HESI EXIT RN EXAM V1–V7 —
LATEST QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
— 2026–2027 LATEST UPDATE
1. Following discharge teaching, a male client with
duodenal ulcer tells the nurse that he will drink plenty
of dairy products, such as milk, to help coat and
protect his ulcer. What is the best follow-up action by
the nurse?
A. Encourage the client to drink milk with every meal.
B. Review with the client the need to avoid foods that are
rich in milk and cream.
C. Teach the client to drink milk only at bedtime.
D. Tell the client that milk is the best treatment for duodenal
ulcers.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: Dairy products stimulate gastric acid secretion
and can worsen ulcer symptoms. The nurse should correct
this misconception and teach the client to avoid foods rich in
milk and cream.
2. A male client with hypertension, who received new
antihypertensive prescriptions at his last visit,
returns to the clinic two weeks later to evaluate his
blood pressure (BP). His BP is 158/106 and he admits
that he has not been taking the prescribed medication
because the drugs make him "feel bad." In explaining
the need for hypertension control, the nurse should
stress that an elevated BP places the client at risk for
which pathophysiological condition?
A. Stroke secondary to hemorrhage
B. Renal failure secondary to glomerulonephritis
C. Deep vein thrombosis secondary to immobility
D. Pneumonia secondary to decreased immunity
ANSWER: A
1
,Rationale: Uncontrolled hypertension significantly increases
the risk of hemorrhagic stroke due to sustained elevated
pressure on cerebral vessels.
3. The nurse observes an unlicensed assistive
personnel (UAP) positioning a newly admitted client
who has a seizure disorder. The client is supine and
the UAP is placing soft pillows along the side rails.
What action should the nurse implement?
A. Allow the UAP to continue placing pillows along the side
rails.
B. Instruct the UAP to obtain soft pads designed for side rails
instead.
C. Remove the pillows and place a padded tongue blade at
the bedside.
D. Ask the UAP to restrain the client to prevent injury.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: Pillows placed along the side rails could cause
injury or suffocation during a seizure. Soft protective pads
designed for side rails should be used instead.
4. An adolescent with major depressive disorder has
been taking duloxetine (Cymbalta) for the past 12
days. Which assessment finding requires immediate
follow-up?
A. Reports improved appetite
B. Describes life without purpose
C. States feeling less anxious
D. Sleeps 8 hours per night
ANSWER: B
Rationale: Statements indicating hopelessness or lack of
purpose suggest worsening depression and possible suicidal
ideation, requiring immediate intervention.
5. A 60-year-old female client with a positive family
history of ovarian cancer has developed an abdominal
mass and is being evaluated for possible ovarian
cancer. Her Papanicolau (Pap) smear results are
2
, negative. What information should the nurse include
in the client's teaching plan?
A. A negative Pap smear rules out ovarian cancer.
B. Further evaluation involving surgery may be needed.
C. She should repeat the Pap smear in 5 years.
D. Ovarian cancer is not related to family history.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: A negative Pap smear does not rule out ovarian
cancer, which requires further diagnostic evaluation, often
including surgery.
6. A client who recently underwent a tracheostomy is
being prepared for discharge to home. Which
instruction is most important for the nurse to include
in the discharge plan?
A. Teach tracheal suctioning techniques
B. Instruct the client to avoid all physical activity
C. Teach the client to remove the tracheostomy tube at night
D. Instruct the client to cover the stoma with a dry dressing
at all times
ANSWER: A
Rationale: The client and family must be able to perform
tracheal suctioning to maintain airway patency at home.
7. In assessing an adult client with a partial
rebreather mask, the nurse notes that the oxygen
reservoir bag does not deflate completely during
inspiration and the client's respiratory rate is 14
breaths/minute. What action should the nurse
implement?
A. Increase the oxygen flow rate
B. Document the assessment data
C. Remove the mask and apply a nasal cannula
D. Notify the healthcare provider immediately
ANSWER: B
Rationale: The reservoir bag should not deflate completely
during inspiration, and a respiratory rate of 14
breaths/minute is within normal limits. The findings are
expected, so documentation is appropriate.
