PN HESI Exit V1 Exam with NGN
Questions and Verified Answers,
With rationales 2026\2027 update
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Questions and Ansẉers
format set of multiple-choice
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Verified ẉith trusted textbooks
,───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
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A practical nurse (PN) is caring for a client who is 2 hours
postoperative following a cholecystectomy. The client reports pain
at the incision site rated 8 on a scale of 0 to 10. Which of the
following actions should the PN take first?
A. Administer the prescribed PRN analgesic.
B. Assist the client to a side-lying position.
C. Reposition the client's pillows for comfort.
D. Assess the client's vital signs.
Answer: D
Rationale: The PN must always assess the client before
administering an analgesic, especially postoperatively. While pain is
expected, assessing vital signs helps rule out complications like
hypovolemic shock or bleeding, which can manifest as tachycardia
and hypotension and may be masked or altered if pain medication is
given first. Once the client is assessed and stabilized, the PN can
administer the analgesic.
A PN is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who is taking
digoxin. Which of the following laboratory values should the PN
report to the charge nurse immediately?
A. Potassium 3.0 mEq/L
B. Sodium 140 mEq/L
C. Calcium 9.2 mg/dL
D. Magnesium 2.0 mg/dL
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypokalemia (potassium 3.0 mEq/L) increases the risk of
digoxin toxicity because potassium competes with digoxin for
binding sites. Normal potassium is 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L. The PN should
report this finding immediately so the provider can be notified and a
,potassium supplement can be prescribed. The sodium, calcium, and
magnesium levels are within normal limits.
A PN is reinforcing discharge teaching with a client who has a new
prescription for sublingual nitroglycerin. Which of the following
statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
(Select all that apply.)
A. "I should take this medication with a full glass of water."
B. "I will sit or lie down before taking this medication."
C. "I can take up to three tablets 5 minutes apart if the pain
continues."
D. "I will keep the medication in its original dark container."
E. "I should take this medication to prevent chest pain before
exercising."
Answer: B, C, D
Rationale: The client should sit or lie down to prevent orthostatic
hypotension and dizziness (B). The standard protocol for angina is
to take one tablet, wait 5 minutes, and if pain is unrelieved, take a
second, wait 5 minutes, and take a third. If pain persists after three
tablets, emergency services must be called (C). Nitroglycerin is
highly unstable and should be kept in a dark, tightly closed
container to preserve its potency (D). Sublingual nitroglycerin should
not be swallowed or taken with water (A), and it is used to treat
acute pain, not prevent it (E) (though prophylactic patches or
ointments exist, sublingual is for acute attacks).
A PN is caring for a client who has a new tracheostomy. Which of the
following interventions should the PN include in the plan of care?
(Place the interventions in the correct order of performance.)
A. Apply new tracheostomy ties.
B. Remove the old soiled tracheostomy dressing.
C. Cleanse the stoma and the faceplate with sterile saline.
, D. Assess the stoma site for signs of infection.
E. Secure the new tracheostomy ties at the back of the neck.
Answer: D, B, C, A, E
Rationale: The PN should first assess the stoma site to establish a
baseline and check for complications like infection or bleeding (D).
Next, the PN removes the old soiled dressing to expose the site (B).
The stoma and faceplate are then cleansed using sterile saline to
prevent infection (C). New tracheostomy ties are applied, ensuring
one is secured before the old one is removed to prevent accidental
decannulation (A). Finally, the new ties are secured safely at the
back of the neck, ensuring only one finger fits underneath to
prevent airway compromise (E).
A PN is assigned to care for four clients. Which of the following
clients should the PN assess first?
A. A client who is 1 day postoperative and has a dressing with a
small amount of serosanguineous drainage.
B. A client who has heart failure and reports a 2-pound weight gain
over the past 2 days.
C. A client who has type 2 diabetes mellitus and a blood glucose
level of 210 mg/dL.
D. A client who has a deep vein thrombosis and reports sudden
shortness of breath.
Answer: D
Rationale: Sudden shortness of breath in a client with a deep vein
thrombosis (DVT) is a classic manifestation of a pulmonary
embolism (PE), which is a life-threatening medical emergency. This
client requires immediate assessment and intervention, such as
applying oxygen and notifying the RN/provider. The other clients
require assessment and intervention, but their conditions are not
immediately life-threatening. Serosanguineous drainage is expected
postoperatively. A 2-pound weight gain indicates fluid retention but
Questions and Verified Answers,
With rationales 2026\2027 update
This Exam contains:
Guarantee passing score
Questions and Ansẉers
format set of multiple-choice
Expert-Verified rationales
Verified ẉith trusted textbooks
,───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
─
A practical nurse (PN) is caring for a client who is 2 hours
postoperative following a cholecystectomy. The client reports pain
at the incision site rated 8 on a scale of 0 to 10. Which of the
following actions should the PN take first?
