HESI Practice Exam BSN 325 Questions and Correct
Answers Nightingale BSN 325 HESI Practice Test |
2026-2027 Edition
This comprehensive practice test contains 325 verified questions from the BSN
325 HESI Exam at Nightingale College, covering all essential nursing domains
including prioritization and delegation, medical-surgical nursing, pharmacology,
maternal-newborn care, pediatrics, mental health, and professional issues.
Designed for BSN students preparing for HESI success, this resource reflects the
latest 2026/2027 Elsevier HESI standards and incorporates Next Generation
NCLEX (NGN)-style items .
Content Area Overview
Content Area Questions Key Topics
Prioritization & Triage, ABCs, Maslow, patient assignment, delegation
1-40
Delegation LPN/UAP, NGN
Medical-Surgical Cardiovascular, respiratory, GI, renal, endocrine, neur
41-140
Nursing musculoskeletal
Medication administration, side effects, patient teach
Pharmacology 141-190
drug interactions
Maternal-Newborn Antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, newborn care
191-230
Nursing complications
Growth/development, pediatric illnesses, immunizatio
Pediatric Nursing 231-270
child safety
,Content Area Questions Key Topics
Therapeutic communication, psychiatric disorders,
Mental Health Nursing 271-300
psychopharmacology
Delegation, ethics, legal issues, prioritization, cultural
Professional Issues 301-325
competency
SECTION 1: PRIORITIZATION & DELEGATION (Questions 1-40)
Question 1: The nurse is caring for four clients. Which client should the nurse
assess first?
A) A client with pneumonia who has an oxygen saturation of 89% on 2 L/min nasal
cannula
B) A client with diabetes mellitus who has a blood glucose of 48 mg/dL and is
awake
C) A client with a fractured hip who is requesting pain medication
D) A client with a urinary tract infection who has a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C)
Correct Answer: A) A client with pneumonia who has an oxygen saturation of 89%
on 2 L/min nasal cannula
Rationale: An oxygen saturation of 89% indicates hypoxemia, which is a life-
threatening airway/breathing priority. The client with hypoglycemia (B) is awake
and can be treated after addressing the airway issue. Pain and low-grade fever are
not life-threatening .
Question 2: A charge nurse is making assignments for a medical-surgical unit.
Which client should be assigned to the most experienced nurse?
A) A client with a new diagnosis of diabetes requiring teaching
B) A client with an exacerbation of heart failure requiring IV furosemide
C) A client with unstable angina and chest pain
D) A client with a wound infection requiring a dressing change
, Correct Answer: C) A client with unstable angina and chest pain
Rationale: Unstable angina is a medical emergency. The client with chest pain
requires the most experienced nurse who can recognize subtle changes and
intervene quickly. This is a higher acuity situation than teaching, scheduled
medications, or wound care .
Question 3: The nurse receives change-of-shift report on four clients. Which client
should the nurse see first?
A) A client with a new colostomy who needs teaching about appliance changes
B) A client with a fever of 101.2°F (38.4°C) who is requesting acetaminophen
C) A client with a chest tube who has 50 mL of drainage in the last hour
D) A client with a central line who has a disconnected IV tubing
Correct Answer: C) A client with a chest tube who has 50 mL of drainage in the
last hour
Rationale: A chest tube drainage of 50 mL in one hour is concerning for possible
hemorrhage and requires immediate assessment. The disconnected IV tubing (D)
is also urgent but can be clamped while assessing the chest tube client .
Question 4: The nurse is delegating tasks to an unlicensed assistive personnel
(UAP). Which task is appropriate for the UAP?
A) Administer a tube feeding to a client with a nasogastric tube
B) Evaluate the effectiveness of pain medication
C) Obtain a urine specimen from a client with an indwelling catheter
D) Teach a client how to use an incentive spirometer
Correct Answer: C) Obtain a urine specimen from a client with an indwelling
catheter
Rationale: Obtaining a urine specimen is within the scope of practice for UAPs.
Tube feeding administration, evaluation of pain medication, and teaching require
licensed nursing judgment .
Question 5: A client with a history of falls is being discharged. Which intervention
should the nurse include in the discharge plan?
