NURS 310 HESI EXAM QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026-2027 | UPDATE… EXAM
P R O F E S S I O N A L P R A C T I C E M AT E R I A L S
NURS 310 HESI Exam
Questions & Answers
2026-2027 | Updated
Nursing Review
(Rationales)
Verified Answers Exam Ready With Rationales
50 QUESTIONS
DOCUMENT OVERVIEW
This document provides 50 updated HESI exam questions with their correct answers and
detailed rationales, covering a broad spectrum of nursing principles. It is an essential study
aid for nursing students preparing for certification exams, offering a comprehensive review of
critical nursing knowledge.
CONTENTS
Assessment & Diagnosis Q1–Q14
Nutrition & Diet Q15–Q19
Pharmacology & Medication Q20–Q26
Patient Care & Safety Q27–Q45
Page 1
, Client Education & Health Maintenance Q46–Q50
E XA M Q U EST I O N S
Q1 QUESTION 1 OF 50
A 75-year-old client who has a history of end stage renal failure and advanced lung cancer,
recently had a stroke. Two days ago the healthcare provider discontinued the client's dialysis
treatments, stating that death is inevitable, but the client is disoriented and will not sign a
DNR directive. What is the priority nursing intervention?
Review the client's most recent laboratory reports.
Refer the client and family members for hospice care.
Notify the hospital ethics committee of the client situation.
Determine who is legally empowered to make decisions.
CORRECT ANSWER
Determine who is legally empowered to make decisions.
RATIONALE
When a patient is unable to provide informed consent due to disorientation, identifying the legally
authorized surrogate decision-maker is the priority to ensure patient wishes are respected and
appropriate care is provided. This addresses the principle of patient autonomy and legal guardianship
in medical decision-making.
Q2 QUESTION 2 OF 50
Which nursing intervention is most beneficial in reducing the risk of urosepsis in a
hospitalized client with an indwelling urinary catheter?
Ensure that the client's perineal area is cleansed twice a day.
Maintain accurate documentation of the fluid intake and output.
Encourage frequent ambulation if allowed or regular turning if on bedrest.
Obtain a prescription for removal of the catheter as soon as possible.
Page 2
, CORRECT ANSWER
Obtain a prescription for removal of the catheter as soon as possible.
The best intervention to reduce the risk for urosepsis (spread of an infectious agent from the
urinary tract to systemic circulation) is removal of the urinary catheter as quickly as possible (D).
(A, B, and C) are helpful to reduce the risk of infection, but are of less priority than (D) in reducing
the risk of urosepsis.
RATIONALE
Removing the indwelling urinary catheter as soon as feasible is the most effective intervention to
prevent urosepsis by eliminating the primary portal of entry for pathogens into the urinary tract. The
key concept is minimizing the duration of invasive urinary tract instrumentation to reduce infection
risk.
Q3 QUESTION 3 OF 50
A client provides the nurse with information about the reason for seeking care. The nurse
realizes that some information about past hospitalizations is missing. How should the nurse
obtain this information?
Solicit information on hospitalization from the insurance company.
Look up previous medical records from archived hospital documents.
Ask the client to discuss previous hospitalizations in the last 5 years.
Elicit specific facts about past hospitalizations with direct questions.
CORRECT ANSWER
Elicit specific facts about past hospitalizations with direct questions.
Direct questions should be used after the client's opening narrative to fill in any details that have
been left out or during the review of systems to elicit specific facts about past health problems.
RATIONALE
Direct questioning is the most efficient and patient-centered method for gathering specific, missing
details about past hospitalizations after the initial narrative, ensuring accuracy and client
involvement. This approach respects the client's autonomy and facilitates a more comprehensive
health history.
Page 3
, Q4 QUESTION 4 OF 50
While the nurse is administering a bolus feeding to a client via nasogastric tube, the client
begins to vomit. What action should the nurse implement first?
Discontinue the administration of the bolus feeding.
Auscultate the client's breath sounds bilaterally.
Elevate the head of the bed to a high Fowler's position.
Administer a PRN dose of a prescribed antiemetic.
CORRECT ANSWER
Discontinue the administration of the bolus feeding.
RATIONALE
Promptly discontinuing the feeding prevents further aspiration risk, which is the immediate priority
when vomiting occurs during tube feeding. This action addresses the direct cause of potential
aspiration before assessing other complications.
Q5 QUESTION 5 OF 50
A client with chronic renal disease is admitted to the hospital for evaluation prior to a surgical
procedure. Which laboratory test indicates the client's protein status for the longest length of
time?
Transferrin.
Prealbumin.
Serum albumin.
