HESI EXIT EXAM TEST BANK 2026/2027 – COMPLETE QUESTIONS, ANSWERS & RATIONALES FOR NURSING
STUDENTS | RN EXIT EXAM REVIEW | NCLEX-RN READINESS ASSESSMENT | MED-SURG, PHARMACOLOGY,
PEDIATRICS, MATERNITY, MENTAL HEALTH & LEADERSHIP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED
A+. 100% Verified Solutions | Updated Per Latest Guidelines | Graded A+
Core Domains
Medical-Surgical Nursing
Pharmacology and Medication Administration
Pediatric Nursing
Maternity and Newborn Nursing
Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
Leadership, Delegation, and Management
Fundamentals of Nursing and Patient Safety
Community and Public Health Nursing
Introduction
This comprehensive practice assessment is designed to evaluate the nursing knowledge, clinical reasoning, and
critical thinking skills required for the HESI Exit Exam and NCLEX-RN readiness. The examination assesses
competency across key nursing domains including medical-surgical care, pharmacology, pediatrics, maternity,
mental health, and leadership. Candidates will demonstrate their ability to apply nursing concepts, prioritize
patient care, recognize clinical changes, and implement evidence-based interventions. The assessment
, emphasizes patient safety, ethical practice, delegation, and professional judgment. Successful completion
requires integration of theoretical knowledge with clinical application in diverse healthcare settings.
SECTION ONE
Questions 1–100
Question 1
A 68-year-old male is admitted to the medical-surgical unit with a diagnosis of congestive heart failure
exacerbation. He has 3+ pitting edema in his lower extremities, crackles auscultated in the lung bases, and
jugular venous distention. His vital signs are blood pressure 145/90 mmHg, heart rate 98 bpm, respiratory rate
24 breaths/min, and oxygen saturation 91% on room air. Which of the following nursing interventions should
the nurse implement first?
A. Administer furosemide 40 mg IV push as ordered
B. Place the patient in high Fowler's position
C. Start an IV line for medication administration
D. Apply oxygen via nasal cannula at 2 L/min
🟢 Correct Answer:
,B. Place the patient in high Fowler's position
🔴 RATIONALE:
In a patient with acute heart failure exacerbation and respiratory distress, the priority intervention is to position
the patient in high Fowler's position to improve ventilation and reduce preload. This promotes lung expansion
and decreases venous return to the heart. While administering furosemide (A), starting an IV (C), and applying
oxygen (D) are important, positioning is the immediate priority to address the patient's breathing difficulty.
Oxygen should be applied after positioning, and IV access is needed for medication administration.
Question 2
A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a patient with atrial fibrillation. The patient's apical pulse is 52
bpm and irregular. The patient reports nausea and blurred vision. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take?
A. Administer the digoxin as ordered
B. Hold the digoxin and notify the healthcare provider
C. Administer digoxin with a glass of milk
D. Check the patient's potassium level before administering
🟢 Correct Answer:
B. Hold the digoxin and notify the healthcare provider
, 🔴 RATIONALE:
Digoxin should be withheld if the apical pulse is below 60 bpm in an adult, especially with signs of digoxin
toxicity such as nausea, blurred vision, and bradycardia. The nurse should hold the medication and notify the
healthcare provider for further orders. Administering digoxin (A) would be unsafe and could worsen toxicity.
Administering with milk (C) would not address the underlying issue. While checking potassium (D) is important
for digoxin therapy, immediate action is to hold the medication.
Question 3
A 2-year-old child is brought to the emergency department with a barking cough, stridor, and respiratory
distress. The child is sitting upright and drooling. The parent reports the symptoms began suddenly at night.
Which of the following interventions should the nurse anticipate?