Answers Nightingale BSN 325 HESI Practice Test |
2026-2027 Edition
This comprehensive practice test contains 325 verified questions from the BSN
325 HESI Exam at Nightingale College, covering all essential nursing domains
including prioritization and delegation, medical-surgical nursing, pharmacology,
maternal-newborn care, pediatrics, mental health, and professional issues.
Designed for BSN students preparing for HESI success, this resource reflects the
latest 2026/2027 Elsevier HESI standards and incorporates Next Generation
NCLEX (NGN)-style items .
Content Area Overview
Content Area Questions Key Topics
Prioritization & Triage, ABCs, Maslow, patient assignment, delegation
1-40
Delegation LPN/UAP, NGN
Medical-Surgical Cardiovascular, respiratory, GI, renal, endocrine, neur
41-140
Nursing musculoskeletal
Medication administration, side effects, patient teach
Pharmacology 141-190
drug interactions
Maternal-Newborn Antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, newborn care
191-230
Nursing complications
Growth/development, pediatric illnesses, immunizatio
Pediatric Nursing 231-270
child safety
,Content Area Questions Key Topics
Therapeutic communication, psychiatric disorders,
Mental Health Nursing 271-300
psychopharmacology
Delegation, ethics, legal issues, prioritization, cultural
Professional Issues 301-325
competency
SECTION 1: PRIORITIZATION & DELEGATION (Questions 1-40)
Question 1: The nurse is caring for four clients. Which client should the nurse
assess first?
A) A client with pneumonia who has an oxygen saturation of 89% on 2 L/min nasal
cannula
B) A client with diabetes mellitus who has a blood glucose of 48 mg/dL and is
awake
C) A client with a fractured hip who is requesting pain medication
D) A client with a urinary tract infection who has a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C)
Correct Answer: A) A client with pneumonia who has an oxygen saturation of 89%
on 2 L/min nasal cannula
Rationale: An oxygen saturation of 89% indicates hypoxemia, which is a life-
threatening airway/breathing priority. The client with hypoglycemia (B) is awake
and can be treated after addressing the airway issue. Pain and low-grade fever are
not life-threatening .
Question 2: A charge nurse is making assignments for a medical-surgical unit.
Which client should be assigned to the most experienced nurse?
A) A client with a new diagnosis of diabetes requiring teaching
B) A client with an exacerbation of heart failure requiring IV furosemide
C) A client with unstable angina and chest pain
D) A client with a wound infection requiring a dressing change
, Correct Answer: C) A client with unstable angina and chest pain
Rationale: Unstable angina is a medical emergency. The client with chest pain
requires the most experienced nurse who can recognize subtle changes and
intervene quickly. This is a higher acuity situation than teaching, scheduled
medications, or wound care .
Question 3: The nurse receives change-of-shift report on four clients. Which client
should the nurse see first?
A) A client with a new colostomy who needs teaching about appliance changes
B) A client with a fever of 101.2°F (38.4°C) who is requesting acetaminophen
C) A client with a chest tube who has 50 mL of drainage in the last hour
D) A client with a central line who has a disconnected IV tubing
Correct Answer: C) A client with a chest tube who has 50 mL of drainage in the
last hour
Rationale: A chest tube drainage of 50 mL in one hour is concerning for possible
hemorrhage and requires immediate assessment. The disconnected IV tubing (D)
is also urgent but can be clamped while assessing the chest tube client .
Question 4: The nurse is delegating tasks to an unlicensed assistive personnel
(UAP). Which task is appropriate for the UAP?
A) Administer a tube feeding to a client with a nasogastric tube
B) Evaluate the effectiveness of pain medication
C) Obtain a urine specimen from a client with an indwelling catheter
D) Teach a client how to use an incentive spirometer
Correct Answer: C) Obtain a urine specimen from a client with an indwelling
catheter
Rationale: Obtaining a urine specimen is within the scope of practice for UAPs.
Tube feeding administration, evaluation of pain medication, and teaching require
licensed nursing judgment .
Question 5: A client with a history of falls is being discharged. Which intervention
should the nurse include in the discharge plan?
