RN Comprehensive Predictor
Exit Exam: 120 Practice Questions
with Answers and Rationales
Questions 1–10: Fundamentals of Nursing & Pain
Management
1. An oriented patient has recently had surgery. Which action
is best for the nurse to take to assess this patient's pain?
A. Assess the patient's body language
B. Ask the patient to rate the level of pain
C. Observe the cardiac monitor for increased heart rate
D. Have the patient describe the effect of pain on the ability to
cope
Answer: B
Rationale: The most subjective and useful characteristic for
reporting pain is its severity. The best way to assess an oriented
patient's pain is to ask the patient to rate it. Nonverbal
communication is less effective for oriented patients, and heart
rate changes are not specific to pain.
,2. A nurse is caring for a patient who recently had abdominal
surgery and is experiencing severe pain. The patient's blood
pressure is 110/60 mm Hg, and heart rate is 60 beats/min.
The patient does not appear to be in any distress. Which
response by the nurse is most therapeutic?
A. "Your vitals do not show that you are having pain; can you
describe your pain?"
B. "OK, I will go get you some narcotic pain relievers immediately."
C. "What would you like to try to alleviate your pain?"
D. "You do not look like you are in pain."
Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse must believe the patient is in pain whenever
the patient reports it. The patient is an important partner in
selecting successful pain therapies. The nurse should involve the
patient in decision-making about pain management approaches.
3. The nurse is caring for a patient to ease modifiable factors
that contribute to pain. Which areas did the nurse focus on
with this patient?
A. Age and gender
B. Anxiety and fear
C. Culture and ethnicity
D. Previous pain experiences and cognitive abilities
Answer: B
,Rationale: Modifiable contributors to pain include anxiety and
fear. The nurse can take measures to ease the patient's anxiety
and fear related to pain. Age, gender, culture, ethnicity, cognitive
abilities, and previous pain experiences are nonmodifiable factors.
4. The nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of guided imagery
for pain management in a patient with burns requiring
extensive dressing changes. Which finding best indicates
effectiveness?
A. The patient's facial expressions are stoic during the procedure
B. The patient rates pain during dressing change as 6 on a 0–10
scale
C. The patient's need for analgesic medication decreases during
dressing changes
D. The patient asks for pain medication only once throughout the
procedure
Answer: C
Rationale: If the patient needs less pain medication during
dressing changes, guided imagery is helping manage pain.
Guided imagery works with analgesic medications, potentiating
their effects. A pain rating of 6 indicates moderate pain with
inadequate relief.
, 5. A nurse is providing medication education to a patient
starting ibuprofen. Which information should the nurse
include?
A. Ibuprofen depresses the central nervous system to decrease
pain perception
B. Ibuprofen reduces anxiety to help cope with pain
C. Ibuprofen binds with opiate receptors to reduce pain
D. Ibuprofen inhibits the production of prostaglandins
Answer: D
Rationale: NSAIDs like ibuprofen work by inhibiting
prostaglandin synthesis to reduce cellular responses to
inflammation. Ibuprofen does not depress the CNS, enhance
coping, or bind to opiate receptors—those actions are associated
with opioids.
6. A client with heart failure is prescribed furosemide 40 mg
IV twice daily. Which assessment finding indicates the
medication is effective?
A. Decreased heart rate from 120 to 100 bpm
B. Increased urine output from 30 mL/hr to 100 mL/hr
C. Decreased blood pressure from 150/90 to 110/70 mmHg
D. Increased respiratory rate from 20 to 24/min
Answer: B
Exit Exam: 120 Practice Questions
with Answers and Rationales
Questions 1–10: Fundamentals of Nursing & Pain
Management
1. An oriented patient has recently had surgery. Which action
is best for the nurse to take to assess this patient's pain?
A. Assess the patient's body language
B. Ask the patient to rate the level of pain
C. Observe the cardiac monitor for increased heart rate
D. Have the patient describe the effect of pain on the ability to
cope
Answer: B
Rationale: The most subjective and useful characteristic for
reporting pain is its severity. The best way to assess an oriented
patient's pain is to ask the patient to rate it. Nonverbal
communication is less effective for oriented patients, and heart
rate changes are not specific to pain.
,2. A nurse is caring for a patient who recently had abdominal
surgery and is experiencing severe pain. The patient's blood
pressure is 110/60 mm Hg, and heart rate is 60 beats/min.
The patient does not appear to be in any distress. Which
response by the nurse is most therapeutic?
A. "Your vitals do not show that you are having pain; can you
describe your pain?"
B. "OK, I will go get you some narcotic pain relievers immediately."
C. "What would you like to try to alleviate your pain?"
D. "You do not look like you are in pain."
Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse must believe the patient is in pain whenever
the patient reports it. The patient is an important partner in
selecting successful pain therapies. The nurse should involve the
patient in decision-making about pain management approaches.
3. The nurse is caring for a patient to ease modifiable factors
that contribute to pain. Which areas did the nurse focus on
with this patient?
A. Age and gender
B. Anxiety and fear
C. Culture and ethnicity
D. Previous pain experiences and cognitive abilities
Answer: B
,Rationale: Modifiable contributors to pain include anxiety and
fear. The nurse can take measures to ease the patient's anxiety
and fear related to pain. Age, gender, culture, ethnicity, cognitive
abilities, and previous pain experiences are nonmodifiable factors.
4. The nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of guided imagery
for pain management in a patient with burns requiring
extensive dressing changes. Which finding best indicates
effectiveness?
A. The patient's facial expressions are stoic during the procedure
B. The patient rates pain during dressing change as 6 on a 0–10
scale
C. The patient's need for analgesic medication decreases during
dressing changes
D. The patient asks for pain medication only once throughout the
procedure
Answer: C
Rationale: If the patient needs less pain medication during
dressing changes, guided imagery is helping manage pain.
Guided imagery works with analgesic medications, potentiating
their effects. A pain rating of 6 indicates moderate pain with
inadequate relief.
, 5. A nurse is providing medication education to a patient
starting ibuprofen. Which information should the nurse
include?
A. Ibuprofen depresses the central nervous system to decrease
pain perception
B. Ibuprofen reduces anxiety to help cope with pain
C. Ibuprofen binds with opiate receptors to reduce pain
D. Ibuprofen inhibits the production of prostaglandins
Answer: D
Rationale: NSAIDs like ibuprofen work by inhibiting
prostaglandin synthesis to reduce cellular responses to
inflammation. Ibuprofen does not depress the CNS, enhance
coping, or bind to opiate receptors—those actions are associated
with opioids.
6. A client with heart failure is prescribed furosemide 40 mg
IV twice daily. Which assessment finding indicates the
medication is effective?
A. Decreased heart rate from 120 to 100 bpm
B. Increased urine output from 30 mL/hr to 100 mL/hr
C. Decreased blood pressure from 150/90 to 110/70 mmHg
D. Increased respiratory rate from 20 to 24/min
Answer: B