A. Administer the prescribed PRN analgesic.
B. Assist the client to a side-lying position.
C. Reposition the client's pillows for comfort.
D. Assess the client's vital signs.
Answer: D
Rationale: The PN must always assess the client before
administering an analgesic, especially postoperatively. While pain is
expected, assessing vital signs helps rule out complications like
hypovolemic shock or bleeding, which can manifest as tachycardia
and hypotension and may be masked or altered if pain medication is
given first. Once the client is assessed and stabilized, the PN can
administer the analgesic.
A PN is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who is taking
digoxin. Which of the following laboratory values should the PN
report to the charge nurse immediately?
A. Potassium 3.0 mEq/L
B. Sodium 140 mEq/L
C. Calcium 9.2 mg/dL
D. Magnesium 2.0 mg/dL
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypokalemia (potassium 3.0 mEq/L) increases the risk of
digoxin toxicity because potassium competes with digoxin for
binding sites. Normal potassium is 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L. The PN should
report this finding immediately so the provider can be notified and a
,potassium supplement can be prescribed. The sodium, calcium, and
magnesium levels are within normal limits.
A PN is reinforcing discharge teaching with a client who has a new
prescription for sublingual nitroglycerin. Which of the following
statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
(Select all that apply.)
A. "I should take this medication with a full glass of water."
B. "I will sit or lie down before taking this medication."
C. "I can take up to three tablets 5 minutes apart if the pain
continues."
D. "I will keep the medication in its original dark container."
E. "I should take this medication to prevent chest pain before
exercising."
Answer: B, C, D
Rationale: The client should sit or lie down to prevent orthostatic
hypotension and dizziness (B). The standard protocol for angina is
to take one tablet, wait 5 minutes, and if pain is unrelieved, take a
second, wait 5 minutes, and take a third. If pain persists after three
tablets, emergency services must be called (C). Nitroglycerin is
highly unstable and should be kept in a dark, tightly closed
container to preserve its potency (D). Sublingual nitroglycerin should
not be swallowed or taken with water (A), and it is used to treat
acute pain, not prevent it (E) (though prophylactic patches or
ointments exist, sublingual is for acute attacks).
A PN is caring for a client who has a new tracheostomy. Which of the
following interventions should the PN include in the plan of care?
(Place the interventions in the correct order of performance.)
A. Apply new tracheostomy ties.
B. Remove the old soiled tracheostomy dressing.
C. Cleanse the stoma and the faceplate with sterile saline.
, D. Assess the stoma site for signs of infection.
E. Secure the new tracheostomy ties at the back of the neck.
Answer: D, B, C, A, E
Rationale: The PN should first assess the stoma site to establish a
baseline and check for complications like infection or bleeding (D).
Next, the PN removes the old soiled dressing to expose the site (B).
The stoma and faceplate are then cleansed using sterile saline to
prevent infection (C). New tracheostomy ties are applied, ensuring
one is secured before the old one is removed to prevent accidental
decannulation (A). Finally, the new ties are secured safely at the
back of the neck, ensuring only one finger fits underneath to
prevent airway compromise (E).
A PN is assigned to care for four clients. Which of the following
clients should the PN assess first?
A. A client who is 1 day postoperative and has a dressing with a
small amount of serosanguineous drainage.
B. A client who has heart failure and reports a 2-pound weight gain
over the past 2 days.
C. A client who has type 2 diabetes mellitus and a blood glucose
level of 210 mg/dL.
D. A client who has a deep vein thrombosis and reports sudden
shortness of breath.
Answer: D
Rationale: Sudden shortness of breath in a client with a deep vein
thrombosis (DVT) is a classic manifestation of a pulmonary
embolism (PE), which is a life-threatening medical emergency. This
client requires immediate assessment and intervention, such as
applying oxygen and notifying the RN/provider. The other clients
require assessment and intervention, but their conditions are not
immediately life-threatening. Serosanguineous drainage is expected
postoperatively. A 2-pound weight gain indicates fluid retention but
