HESI Fundamentals of Nursing Complete Review | 120 Original
Practice Questions with Answers and Rationales 2026/2027
Practice questions
1. A newly admitted stable client reports poor sleep. What should the nurse do
before planning interventions?
A. Assign insomnia without further information
B. Assess sleep patterns and contributing factors
C. Begin discharge paperwork
D. Order a sedative
Answer: B
Rationale: Assessment establishes the cause and baseline before selecting
appropriate interventions.
2. Which outcome is measurable?
A. The client will feel better soon
B. The client will walk 30 meters with assistance by tomorrow
C. The nurse will promote mobility
D. The client will improve
Answer: B
Rationale: A specific behavior, distance, assistance level, and deadline allow
evaluation.
3. A pain intervention did not achieve the agreed goal. What is the next
nursing process action?
A. Repeat the plan indefinitely
B. Document success
C. Reassess and revise the plan
D. Stop assessing pain
Answer: C
Rationale: Evaluation compares the response with the outcome and guides
changes.
4. A client says, I am afraid of surgery. Which response encourages discussion?
A. Everyone has surgery
B. Tell me what worries you most
C. Everything will be fine
D. You should not be afraid
Answer: B
Rationale: An open question invites the client to explain the concern.
Page 1
,5. A client begins crying during an interview. What is appropriate?
A. Remain present and allow a brief silence
B. Leave without explanation
C. Immediately change the topic
D. Tell the client to stop crying
Answer: A
Rationale: Supportive presence gives time for expression without pressure.
6. Which response is clarification?
A. When you say dizzy do you mean spinning or feeling faint
B. You are probably anxious
C. You must mean weak
D. There is no need to explain
Answer: A
Rationale: Clarification checks meaning instead of assuming what a word describes.
7. Before signing consent, a client asks about surgical alternatives. What
should the nurse do?
A. Ask the procedural provider to explain the alternatives
B. Supply a personal opinion and obtain the signature
C. Sign for the client
D. Say alternatives are irrelevant
Answer: A
Rationale: Informed consent requires adequate explanation by the responsible
provider.
8. A capable adult refuses a prescribed medication. What is appropriate?
A. Explore the reason and respect the refusal while documenting and notifying as
indicated
B. Hide the medication in food
C. Threaten discharge
D. Ask a relative to override the refusal
Answer: A
Rationale: Autonomy includes informed refusal; the nurse assesses concerns and
communicates consequences.
Page 2
,9. A sedated client is asked to sign elective procedural consent. What is the
concern?
A. Sedation always improves understanding
B. The ability to provide informed consent may be impaired
C. A signature alone proves understanding
D. Consent never requires capacity
Answer: B
Rationale: Consent requires decision-making capacity, understanding, and
voluntary agreement.
10. Which chart entry is most objective?
A. Client is difficult
B. Client is exaggerating
C. Client is dramatic
D. Client states pain is 7 of 10 and guards the incision
Answer: D
Rationale: A direct report and observed behavior document facts without
judgment.
11. A nurse notices a charting error. What is appropriate?
A. Change the time to conceal the error
B. Ask another nurse to sign it
C. Use the approved correction process and preserve the audit trail
D. Delete the record secretly
Answer: C
Rationale: Traceable corrections preserve record integrity and accountability.
12. A visitor requests a diagnosis but the client has not authorized disclosure.
What should the nurse do?
A. Read the chart aloud
B. Give the password to the portal
C. Verify authorization before sharing information
D. Disclose because the visitor seems concerned
Answer: C
Rationale: Concern or familiarity does not establish permission to receive
confidential information.
Page 3
, Section 2 Delegation and infection prevention
Topic review
Delegation. Delegate appropriate tasks for stable clients to competent personnel.
Nursing assessment, clinical judgment, initial teaching, and evaluation remain with
the licensed nurse according to local scope.
Standard precautions. Standard precautions apply to every client. Select
protective equipment according to anticipated exposure; gloves do not replace hand
hygiene.
Transmission precautions. Airborne, droplet, and contact measures supplement
standard precautions. Match room placement and protective equipment to the
organism and facility guidance.
Hand hygiene and asepsis. Clean hands before aseptic tasks and after client
contact. Wash visibly soiled hands with soap and water. A sterile field must stay
visible and protected from contamination.
Practice questions
13. Which task may be delegated to trained assistive personnel for a stable
client?
A. Interpret new chest pain
B. Measure routine intake and output
C. Create the nursing care plan
D. Teach insulin injection initially
Answer: B
Rationale: Routine measurements may be delegated, while interpretation and
teaching require nursing judgment.
14. An assistant reports a blood pressure of 78 over 42. What should the RN
do?
A. Wait until shift report
B. Assess the client immediately and initiate an appropriate response
C. Ignore the report because it was delegated
D. Ask the assistant to diagnose shock
Answer: B
Rationale: The RN must interpret abnormal findings and respond to possible
deterioration.