Urine urea nitrogen.
Page 4
P R O F E S S I O N A L P R A C T I C E M AT E R I A L S
NURS 310 HESI Exam
Questions & Answers
2026-2027 | Updated
Nursing Review
(Rationales)
Verified Answers Exam Ready With Rationales
50 QUESTIONS
DOCUMENT OVERVIEW
This document provides 50 updated HESI exam questions with their correct answers and
detailed rationales, covering a broad spectrum of nursing principles. It is an essential study
aid for nursing students preparing for certification exams, offering a comprehensive review of
critical nursing knowledge.
CONTENTS
Assessment & Diagnosis Q1–Q14
Nutrition & Diet Q15–Q19
Pharmacology & Medication Q20–Q26
Patient Care & Safety Q27–Q45
Page 1
, Client Education & Health Maintenance Q46–Q50
E XA M Q U EST I O N S
Q1 QUESTION 1 OF 50
A 75-year-old client who has a history of end stage renal failure and advanced lung cancer,
recently had a stroke. Two days ago the healthcare provider discontinued the client's dialysis
treatments, stating that death is inevitable, but the client is disoriented and will not sign a
DNR directive. What is the priority nursing intervention?
Review the client's most recent laboratory reports.
Refer the client and family members for hospice care.
Notify the hospital ethics committee of the client situation.
Determine who is legally empowered to make decisions.
CORRECT ANSWER
Determine who is legally empowered to make decisions.
RATIONALE
When a patient is unable to provide informed consent due to disorientation, identifying the legally
authorized surrogate decision-maker is the priority to ensure patient wishes are respected and
appropriate care is provided. This addresses the principle of patient autonomy and legal guardianship
in medical decision-making.
Q2 QUESTION 2 OF 50
Which nursing intervention is most beneficial in reducing the risk of urosepsis in a
hospitalized client with an indwelling urinary catheter?
Ensure that the client's perineal area is cleansed twice a day.
Maintain accurate documentation of the fluid intake and output.
Encourage frequent ambulation if allowed or regular turning if on bedrest.
Obtain a prescription for removal of the catheter as soon as possible.
Page 2
, CORRECT ANSWER
Obtain a prescription for removal of the catheter as soon as possible.
The best intervention to reduce the risk for urosepsis (spread of an infectious agent from the
urinary tract to systemic circulation) is removal of the urinary catheter as quickly as possible (D).
(A, B, and C) are helpful to reduce the risk of infection, but are of less priority than (D) in reducing
the risk of urosepsis.
RATIONALE
Removing the indwelling urinary catheter as soon as feasible is the most effective intervention to
prevent urosepsis by eliminating the primary portal of entry for pathogens into the urinary tract. The
key concept is minimizing the duration of invasive urinary tract instrumentation to reduce infection
risk.
Q3 QUESTION 3 OF 50
A client provides the nurse with information about the reason for seeking care. The nurse
realizes that some information about past hospitalizations is missing. How should the nurse
obtain this information?
Solicit information on hospitalization from the insurance company.
Look up previous medical records from archived hospital documents.
Ask the client to discuss previous hospitalizations in the last 5 years.
Elicit specific facts about past hospitalizations with direct questions.
CORRECT ANSWER
Elicit specific facts about past hospitalizations with direct questions.
Direct questions should be used after the client's opening narrative to fill in any details that have
been left out or during the review of systems to elicit specific facts about past health problems.
RATIONALE
Direct questioning is the most efficient and patient-centered method for gathering specific, missing
details about past hospitalizations after the initial narrative, ensuring accuracy and client
involvement. This approach respects the client's autonomy and facilitates a more comprehensive
health history.
Page 3
, Q4 QUESTION 4 OF 50
While the nurse is administering a bolus feeding to a client via nasogastric tube, the client
begins to vomit. What action should the nurse implement first?
Discontinue the administration of the bolus feeding.
Auscultate the client's breath sounds bilaterally.
Elevate the head of the bed to a high Fowler's position.
Administer a PRN dose of a prescribed antiemetic.
CORRECT ANSWER
Discontinue the administration of the bolus feeding.
RATIONALE
Promptly discontinuing the feeding prevents further aspiration risk, which is the immediate priority
when vomiting occurs during tube feeding. This action addresses the direct cause of potential
aspiration before assessing other complications.
Q5 QUESTION 5 OF 50
A client with chronic renal disease is admitted to the hospital for evaluation prior to a surgical
procedure. Which laboratory test indicates the client's protein status for the longest length of
time?
Transferrin.
Prealbumin.
Serum albumin.
Urine urea nitrogen.
Page 4