A. Administration of a racemic epinephrine nebulizer
B. Preparation for immediate endotracheal intubation
C. Administration of albuterol via nebulizer
D. Chest physiotherapy and postural drainage
🟢 Correct Answer:
A. Administration of a racemic epinephrine nebulizer
🔴 RATIONALE:
STUDENTS | RN EXIT EXAM REVIEW | NCLEX-RN READINESS ASSESSMENT | MED-SURG, PHARMACOLOGY,
PEDIATRICS, MATERNITY, MENTAL HEALTH & LEADERSHIP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED
A+. 100% Verified Solutions | Updated Per Latest Guidelines | Graded A+
Core Domains
Medical-Surgical Nursing
Pharmacology and Medication Administration
Pediatric Nursing
Maternity and Newborn Nursing
Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
Leadership, Delegation, and Management
Fundamentals of Nursing and Patient Safety
Community and Public Health Nursing
Introduction
This comprehensive practice assessment is designed to evaluate the nursing knowledge, clinical reasoning, and
critical thinking skills required for the HESI Exit Exam and NCLEX-RN readiness. The examination assesses
competency across key nursing domains including medical-surgical care, pharmacology, pediatrics, maternity,
mental health, and leadership. Candidates will demonstrate their ability to apply nursing concepts, prioritize
patient care, recognize clinical changes, and implement evidence-based interventions. The assessment
, emphasizes patient safety, ethical practice, delegation, and professional judgment. Successful completion
requires integration of theoretical knowledge with clinical application in diverse healthcare settings.
SECTION ONE
Questions 1–100
Question 1
A 68-year-old male is admitted to the medical-surgical unit with a diagnosis of congestive heart failure
exacerbation. He has 3+ pitting edema in his lower extremities, crackles auscultated in the lung bases, and
jugular venous distention. His vital signs are blood pressure 145/90 mmHg, heart rate 98 bpm, respiratory rate
24 breaths/min, and oxygen saturation 91% on room air. Which of the following nursing interventions should
the nurse implement first?
A. Administer furosemide 40 mg IV push as ordered
B. Place the patient in high Fowler's position
C. Start an IV line for medication administration
D. Apply oxygen via nasal cannula at 2 L/min
🟢 Correct Answer:
,B. Place the patient in high Fowler's position
🔴 RATIONALE:
In a patient with acute heart failure exacerbation and respiratory distress, the priority intervention is to position
the patient in high Fowler's position to improve ventilation and reduce preload. This promotes lung expansion
and decreases venous return to the heart. While administering furosemide (A), starting an IV (C), and applying
oxygen (D) are important, positioning is the immediate priority to address the patient's breathing difficulty.
Oxygen should be applied after positioning, and IV access is needed for medication administration.
Question 2
A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a patient with atrial fibrillation. The patient's apical pulse is 52
bpm and irregular. The patient reports nausea and blurred vision. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take?
A. Administer the digoxin as ordered
B. Hold the digoxin and notify the healthcare provider
C. Administer digoxin with a glass of milk
D. Check the patient's potassium level before administering
🟢 Correct Answer:
B. Hold the digoxin and notify the healthcare provider
, 🔴 RATIONALE:
Digoxin should be withheld if the apical pulse is below 60 bpm in an adult, especially with signs of digoxin
toxicity such as nausea, blurred vision, and bradycardia. The nurse should hold the medication and notify the
healthcare provider for further orders. Administering digoxin (A) would be unsafe and could worsen toxicity.
Administering with milk (C) would not address the underlying issue. While checking potassium (D) is important
for digoxin therapy, immediate action is to hold the medication.
Question 3
A 2-year-old child is brought to the emergency department with a barking cough, stridor, and respiratory
distress. The child is sitting upright and drooling. The parent reports the symptoms began suddenly at night.
Which of the following interventions should the nurse anticipate?
A. Administration of a racemic epinephrine nebulizer
B. Preparation for immediate endotracheal intubation
C. Administration of albuterol via nebulizer
D. Chest physiotherapy and postural drainage
🟢 Correct Answer:
A. Administration of a racemic epinephrine nebulizer
🔴 RATIONALE:
