PN Practical Nursing HESI Exit Exam
V1 2026/2027 – Questions and
Answers | 100% Verified | Complete
Verified Answers – Pass Guaranteed –
Already Graded A (INSTAMT DOWNLOAD
PDF)
Section 1: Safe & Effective Care Environment
Question 1: Medication Administration
The practical nurse enters a male client's room to administer
routine morning medications, but the client is on the phone.
Which action is best for the PN to take?
A. Ask another nurse to return later with the medication when the
client's phone call ends
B. Wait for the client to excuse himself from the telephone
conversation and observe the client taking the medication
C. Return the medication to the client's drawer on the medication
cart and document the client refused the dose
D. Leave the medication at the bedside with a glass of water and
ask the client to take it when finished
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: The nurse must witness the client taking the
medication to ensure it was taken as prescribed. Waiting respects
the client's privacy while maintaining safety. Leaving medications
unattended violates policy and increases the risk of errors.
Documenting refusal without the client actually refusing is
inaccurate and unethical .
Question 2: Patient Identification Safety
A disoriented resident in a long-term care facility has no
identification band or picture. What is the best action for the PN
to take before administering medications?
A. Ask a regular staff member to confirm the resident's identity
B. Hold the medication until a family member arrives
C. Reorient the resident to name, place, and situation
D. Confirm the room and bed numbers match the medication
record
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Facility-approved identifiers must be used to confirm
identity. Room and bed numbers provide objective verification
according to facility policy. Relying on staff memory or family
confirmation increases the risk of medication errors. Medication
safety requires using multiple identifiers .
,Question 3: Chest Tube Management
A client admitted postoperatively with chest tubes after a left
lobectomy has tidaling and gentle bubbling in the suction
chamber set at 20 cm water pressure. What action should the PN
implement?
A. Clamp the chest tube to see if the activity stops
B. Notify the registered nurse of the malfunction
C. Maintain system integrity to promote lung re-expansion
D. Apply a partially occlusive dressing to the chest
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Tidaling (fluctuations with respirations) and gentle
bubbling in the suction chamber are normal findings indicating
the negative pressure system is functioning properly. Clamping
the chest tube is contraindicated due to the risk of tension
pneumothorax. Maintaining a closed, intact system ensures
continued lung re-expansion .
Question 4: Delegation (RN vs. LPN Scope)
Which patient is most appropriate to assign to a licensed practical
nurse (LPN)?
A. A patient admitted 2 hours ago with chest pain requiring initial
assessment
B. A patient with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes requiring
diabetic teaching
, C. A patient with stable heart failure requiring routine vital signs
and medication administration
D. A patient with a new tracheostomy requiring suctioning and
sterile technique
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: LPNs can care for stable patients with predictable
outcomes. Initial assessments, patient teaching, and complex
sterile procedures requiring advanced assessment fall within the
RN scope of practice .
Question 5: Prioritization - Hyperkalemia
A nurse receives report on four patients. Which patient should the
nurse assess first?
A. A patient with a blood pressure of 148/92 mmHg scheduled for
discharge
B. A patient with a potassium level of 5.8 mEq/L awaiting cardiac
monitoring
C. A patient with a pain rating of 6/10 requesting analgesia
D. A patient with a blood glucose of 210 mg/dL after breakfast
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Using ABCs and Maslow's hierarchy, hyperkalemia (K+
> 5.5) can cause life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias. This
physiological emergency takes priority over stable hypertension,
V1 2026/2027 – Questions and
Answers | 100% Verified | Complete
Verified Answers – Pass Guaranteed –
Already Graded A (INSTAMT DOWNLOAD
PDF)
Section 1: Safe & Effective Care Environment
Question 1: Medication Administration
The practical nurse enters a male client's room to administer
routine morning medications, but the client is on the phone.
Which action is best for the PN to take?
A. Ask another nurse to return later with the medication when the
client's phone call ends
B. Wait for the client to excuse himself from the telephone
conversation and observe the client taking the medication
C. Return the medication to the client's drawer on the medication
cart and document the client refused the dose
D. Leave the medication at the bedside with a glass of water and
ask the client to take it when finished
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: The nurse must witness the client taking the
medication to ensure it was taken as prescribed. Waiting respects
the client's privacy while maintaining safety. Leaving medications
unattended violates policy and increases the risk of errors.
Documenting refusal without the client actually refusing is
inaccurate and unethical .
Question 2: Patient Identification Safety
A disoriented resident in a long-term care facility has no
identification band or picture. What is the best action for the PN
to take before administering medications?
A. Ask a regular staff member to confirm the resident's identity
B. Hold the medication until a family member arrives
C. Reorient the resident to name, place, and situation
D. Confirm the room and bed numbers match the medication
record
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Facility-approved identifiers must be used to confirm
identity. Room and bed numbers provide objective verification
according to facility policy. Relying on staff memory or family
confirmation increases the risk of medication errors. Medication
safety requires using multiple identifiers .
,Question 3: Chest Tube Management
A client admitted postoperatively with chest tubes after a left
lobectomy has tidaling and gentle bubbling in the suction
chamber set at 20 cm water pressure. What action should the PN
implement?
A. Clamp the chest tube to see if the activity stops
B. Notify the registered nurse of the malfunction
C. Maintain system integrity to promote lung re-expansion
D. Apply a partially occlusive dressing to the chest
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Tidaling (fluctuations with respirations) and gentle
bubbling in the suction chamber are normal findings indicating
the negative pressure system is functioning properly. Clamping
the chest tube is contraindicated due to the risk of tension
pneumothorax. Maintaining a closed, intact system ensures
continued lung re-expansion .
Question 4: Delegation (RN vs. LPN Scope)
Which patient is most appropriate to assign to a licensed practical
nurse (LPN)?
A. A patient admitted 2 hours ago with chest pain requiring initial
assessment
B. A patient with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes requiring
diabetic teaching
, C. A patient with stable heart failure requiring routine vital signs
and medication administration
D. A patient with a new tracheostomy requiring suctioning and
sterile technique
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: LPNs can care for stable patients with predictable
outcomes. Initial assessments, patient teaching, and complex
sterile procedures requiring advanced assessment fall within the
RN scope of practice .
Question 5: Prioritization - Hyperkalemia
A nurse receives report on four patients. Which patient should the
nurse assess first?
A. A patient with a blood pressure of 148/92 mmHg scheduled for
discharge
B. A patient with a potassium level of 5.8 mEq/L awaiting cardiac
monitoring
C. A patient with a pain rating of 6/10 requesting analgesia
D. A patient with a blood glucose of 210 mg/dL after breakfast
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Using ABCs and Maslow's hierarchy, hyperkalemia (K+
> 5.5) can cause life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias. This
physiological emergency takes priority over stable hypertension,
