HESI Exit Exam Questions with Correct
Answers (VerifiedAnswers) Plus Rationales
2026 Q&A Instant Download PDF
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a client who has pneumonia and is
receiving oxygen at 2 L/min by nasal cannula. The client
becomes increasingly restless and confused. Which action
should the nurse take first?
A. Notify the healthcare provider
B. Obtain a prescription for a sedative
C. Assess the client's oxygen saturation
D. Encourage the client to increase oral fluids
Correct answer: C. Assess the client's oxygen saturation
Restlessness and acute confusion can be early manifestations of
hypoxemia. Because airway and breathing take priority, the
nurse should immediately assess oxygenation and determine
whether the client is receiving adequate oxygen. The nurse
should then intervene based on the assessment findings and
escalate care if hypoxemia is present. Sedation could worsen
,respiratory depression, while fluids do not address the
immediate priority.
Question 2
A client with heart failure reports a sudden increase in
shortness of breath and has bilateral crackles. Which
prescription should the nurse anticipate?
A. Increase oral fluid intake
B. Administer an antidiarrheal medication
C. Place the client in a supine position
D. Administer a prescribed loop diuretic
Correct answer: D. Administer a prescribed loop diuretic
Crackles and acute dyspnea in a client with heart failure suggest
pulmonary congestion caused by excess fluid. Loop diuretics,
such as furosemide, promote sodium and water excretion and
are commonly used to reduce fluid overload. Positioning the
client upright can also improve breathing, but administering the
prescribed diuretic addresses the underlying excess volume.
Question 3
A client taking warfarin has an international normalized ratio
(INR) of 5.8. Which action is most appropriate?
,A. Administer the next dose as scheduled
B. Encourage foods high in vitamin K immediately
C. Hold the warfarin and notify the healthcare provider
D. Administer aspirin for additional anticoagulation
Correct answer: C. Hold the warfarin and notify the healthcare
provider
An INR of 5.8 indicates excessive anticoagulation and places the
client at increased risk for bleeding. The nurse should withhold
the medication and promptly notify the healthcare provider for
further instructions. Vitamin K may be prescribed depending on
the INR and presence of bleeding, but the nurse should not
independently administer or substantially alter vitamin K intake
as an immediate treatment. Aspirin would further increase
bleeding risk.
Question 4
A client with diabetes mellitus is awake, diaphoretic, shaky, and
confused. The client's blood glucose is 48 mg/dL. What should
the nurse do first?
A. Administer long-acting insulin
B. Give approximately 15 g of rapid-acting carbohydrate
C. Have the client exercise
D. Restrict oral intake
, Correct answer: B. Give approximately 15 g of rapid-acting
carbohydrate
The client is experiencing symptomatic hypoglycemia. If the
client is conscious and able to swallow safely, approximately 15
g of rapid-acting carbohydrate, such as glucose tablets or juice,
should be administered. Blood glucose should generally be
rechecked after about 15 minutes and treatment repeated if
necessary. Insulin and exercise would worsen hypoglycemia.
Question 5
A nurse is assessing a client who may have increased
intracranial pressure. Which finding requires immediate
intervention?
A. Mild headache
B. Photophobia
C. Decreased level of consciousness
D. Nausea after eating
Correct answer: C. Decreased level of consciousness
Changes in level of consciousness are important indicators of
worsening neurologic status and can occur with increasing
intracranial pressure. A decreasing level of consciousness may
indicate deterioration requiring immediate evaluation and
intervention. The nurse should promptly assess airway,
Answers (VerifiedAnswers) Plus Rationales
2026 Q&A Instant Download PDF
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a client who has pneumonia and is
receiving oxygen at 2 L/min by nasal cannula. The client
becomes increasingly restless and confused. Which action
should the nurse take first?
A. Notify the healthcare provider
B. Obtain a prescription for a sedative
C. Assess the client's oxygen saturation
D. Encourage the client to increase oral fluids
Correct answer: C. Assess the client's oxygen saturation
Restlessness and acute confusion can be early manifestations of
hypoxemia. Because airway and breathing take priority, the
nurse should immediately assess oxygenation and determine
whether the client is receiving adequate oxygen. The nurse
should then intervene based on the assessment findings and
escalate care if hypoxemia is present. Sedation could worsen
,respiratory depression, while fluids do not address the
immediate priority.
Question 2
A client with heart failure reports a sudden increase in
shortness of breath and has bilateral crackles. Which
prescription should the nurse anticipate?
A. Increase oral fluid intake
B. Administer an antidiarrheal medication
C. Place the client in a supine position
D. Administer a prescribed loop diuretic
Correct answer: D. Administer a prescribed loop diuretic
Crackles and acute dyspnea in a client with heart failure suggest
pulmonary congestion caused by excess fluid. Loop diuretics,
such as furosemide, promote sodium and water excretion and
are commonly used to reduce fluid overload. Positioning the
client upright can also improve breathing, but administering the
prescribed diuretic addresses the underlying excess volume.
Question 3
A client taking warfarin has an international normalized ratio
(INR) of 5.8. Which action is most appropriate?
,A. Administer the next dose as scheduled
B. Encourage foods high in vitamin K immediately
C. Hold the warfarin and notify the healthcare provider
D. Administer aspirin for additional anticoagulation
Correct answer: C. Hold the warfarin and notify the healthcare
provider
An INR of 5.8 indicates excessive anticoagulation and places the
client at increased risk for bleeding. The nurse should withhold
the medication and promptly notify the healthcare provider for
further instructions. Vitamin K may be prescribed depending on
the INR and presence of bleeding, but the nurse should not
independently administer or substantially alter vitamin K intake
as an immediate treatment. Aspirin would further increase
bleeding risk.
Question 4
A client with diabetes mellitus is awake, diaphoretic, shaky, and
confused. The client's blood glucose is 48 mg/dL. What should
the nurse do first?
A. Administer long-acting insulin
B. Give approximately 15 g of rapid-acting carbohydrate
C. Have the client exercise
D. Restrict oral intake
, Correct answer: B. Give approximately 15 g of rapid-acting
carbohydrate
The client is experiencing symptomatic hypoglycemia. If the
client is conscious and able to swallow safely, approximately 15
g of rapid-acting carbohydrate, such as glucose tablets or juice,
should be administered. Blood glucose should generally be
rechecked after about 15 minutes and treatment repeated if
necessary. Insulin and exercise would worsen hypoglycemia.
Question 5
A nurse is assessing a client who may have increased
intracranial pressure. Which finding requires immediate
intervention?
A. Mild headache
B. Photophobia
C. Decreased level of consciousness
D. Nausea after eating
Correct answer: C. Decreased level of consciousness
Changes in level of consciousness are important indicators of
worsening neurologic status and can occur with increasing
intracranial pressure. A decreasing level of consciousness may
indicate deterioration requiring immediate evaluation and
intervention. The nurse should promptly assess airway,
