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HESI RN EXIT EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
LATEST EDITION 2026
HESI RN Exit Exam Practice Questions
Section 1: Safe & Effective Care Environment (Management of Care)
1. A nurse is preparing to delegate tasks to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which of
the following tasks is appropriate to delegate to a UAP?
A) Assessing a client's surgical wound
B) Administering oral medications
C) Assisting a client with ambulation
D) Creating a nursing care plan
Answer: C
Rationale: The RN can delegate tasks that do not require nursing judgment, such as assisting
with ambulation, bathing, feeding, and vital signs. Assessment, medication administration, and
care planning require nursing judgment and cannot be delegated .
2. A nurse is caring for a client who refuses a blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. Which
of the following actions is appropriate?
A) Administer the blood transfusion without consent
B) Respect the client's refusal and document it
C) Notify the healthcare provider to override the client's decision
D) Inform the family of the client's decision
Answer: B
Rationale: Clients have the right to refuse treatment based on religious or personal beliefs. The
nurse should respect the client's decision, document the refusal, and explore alternative
treatments. The provider should be notified, but the decision must be respected .
3. A nurse is preparing to administer a controlled substance. Which action is required?
A) Waste unused medication in the client's trash
B) Waste unused medication with a second nurse witnessing
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C) Discard the medication at the end of the shift
D) Document administration only, not wasting
Answer: B
Rationale: Controlled substances require a second licensed nurse to witness and cosign the
wasting of any unused portion. The waste must be documented in both the MAR and the
controlled substance record .
4. A nurse is completing an incident report after a client fall. Which action is correct regarding
incident report documentation?
A) Include the incident report in the client's medical record
B) Document "incident report filed" in the client's chart
C) Make a copy of the incident report for the client
D) Describe the incident in detail in the progress notes
Answer: B
Rationale: The incident report is a confidential risk management document and should NOT be
placed in the medical record. The nurse should document factual information about the fall in
the progress notes. The phrase "incident report filed" is acceptable as minimal documentation
of the report's existence .
5. A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion to a client. Which IV solution is
compatible with blood products?
A) Lactated Ringer's solution
B) 5% Dextrose in water
C) 0.9% Normal saline
D) 0.45% Normal saline
Answer: C
Rationale: Only 0.9% normal saline is compatible with blood products. Dextrose solutions can
cause hemolysis, and lactated Ringer's contains calcium that can cause clotting in the tubing .
6. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for wrist restraints. Which action is
most important?
A) Document the reason for restraint use
B) Tie the restraints to the bed frame (not side rail)
C) Remove restraints every 4 hours for range of motion
D) Obtain a PRN order for restraints
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Answer: B
Rationale: Restraints must be tied to the bed frame (not the side rail) with a quick-release knot.
This prevents injury if the bed rail is lowered. Restraints require an order, assessment, and
documentation. PRN orders are not acceptable for restraints .
Section 2: Safety & Infection Control
7. A nurse is preparing to administer medications. Which action should the nurse take FIRST
to ensure client safety?
A) Check the client's allergy band
B) Verify the client's identity using two identifiers
C) Review the medication administration record
D) Perform hand hygiene
Answer: B
Rationale: According to the National Patient Safety Goals, verifying client identity using two
unique identifiers (e.g., name and date of birth) is the FIRST critical step before any medication
administration to prevent wrong-patient errors .
8. Which action by the nurse demonstrates proper technique when donning sterile gloves?
A) Touching the outside of the glove with bare hands to adjust fit
B) Picking up the second glove by grasping the folded cuff edge with the gloved hand
C) Allowing gloved hands to drop below waist level during procedure
D) Using the dominant hand to pick up the first glove by the cuff
Answer: B
Rationale: When donning sterile gloves, the first glove is picked up by the cuff (non-sterile edge)
with the bare hand. The second glove is then picked up by sliding gloved fingers under the
folded cuff (sterile surface) of the second glove .
9. A male client is on contact precautions due to an infected draining wound and is being
discharged home. What discharge instruction should the nurse include for the client?
A) Use disposable plates and utensils
B) Stay in a room with the door closed
C) Dispose of soiled dressings in plastic bags that are securely closed
D) Others who are in the same room with the client should wear a mask
Answer: C
Rationale: Contact precautions require the use of a barrier that prevents contact with wound
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HESI RN EXIT EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
LATEST EDITION 2026
HESI RN Exit Exam Practice Questions
Section 1: Safe & Effective Care Environment (Management of Care)
1. A nurse is preparing to delegate tasks to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which of
the following tasks is appropriate to delegate to a UAP?