3
LATEST QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
— 2026–2027 LATEST UPDATE
1. Following discharge teaching, a male client with
duodenal ulcer tells the nurse that he will drink plenty
of dairy products, such as milk, to help coat and
protect his ulcer. What is the best follow-up action by
the nurse?
A. Encourage the client to drink milk with every meal.
B. Review with the client the need to avoid foods that are
rich in milk and cream.
C. Teach the client to drink milk only at bedtime.
D. Tell the client that milk is the best treatment for duodenal
ulcers.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: Dairy products stimulate gastric acid secretion
and can worsen ulcer symptoms. The nurse should correct
this misconception and teach the client to avoid foods rich in
milk and cream.
2. A male client with hypertension, who received new
antihypertensive prescriptions at his last visit,
returns to the clinic two weeks later to evaluate his
blood pressure (BP). His BP is 158/106 and he admits
that he has not been taking the prescribed medication
because the drugs make him "feel bad." In explaining
the need for hypertension control, the nurse should
stress that an elevated BP places the client at risk for
which pathophysiological condition?
A. Stroke secondary to hemorrhage
B. Renal failure secondary to glomerulonephritis
C. Deep vein thrombosis secondary to immobility
D. Pneumonia secondary to decreased immunity
ANSWER: A
1
,Rationale: Uncontrolled hypertension significantly increases
the risk of hemorrhagic stroke due to sustained elevated
pressure on cerebral vessels.
3. The nurse observes an unlicensed assistive
personnel (UAP) positioning a newly admitted client
who has a seizure disorder. The client is supine and
the UAP is placing soft pillows along the side rails.
What action should the nurse implement?
A. Allow the UAP to continue placing pillows along the side
rails.
B. Instruct the UAP to obtain soft pads designed for side rails
instead.
C. Remove the pillows and place a padded tongue blade at
the bedside.
D. Ask the UAP to restrain the client to prevent injury.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: Pillows placed along the side rails could cause
injury or suffocation during a seizure. Soft protective pads
designed for side rails should be used instead.
4. An adolescent with major depressive disorder has
been taking duloxetine (Cymbalta) for the past 12
days. Which assessment finding requires immediate
follow-up?
A. Reports improved appetite
B. Describes life without purpose
C. States feeling less anxious
D. Sleeps 8 hours per night
ANSWER: B
Rationale: Statements indicating hopelessness or lack of
purpose suggest worsening depression and possible suicidal
ideation, requiring immediate intervention.
5. A 60-year-old female client with a positive family
history of ovarian cancer has developed an abdominal
mass and is being evaluated for possible ovarian
cancer. Her Papanicolau (Pap) smear results are
2
, negative. What information should the nurse include
in the client's teaching plan?
A. A negative Pap smear rules out ovarian cancer.
B. Further evaluation involving surgery may be needed.
C. She should repeat the Pap smear in 5 years.
D. Ovarian cancer is not related to family history.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: A negative Pap smear does not rule out ovarian
cancer, which requires further diagnostic evaluation, often
including surgery.
6. A client who recently underwent a tracheostomy is
being prepared for discharge to home. Which
instruction is most important for the nurse to include
in the discharge plan?
A. Teach tracheal suctioning techniques
B. Instruct the client to avoid all physical activity
C. Teach the client to remove the tracheostomy tube at night
D. Instruct the client to cover the stoma with a dry dressing
at all times
ANSWER: A
Rationale: The client and family must be able to perform
tracheal suctioning to maintain airway patency at home.
7. In assessing an adult client with a partial
rebreather mask, the nurse notes that the oxygen
reservoir bag does not deflate completely during
inspiration and the client's respiratory rate is 14
breaths/minute. What action should the nurse
implement?
A. Increase the oxygen flow rate
B. Document the assessment data
C. Remove the mask and apply a nasal cannula
D. Notify the healthcare provider immediately
ANSWER: B
Rationale: The reservoir bag should not deflate completely
during inspiration, and a respiratory rate of 14
breaths/minute is within normal limits. The findings are
expected, so documentation is appropriate.
3
