HESI Foundations Exam Study Guide 2026 | Practice
Questions & Verified Answers | Comprehensive Nursing
Fundamentals Review
1 Steps and Order of Nursing Process
1. Assessment: includes all pt data collection, interpretation, and
validation
Diagnosis: Create a nursing diagnosis centered around a problem the
patient is experiencing
Planning: Desired outcomes (must be SMART) (The pt will...)
Implementation: Nursing interventions (The nurse will...)
Evaluation: Did pt meet or did not meet outcomes? why? Either
discontinue care plan, revise care plan, or continue care plan
2. Objective VS Subjective Data
Objective data: Things you, as a nurse, observe during assessment (VS,
head-to-toe assessment)
Subjective data: What the pt feels (pain, nausea)
3. What is and is not a nursing Diagnosis?
Nursing diagnosis is NOT a medical diagnosis
Nursing diagnosis is a response to a medical diagnosis
It is a clinical judgement made by the RN to describe a pts response or
vulnerability to health conditions
Can be problem focused, risk focused, or health promoting
Based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
4. Prioritization of care
First-level priority problems
* Airway
* Breathing
* Circulation & cardiac (become first priority in cardiac arrest)
* Vital signs
Second-level priority problems
, * Altered mental status
* Acute pain
* Untreated medical problems (eg, hyperglycemia in a client with
diabetes)
* Chronic pain
* Acute elimination issues
* Abnormal laboratory results
* Risk for infection, safety
5. SMART outcomes
Specific- specific to your pt
Measurable- can it be measured?
Attainable- does your pt want the same goals? will they be willing to
achieve them?
Realistic- possible?
Timely- must be time oriented
, 6. Independent VS Dependent Nursing intervention
Independent: Nurse only, within scope of practice. Nursing activities.
Without supervision or order from the DR
Dependent: Requires DRs order, all medications require a doctors order
7. Evaluation Process
Has the pt met the outcomes provided? If so, provide evidence to support
If not, revise care plan. Can change diagnosis, interventions, establish
is outcomes were realistic, etc.
Either continue care plan, adjust, or discontinue (id pt met the desired
outcomes)
8. Safe/Appropriate delegation to the NAP
The Five Rights of Delegation
*Right Task (within their scope)
*Right Circumstance (pt status)
*Right person (competency)
*Right directions and communication
*Right supervision and evaluation
POST OP IS HIGH PRIORITY, then pain
MASLOWS!
9. Clinical Practice Guidelines
*statements that include recommendations intended to optimize patient
care that are informed by a systematic review of evidence and an
assessment of the benefits and harms of alternative care options
*Made for frequently occurring health problems to ensure safe and
quick interventions
*EX protocols for stoke or sepsis
*Care bundle: A group of interventions related to a disease process or
condition
Result in better pt outcomes and prevent common complications
USE CRITICAL THINKING IF CARE BUNDLE DOES NOT MEET INDIVIDUAL
PT NEEDS!
10. Chain of Infection
infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of
entry, susceptible host
Questions & Verified Answers | Comprehensive Nursing
Fundamentals Review
1 Steps and Order of Nursing Process
1. Assessment: includes all pt data collection, interpretation, and
validation
Diagnosis: Create a nursing diagnosis centered around a problem the
patient is experiencing
Planning: Desired outcomes (must be SMART) (The pt will...)
Implementation: Nursing interventions (The nurse will...)
Evaluation: Did pt meet or did not meet outcomes? why? Either
discontinue care plan, revise care plan, or continue care plan
2. Objective VS Subjective Data
Objective data: Things you, as a nurse, observe during assessment (VS,
head-to-toe assessment)
Subjective data: What the pt feels (pain, nausea)
3. What is and is not a nursing Diagnosis?
Nursing diagnosis is NOT a medical diagnosis
Nursing diagnosis is a response to a medical diagnosis
It is a clinical judgement made by the RN to describe a pts response or
vulnerability to health conditions
Can be problem focused, risk focused, or health promoting
Based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
4. Prioritization of care
First-level priority problems
* Airway
* Breathing
* Circulation & cardiac (become first priority in cardiac arrest)
* Vital signs
Second-level priority problems
, * Altered mental status
* Acute pain
* Untreated medical problems (eg, hyperglycemia in a client with
diabetes)
* Chronic pain
* Acute elimination issues
* Abnormal laboratory results
* Risk for infection, safety
5. SMART outcomes
Specific- specific to your pt
Measurable- can it be measured?
Attainable- does your pt want the same goals? will they be willing to
achieve them?
Realistic- possible?
Timely- must be time oriented
, 6. Independent VS Dependent Nursing intervention
Independent: Nurse only, within scope of practice. Nursing activities.
Without supervision or order from the DR
Dependent: Requires DRs order, all medications require a doctors order
7. Evaluation Process
Has the pt met the outcomes provided? If so, provide evidence to support
If not, revise care plan. Can change diagnosis, interventions, establish
is outcomes were realistic, etc.
Either continue care plan, adjust, or discontinue (id pt met the desired
outcomes)
8. Safe/Appropriate delegation to the NAP
The Five Rights of Delegation
*Right Task (within their scope)
*Right Circumstance (pt status)
*Right person (competency)
*Right directions and communication
*Right supervision and evaluation
POST OP IS HIGH PRIORITY, then pain
MASLOWS!
9. Clinical Practice Guidelines
*statements that include recommendations intended to optimize patient
care that are informed by a systematic review of evidence and an
assessment of the benefits and harms of alternative care options
*Made for frequently occurring health problems to ensure safe and
quick interventions
*EX protocols for stoke or sepsis
*Care bundle: A group of interventions related to a disease process or
condition
Result in better pt outcomes and prevent common complications
USE CRITICAL THINKING IF CARE BUNDLE DOES NOT MEET INDIVIDUAL
PT NEEDS!
10. Chain of Infection
infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of
entry, susceptible host
