HESI FUNDAMENTALS PRACTICE
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026–2027
Question 1
Which action by the nurse best demonstrates the principle of beneficence?
A) Telling the truth to a client
B) Promoting good and preventing harm
C) Respecting the client's independence
D) Treating all clients equally
Answer
Answer: B
Rationale
Beneficence means doing good and acting in the client's best interest while preventing harm.
Question 2
A nurse is preparing to administer a medication via nasogastric tube. Which action is most
appropriate?
A) Administer the medication with the tube clamped
B) Verify tube placement before administration
C) Mix all medications together in one syringe
D) Flush with 5 mL of sterile water after each drug
Answer
Answer: B
Rationale
Tube placement must be verified before medication administration to prevent aspiration or instillation
into the lungs.
,Question 3
Which client should the nurse assess first after receiving handoff report?
A) A client requesting pain medication
B) A client with new onset shortness of breath
C) A client scheduled for discharge teaching
D) A client who needs a routine dressing change
Answer
Answer: B
Rationale
New onset shortness of breath indicates a potential airway or oxygenation emergency and requires
immediate assessment.
Question 4
The nurse is teaching a client about proper hand hygiene. Which statement indicates correct
understanding?
A) "I should use alcohol-based rub when hands are visibly soiled."
B) "I should wash my hands for at least 15 seconds with soap and water."
C) "I only need to wash my hands after using the bathroom."
D) "Artificial nails are acceptable if kept short."
Answer
Answer: B
Rationale
Handwashing with soap and water should last at least 15 seconds, and alcohol rub is not for visibly
soiled hands.
Question 5
Which finding is an early sign of increased intracranial pressure?
A) Decreased level of consciousness
B) Bradycardia
C) Widened pulse pressure
2
,D) Fixed dilated pupils
Answer
Answer: A
Rationale
A decreasing level of consciousness is often the earliest indicator of increasing intracranial pressure.
Question 6
A nurse is calculating intake and output. Which item should be recorded as intake?
A) Urine
B) Emesis
C) Ice chips
D) Wound drainage
Answer
Answer: C
Rationale
Ice chips are recorded as intake, usually as half the volume of the ice chips consumed.
Question 7
Which action is correct when obtaining a blood pressure measurement?
A) Place the cuff over clothing
B) Use a cuff that covers 80% of the arm circumference
C) Inflate the cuff 60 mm Hg above the palpated systolic pressure
D) Deflate the cuff at 2 to 3 mm Hg per second
Answer
Answer: D
Rationale
3
, Deflating the cuff at 2 to 3 mm Hg per second allows accurate auscultation of systolic and diastolic
pressures.
Question 8
The nurse is caring for a client with a new colostomy. Which finding should be reported
immediately?
A) Stoma is pink and moist
B) Stoma is dusky and blue
C) Small amount of serosanguineous drainage
D) Colostomy output is liquid
Answer
Answer: B
Rationale
A dusky or blue stoma indicates inadequate perfusion and possible necrosis, requiring immediate
notification.
Question 9
Which nursing intervention is priority for a client with dysphagia?
A) Encourage large bites of food
B) Place the client in a supine position for meals
C) Have suction equipment available at the bedside
D) Offer thin liquids with every meal
Answer
Answer: C
Rationale
Suction equipment must be readily available for a client with dysphagia due to risk of aspiration.
Question 10
4
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026–2027
Question 1
Which action by the nurse best demonstrates the principle of beneficence?
A) Telling the truth to a client
B) Promoting good and preventing harm
C) Respecting the client's independence
D) Treating all clients equally
Answer
Answer: B
Rationale
Beneficence means doing good and acting in the client's best interest while preventing harm.
Question 2
A nurse is preparing to administer a medication via nasogastric tube. Which action is most
appropriate?
A) Administer the medication with the tube clamped
B) Verify tube placement before administration
C) Mix all medications together in one syringe
D) Flush with 5 mL of sterile water after each drug
Answer
Answer: B
Rationale
Tube placement must be verified before medication administration to prevent aspiration or instillation
into the lungs.
,Question 3
Which client should the nurse assess first after receiving handoff report?
A) A client requesting pain medication
B) A client with new onset shortness of breath
C) A client scheduled for discharge teaching
D) A client who needs a routine dressing change
Answer
Answer: B
Rationale
New onset shortness of breath indicates a potential airway or oxygenation emergency and requires
immediate assessment.
Question 4
The nurse is teaching a client about proper hand hygiene. Which statement indicates correct
understanding?
A) "I should use alcohol-based rub when hands are visibly soiled."
B) "I should wash my hands for at least 15 seconds with soap and water."
C) "I only need to wash my hands after using the bathroom."
D) "Artificial nails are acceptable if kept short."
Answer
Answer: B
Rationale
Handwashing with soap and water should last at least 15 seconds, and alcohol rub is not for visibly
soiled hands.
Question 5
Which finding is an early sign of increased intracranial pressure?
A) Decreased level of consciousness
B) Bradycardia
C) Widened pulse pressure
2
,D) Fixed dilated pupils
Answer
Answer: A
Rationale
A decreasing level of consciousness is often the earliest indicator of increasing intracranial pressure.
Question 6
A nurse is calculating intake and output. Which item should be recorded as intake?
A) Urine
B) Emesis
C) Ice chips
D) Wound drainage
Answer
Answer: C
Rationale
Ice chips are recorded as intake, usually as half the volume of the ice chips consumed.
Question 7
Which action is correct when obtaining a blood pressure measurement?
A) Place the cuff over clothing
B) Use a cuff that covers 80% of the arm circumference
C) Inflate the cuff 60 mm Hg above the palpated systolic pressure
D) Deflate the cuff at 2 to 3 mm Hg per second
Answer
Answer: D
Rationale
3
, Deflating the cuff at 2 to 3 mm Hg per second allows accurate auscultation of systolic and diastolic
pressures.
Question 8
The nurse is caring for a client with a new colostomy. Which finding should be reported
immediately?
A) Stoma is pink and moist
B) Stoma is dusky and blue
C) Small amount of serosanguineous drainage
D) Colostomy output is liquid
Answer
Answer: B
Rationale
A dusky or blue stoma indicates inadequate perfusion and possible necrosis, requiring immediate
notification.
Question 9
Which nursing intervention is priority for a client with dysphagia?
A) Encourage large bites of food
B) Place the client in a supine position for meals
C) Have suction equipment available at the bedside
D) Offer thin liquids with every meal
Answer
Answer: C
Rationale
Suction equipment must be readily available for a client with dysphagia due to risk of aspiration.
Question 10
4