Page 4
Practice Questions with Answers and Rationales 2026/2027
Practice questions
1. A newly admitted stable client reports poor sleep. What should the nurse do
before planning interventions?
A. Assign insomnia without further information
B. Assess sleep patterns and contributing factors
C. Begin discharge paperwork
D. Order a sedative
Answer: B
Rationale: Assessment establishes the cause and baseline before selecting
appropriate interventions.
2. Which outcome is measurable?
A. The client will feel better soon
B. The client will walk 30 meters with assistance by tomorrow
C. The nurse will promote mobility
D. The client will improve
Answer: B
Rationale: A specific behavior, distance, assistance level, and deadline allow
evaluation.
3. A pain intervention did not achieve the agreed goal. What is the next
nursing process action?
A. Repeat the plan indefinitely
B. Document success
C. Reassess and revise the plan
D. Stop assessing pain
Answer: C
Rationale: Evaluation compares the response with the outcome and guides
changes.
4. A client says, I am afraid of surgery. Which response encourages discussion?
A. Everyone has surgery
B. Tell me what worries you most
C. Everything will be fine
D. You should not be afraid
Answer: B
Rationale: An open question invites the client to explain the concern.
Page 1
,5. A client begins crying during an interview. What is appropriate?
A. Remain present and allow a brief silence
B. Leave without explanation
C. Immediately change the topic
D. Tell the client to stop crying
Answer: A
Rationale: Supportive presence gives time for expression without pressure.
6. Which response is clarification?
A. When you say dizzy do you mean spinning or feeling faint
B. You are probably anxious
C. You must mean weak
D. There is no need to explain
Answer: A
Rationale: Clarification checks meaning instead of assuming what a word describes.
7. Before signing consent, a client asks about surgical alternatives. What
should the nurse do?
A. Ask the procedural provider to explain the alternatives
B. Supply a personal opinion and obtain the signature
C. Sign for the client
D. Say alternatives are irrelevant
Answer: A
Rationale: Informed consent requires adequate explanation by the responsible
provider.
8. A capable adult refuses a prescribed medication. What is appropriate?
A. Explore the reason and respect the refusal while documenting and notifying as
indicated
B. Hide the medication in food
C. Threaten discharge
D. Ask a relative to override the refusal
Answer: A
Rationale: Autonomy includes informed refusal; the nurse assesses concerns and
communicates consequences.
Page 2
,9. A sedated client is asked to sign elective procedural consent. What is the
concern?
A. Sedation always improves understanding
B. The ability to provide informed consent may be impaired
C. A signature alone proves understanding
D. Consent never requires capacity
Answer: B
Rationale: Consent requires decision-making capacity, understanding, and
voluntary agreement.
10. Which chart entry is most objective?
A. Client is difficult
B. Client is exaggerating
C. Client is dramatic
D. Client states pain is 7 of 10 and guards the incision
Answer: D
Rationale: A direct report and observed behavior document facts without
judgment.
11. A nurse notices a charting error. What is appropriate?
A. Change the time to conceal the error
B. Ask another nurse to sign it
C. Use the approved correction process and preserve the audit trail
D. Delete the record secretly
Answer: C
Rationale: Traceable corrections preserve record integrity and accountability.
12. A visitor requests a diagnosis but the client has not authorized disclosure.
What should the nurse do?
A. Read the chart aloud
B. Give the password to the portal
C. Verify authorization before sharing information
D. Disclose because the visitor seems concerned
Answer: C
Rationale: Concern or familiarity does not establish permission to receive
confidential information.
Page 3
, Section 2 Delegation and infection prevention
Topic review
Delegation. Delegate appropriate tasks for stable clients to competent personnel.
Nursing assessment, clinical judgment, initial teaching, and evaluation remain with
the licensed nurse according to local scope.
Standard precautions. Standard precautions apply to every client. Select
protective equipment according to anticipated exposure; gloves do not replace hand
hygiene.
Transmission precautions. Airborne, droplet, and contact measures supplement
standard precautions. Match room placement and protective equipment to the
organism and facility guidance.
Hand hygiene and asepsis. Clean hands before aseptic tasks and after client
contact. Wash visibly soiled hands with soap and water. A sterile field must stay
visible and protected from contamination.
Practice questions
13. Which task may be delegated to trained assistive personnel for a stable
client?
A. Interpret new chest pain
B. Measure routine intake and output
C. Create the nursing care plan
D. Teach insulin injection initially
Answer: B
Rationale: Routine measurements may be delegated, while interpretation and
teaching require nursing judgment.
14. An assistant reports a blood pressure of 78 over 42. What should the RN
do?
A. Wait until shift report
B. Assess the client immediately and initiate an appropriate response
C. Ignore the report because it was delegated
D. Ask the assistant to diagnose shock
Answer: B
Rationale: The RN must interpret abnormal findings and respond to possible
deterioration.
Page 4