A) Assessing a client's surgical wound
B) Administering oral medications
C) Assisting a client with ambulation
D) Creating a nursing care plan
Answer: C
Rationale: The RN can delegate tasks that do not require nursing judgment, such as assisting
with ambulation, bathing, feeding, and vital signs. Assessment, medication administration, and
care planning require nursing judgment and cannot be delegated .
2. A nurse is caring for a client who refuses a blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. Which
of the following actions is appropriate?
A) Administer the blood transfusion without consent
B) Respect the client's refusal and document it
C) Notify the healthcare provider to override the client's decision
D) Inform the family of the client's decision
Answer: B
Rationale: Clients have the right to refuse treatment based on religious or personal beliefs. The
nurse should respect the client's decision, document the refusal, and explore alternative
treatments. The provider should be notified, but the decision must be respected .
3. A nurse is preparing to administer a controlled substance. Which action is required?
A) Waste unused medication in the client's trash
B) Waste unused medication with a second nurse witnessing
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,2
C) Discard the medication at the end of the shift
D) Document administration only, not wasting
Answer: B
Rationale: Controlled substances require a second licensed nurse to witness and cosign the
wasting of any unused portion. The waste must be documented in both the MAR and the
controlled substance record .
4. A nurse is completing an incident report after a client fall. Which action is correct regarding
incident report documentation?
A) Include the incident report in the client's medical record
B) Document "incident report filed" in the client's chart
C) Make a copy of the incident report for the client
D) Describe the incident in detail in the progress notes
Answer: B
Rationale: The incident report is a confidential risk management document and should NOT be
placed in the medical record. The nurse should document factual information about the fall in
the progress notes. The phrase "incident report filed" is acceptable as minimal documentation
of the report's existence .
5. A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion to a client. Which IV solution is
compatible with blood products?
A) Lactated Ringer's solution
B) 5% Dextrose in water
C) 0.9% Normal saline
D) 0.45% Normal saline
Answer: C
Rationale: Only 0.9% normal saline is compatible with blood products. Dextrose solutions can
cause hemolysis, and lactated Ringer's contains calcium that can cause clotting in the tubing .
6. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for wrist restraints. Which action is
most important?
A) Document the reason for restraint use
B) Tie the restraints to the bed frame (not side rail)
C) Remove restraints every 4 hours for range of motion
D) Obtain a PRN order for restraints
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, 3
Answer: B
Rationale: Restraints must be tied to the bed frame (not the side rail) with a quick-release knot.
This prevents injury if the bed rail is lowered. Restraints require an order, assessment, and
documentation. PRN orders are not acceptable for restraints .
Section 2: Safety & Infection Control
7. A nurse is preparing to administer medications. Which action should the nurse take FIRST
to ensure client safety?
A) Check the client's allergy band
B) Verify the client's identity using two identifiers
C) Review the medication administration record
D) Perform hand hygiene
Answer: B
Rationale: According to the National Patient Safety Goals, verifying client identity using two
unique identifiers (e.g., name and date of birth) is the FIRST critical step before any medication
administration to prevent wrong-patient errors .
8. Which action by the nurse demonstrates proper technique when donning sterile gloves?
A) Touching the outside of the glove with bare hands to adjust fit
B) Picking up the second glove by grasping the folded cuff edge with the gloved hand
C) Allowing gloved hands to drop below waist level during procedure
D) Using the dominant hand to pick up the first glove by the cuff
Answer: B
Rationale: When donning sterile gloves, the first glove is picked up by the cuff (non-sterile edge)
with the bare hand. The second glove is then picked up by sliding gloved fingers under the
folded cuff (sterile surface) of the second glove .
9. A male client is on contact precautions due to an infected draining wound and is being
discharged home. What discharge instruction should the nurse include for the client?
A) Use disposable plates and utensils
B) Stay in a room with the door closed
C) Dispose of soiled dressings in plastic bags that are securely closed
D) Others who are in the same room with the client should wear a mask
Answer: C
Rationale: Contact precautions require the use of a barrier that prevents contact with wound
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