HESI RN COMFORT AND HYGIENE ACCURATE
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM WITH ALL
POSSIBLE APPROVED WELL ELABORATED
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND 100% CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
PLUS EXPERT ANSWER KEY (100% CORRECT
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS) 2026-2027 CURRENTLY
UPDATED VERSION Q&A GUARANTEED PASS A+
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A patient who is two hours’ post-operative from an abdominal
hysterectomy reports pain at a level of 8 on a 0-10 scale. The patient is
drowsy but easily arousable. The nurse notes that the patient's last dose
of hydromorphone was three hours ago and was ordered for moderate
pain. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Administer the prescribed PRN hydromorphone immediately.
B. Wait one more hour until the medication is due to prevent respiratory
depression.
C. Encourage the patient to use non-pharmacological distraction
techniques.
D. Notify the healthcare provider to request a different pain medication.
Correct Answer: A. Administer the prescribed PRN hydromorphone
immediately.
Rationale: The patient is reporting severe pain (8/10) and is due for a
PRN analgesic. Pain should be treated promptly. The patient is drowsy
,but arousable, which indicates they are not overly sedated. Waiting for
an hour or using only non-pharmacological methods for an 8/10 pain is
inappropriate and delays effective pain management. The nurse should
administer the prescribed medication and then re-assess.
Cognitive Level: Application
2. A nurse is assessing a patient's pain. Which of the following is the
most reliable indicator of pain?
A. The patient's vital signs.
B. The patient's self-report of pain.
C. The nurse's objective observation of the patient.
D. The type and extent of the surgical procedure.
Correct Answer: B. The patient's self-report of pain.
Rationale: Pain is a subjective experience. The patient's self-report is
the single most reliable indicator of pain. Vital signs and behavioral
observations can be influenced by many factors and are not always
reliable indicators of the pain's presence or intensity.
Cognitive Level: Comprehension
3. A postoperative patient is receiving morphine sulfate via a patient-
controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. Which of the following assessments is
a priority for this patient?
A. Assess for nausea.
B. Assess for pruritus.
C. Assess for urinary retention.
D. Assess respiratory rate and depth.
Correct Answer: D. Assess respiratory rate and depth.
Rationale: Morphine is an opioid analgesic. Its most serious side effect
is respiratory depression. While nausea, pruritus, and urinary retention
are potential side effects, airway and breathing are always the priority.
Cognitive Level: Analysis
,4. A patient with chronic cancer pain is prescribed a long-acting
morphine preparation (MS Contin) twice daily. The patient also has a
prescription for immediate-release morphine for breakthrough pain. The
patient reports that their pain is well controlled with the long-acting
medication and they have not needed a breakthrough dose for two
days. What is the nurse's best response?
A. "That is excellent. You may discontinue the breakthrough
medication."
B. "It is safe to skip the long-acting dose when your pain is controlled."
C. "You should continue taking the long-acting medication as prescribed
to maintain a consistent pain level."
D. "You should take a breakthrough dose now to prevent the pain from
returning."
Correct Answer: C. "You should continue taking the long-acting
medication as prescribed to maintain a consistent pain level."
Rationale: Long-acting (sustained-release) pain medications are
designed to maintain a baseline level of analgesia. They should be taken
on a scheduled basis, not on an as-needed basis. Skipping doses can
lead to a drop in the analgesic level, resulting in a return of pain that is
more difficult to control. The breakthrough medication is for acute
spikes in pain that break through the long-acting medication's effects.
Cognitive Level: Application
5. A patient is receiving a continuous epidural infusion of bupivacaine
and fentanyl for postoperative pain. Which of the following nursing
actions is a priority?
A. Place the patient in a high Fowler's position.
B. Assess the patient's level of consciousness.
C. Assess the patient's motor function and sensation.
D. Assess the patient's incision site for signs of infection.
Correct Answer: C. Assess the patient's motor function and sensation.
, Rationale: Epidural analgesia can cause motor blockade and loss of
sensation. It is crucial to assess motor function (e.g., ability to move
legs) and sensation to determine the level of the block and to monitor
for potential complications like a high spinal block, which can affect
respiratory muscles. Assessing the incision site is important but not the
priority with an epidural. Assessing LOC is important but is a more
systemic effect.
Cognitive Level: Application
6. A patient is in the ICU and is receiving a continuous infusion of
fentanyl. The nurse observes the patient is suddenly rigid and
unresponsive. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Administer a dose of naloxone.
B. Assess the patient's blood pressure.
C. Check the patency of the IV line.
D. Turn off the fentanyl infusion.
Correct Answer: D. Turn off the fentanyl infusion.
Rationale: These are signs of a severe adverse reaction known as "chest
wall rigidity" which can be caused by high-dose rapid administration of
fentanyl. This rigidity can severely impair ventilation. The first priority is
to stop the infusion to prevent worsening of the symptoms. Naloxone
may be necessary, but it is not the first action.
Cognitive Level: Application
7. A nurse is planning care for a patient with chronic low back pain.
Which of the following non-pharmacological interventions is considered
a physical modality?
A. Music therapy.
B. Guided imagery.
C. Application of a heating pad.
D. Progressive muscle relaxation.
Correct Answer: C. Application of a heating pad.
