EXIT HESI TEST BANK 2026/2027 – COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS, ANSWERS & RATIONALES FOR NURSING
STUDENTS | HESI RN EXIT EXAM REVIEW | NCLEX-RN READINESS ASSESSMENT | MED-SURG,
PHARMACOLOGY, PEDIATRICS, MATERNITY & LEADERSHIP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED
A+. 100% VERIFIED SOLUTIONS | UPDATED PER LATEST GUIDELINES | GRADED A+
CORE DOMAINS
Based on the HESI RN Exit Exam blueprint, the assessment covers the following core domains:
Medical-Surgical Nursing — Care of adult patients with acute and chronic conditions (20% of scored items)
Pharmacology — Pharmacological principles, medication administration, and nursing implications (15% of
scored items)
Pediatric Nursing — Care of infants, children, and adolescents across the health-illness continuum (15% of
scored items)
Maternal-Newborn Nursing — Antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, and newborn care (15% of scored
items)
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing — Mental health disorders, therapeutic communication, and
psychopharmacology (10% of scored items)
Leadership and Management — Delegation, prioritization, ethical and legal issues, and quality improvement
(15% of scored items)
Community Health Nursing — Population health, epidemiology, and community-based care (5% of scored
items)
, Critical Thinking and Safety — Clinical reasoning, patient safety, and evidence-based practice across all
domains (5% of scored items)
INTRODUCTION
This comprehensive practice assessment is designed to prepare nursing students for the HESI RN Exit Examination,
a standardized test used by nursing programs to evaluate readiness for the NCLEX-RN. The HESI Exit Exam is a
comprehensive, computer-adaptive assessment that measures nursing knowledge, clinical reasoning, and critical
thinking across all major content areas, including medical-surgical nursing, pharmacology, pediatrics, maternity,
psychiatric/mental health, and leadership/management. Success on the HESI Exit Exam is predictive of NCLEX-RN
success, with many programs requiring a minimum score for graduation. This question bank reflects current
evidence-based practice, updated clinical guidelines, and the cognitive demands of the HESI examination. Each
question presents realistic clinical scenarios that require application of nursing knowledge, clinical judgment, and
professional decision-making. The format consists of multiple-choice questions with one best answer, mirroring the
style and difficulty of the actual HESI Exit Examination.
SECTION ONE
Questions 1–100
,Question 1
The nurse is caring for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who is receiving oxygen at
2 L/min via nasal cannula. Which assessment finding indicates the patient may be developing oxygen-induced
hypoventilation?
A. Respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute
B. Oxygen saturation of 92%
C. The patient reports headache and confusion
D. The patient reports dry mouth
🟢 Correct Answer:
C. The patient reports headache and confusion
🔴 RATIONALE:
Patients with COPD may rely on hypoxic drive to stimulate breathing. High-flow oxygen can suppress this drive,
leading to hypoventilation and carbon dioxide retention. Headache and confusion are early signs of
hypercapnia. A respiratory rate of 18 is within normal limits. An SpO2 of 92% is acceptable for a COPD patient.
Dry mouth is a common side effect of oxygen therapy but does not indicate hypoventilation.
Question 2
, A patient is prescribed furosemide (Lasix) for heart failure. The nurse should monitor for which of the following
adverse effects?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Hypertension
🟢 Correct Answer:
B. Hypokalemia
🔴 RATIONALE:
Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes loss of potassium in the urine. Hypokalemia is a common adverse
effect. The nurse should monitor serum potassium levels and assess for signs of hypokalemia, such as muscle
weakness, fatigue, and cardiac arrhythmias. Furosemide can cause hypokalemia, not hyperkalemia. It is not
typically associated with hyperglycemia. It is used to treat hypertension, not cause it.
Question 3
The nurse is assessing a patient with acute pancreatitis. Which laboratory finding is most consistent with this
diagnosis?
STUDENTS | HESI RN EXIT EXAM REVIEW | NCLEX-RN READINESS ASSESSMENT | MED-SURG,
PHARMACOLOGY, PEDIATRICS, MATERNITY & LEADERSHIP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED
A+. 100% VERIFIED SOLUTIONS | UPDATED PER LATEST GUIDELINES | GRADED A+
CORE DOMAINS
Based on the HESI RN Exit Exam blueprint, the assessment covers the following core domains:
Medical-Surgical Nursing — Care of adult patients with acute and chronic conditions (20% of scored items)
Pharmacology — Pharmacological principles, medication administration, and nursing implications (15% of
scored items)
Pediatric Nursing — Care of infants, children, and adolescents across the health-illness continuum (15% of
scored items)
Maternal-Newborn Nursing — Antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, and newborn care (15% of scored
items)
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing — Mental health disorders, therapeutic communication, and
psychopharmacology (10% of scored items)
Leadership and Management — Delegation, prioritization, ethical and legal issues, and quality improvement
(15% of scored items)
Community Health Nursing — Population health, epidemiology, and community-based care (5% of scored
items)
, Critical Thinking and Safety — Clinical reasoning, patient safety, and evidence-based practice across all
domains (5% of scored items)
INTRODUCTION
This comprehensive practice assessment is designed to prepare nursing students for the HESI RN Exit Examination,
a standardized test used by nursing programs to evaluate readiness for the NCLEX-RN. The HESI Exit Exam is a
comprehensive, computer-adaptive assessment that measures nursing knowledge, clinical reasoning, and critical
thinking across all major content areas, including medical-surgical nursing, pharmacology, pediatrics, maternity,
psychiatric/mental health, and leadership/management. Success on the HESI Exit Exam is predictive of NCLEX-RN
success, with many programs requiring a minimum score for graduation. This question bank reflects current
evidence-based practice, updated clinical guidelines, and the cognitive demands of the HESI examination. Each
question presents realistic clinical scenarios that require application of nursing knowledge, clinical judgment, and
professional decision-making. The format consists of multiple-choice questions with one best answer, mirroring the
style and difficulty of the actual HESI Exit Examination.
SECTION ONE
Questions 1–100
,Question 1
The nurse is caring for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who is receiving oxygen at
2 L/min via nasal cannula. Which assessment finding indicates the patient may be developing oxygen-induced
hypoventilation?
A. Respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute
B. Oxygen saturation of 92%
C. The patient reports headache and confusion
D. The patient reports dry mouth
🟢 Correct Answer:
C. The patient reports headache and confusion
🔴 RATIONALE:
Patients with COPD may rely on hypoxic drive to stimulate breathing. High-flow oxygen can suppress this drive,
leading to hypoventilation and carbon dioxide retention. Headache and confusion are early signs of
hypercapnia. A respiratory rate of 18 is within normal limits. An SpO2 of 92% is acceptable for a COPD patient.
Dry mouth is a common side effect of oxygen therapy but does not indicate hypoventilation.
Question 2
, A patient is prescribed furosemide (Lasix) for heart failure. The nurse should monitor for which of the following
adverse effects?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Hypertension
🟢 Correct Answer:
B. Hypokalemia
🔴 RATIONALE:
Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes loss of potassium in the urine. Hypokalemia is a common adverse
effect. The nurse should monitor serum potassium levels and assess for signs of hypokalemia, such as muscle
weakness, fatigue, and cardiac arrhythmias. Furosemide can cause hypokalemia, not hyperkalemia. It is not
typically associated with hyperglycemia. It is used to treat hypertension, not cause it.
Question 3
The nurse is assessing a patient with acute pancreatitis. Which laboratory finding is most consistent with this
diagnosis?