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM WITH ALL
POSSIBLE APPROVED WELL ELABORATED
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND 100% CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
PLUS EXPERT ANSWER KEY (100% CORRECT
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS) 2026-2027 CURRENTLY
UPDATED VERSION Q&A GUARANTEED PASS A+
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A patient who is two hours’ post-operative from an abdominal
hysterectomy reports pain at a level of 8 on a 0-10 scale. The patient is
drowsy but easily arousable. The nurse notes that the patient's last dose
of hydromorphone was three hours ago and was ordered for moderate
pain. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Administer the prescribed PRN hydromorphone immediately.
B. Wait one more hour until the medication is due to prevent respiratory
depression.
C. Encourage the patient to use non-pharmacological distraction
techniques.
D. Notify the healthcare provider to request a different pain medication.
Correct Answer: A. Administer the prescribed PRN hydromorphone
immediately.
Rationale: The patient is reporting severe pain (8/10) and is due for a
PRN analgesic. Pain should be treated promptly. The patient is drowsy
,but arousable, which indicates they are not overly sedated. Waiting for
an hour or using only non-pharmacological methods for an 8/10 pain is
inappropriate and delays effective pain management. The nurse should
administer the prescribed medication and then re-assess.
Cognitive Level: Application
2. A nurse is assessing a patient's pain. Which of the following is the
most reliable indicator of pain?
A. The patient's vital signs.
B. The patient's self-report of pain.
C. The nurse's objective observation of the patient.
D. The type and extent of the surgical procedure.
Correct Answer: B. The patient's self-report of pain.
Rationale: Pain is a subjective experience. The patient's self-report is
the single most reliable indicator of pain. Vital signs and behavioral
observations can be influenced by many factors and are not always
reliable indicators of the pain's presence or intensity.
Cognitive Level: Comprehension
3. A postoperative patient is receiving morphine sulfate via a patient-
controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. Which of the following assessments is
a priority for this patient?
A. Assess for nausea.
B. Assess for pruritus.
C. Assess for urinary retention.
D. Assess respiratory rate and depth.
Correct Answer: D. Assess respiratory rate and depth.
Rationale: Morphine is an opioid analgesic. Its most serious side effect
is respiratory depression. While nausea, pruritus, and urinary retention
are potential side effects, airway and breathing are always the priority.
Cognitive Level: Analysis
,4. A patient with chronic cancer pain is prescribed a long-acting
morphine preparation (MS Contin) twice daily. The patient also has a
prescription for immediate-release morphine for breakthrough pain. The
patient reports that their pain is well controlled with the long-acting
medication and they have not needed a breakthrough dose for two
days. What is the nurse's best response?
A. "That is excellent. You may discontinue the breakthrough
medication."
B. "It is safe to skip the long-acting dose when your pain is controlled."
C. "You should continue taking the long-acting medication as prescribed
to maintain a consistent pain level."
D. "You should take a breakthrough dose now to prevent the pain from
returning."
Correct Answer: C. "You should continue taking the long-acting
medication as prescribed to maintain a consistent pain level."
Rationale: Long-acting (sustained-release) pain medications are
designed to maintain a baseline level of analgesia. They should be taken
on a scheduled basis, not on an as-needed basis. Skipping doses can
lead to a drop in the analgesic level, resulting in a return of pain that is
more difficult to control. The breakthrough medication is for acute
spikes in pain that break through the long-acting medication's effects.
Cognitive Level: Application
5. A patient is receiving a continuous epidural infusion of bupivacaine
and fentanyl for postoperative pain. Which of the following nursing
actions is a priority?
A. Place the patient in a high Fowler's position.
B. Assess the patient's level of consciousness.
C. Assess the patient's motor function and sensation.
D. Assess the patient's incision site for signs of infection.
Correct Answer: C. Assess the patient's motor function and sensation.
, Rationale: Epidural analgesia can cause motor blockade and loss of
sensation. It is crucial to assess motor function (e.g., ability to move
legs) and sensation to determine the level of the block and to monitor
for potential complications like a high spinal block, which can affect
respiratory muscles. Assessing the incision site is important but not the
priority with an epidural. Assessing LOC is important but is a more
systemic effect.
Cognitive Level: Application
6. A patient is in the ICU and is receiving a continuous infusion of
fentanyl. The nurse observes the patient is suddenly rigid and
unresponsive. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Administer a dose of naloxone.
B. Assess the patient's blood pressure.
C. Check the patency of the IV line.
D. Turn off the fentanyl infusion.
Correct Answer: D. Turn off the fentanyl infusion.
Rationale: These are signs of a severe adverse reaction known as "chest
wall rigidity" which can be caused by high-dose rapid administration of
fentanyl. This rigidity can severely impair ventilation. The first priority is
to stop the infusion to prevent worsening of the symptoms. Naloxone
may be necessary, but it is not the first action.
Cognitive Level: Application
7. A nurse is planning care for a patient with chronic low back pain.
Which of the following non-pharmacological interventions is considered
a physical modality?
A. Music therapy.
B. Guided imagery.
C. Application of a heating pad.
D. Progressive muscle relaxation.
Correct Answer: C. Application of a heating pad.
