HESI RN EXIT EXAM QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS 2024
A 2 year-old child has just been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. The child's father asks the nurse "What is
our major concern now, and what will we have to deal with in the future?" Which of the following is the
best response?
A) "There is a probability of life-long complications."
B) "Cystic fibrosis results in nutritional concerns that can be dealt with."
C) "Thin, tenacious secretions from the lungs are a constant struggle in cystic fibrosis."
D) "You will work with a team of experts and also have access to a support group that the family can
attend." - -C) "Thin, tenacious secretions from the lungs are a constant struggle in cystic fibrosis."
-A 20 year-old client has an infected leg wound from a motorcycle accident, and the client has returned
home from the hospital. The client is to keep the affected leg elevated and is on contact precautions.
The client wants to know if visitors can come. The appropriate response from the home health nurse is
that:
A) Visitors must wear a mask and a gown
B) There are no special requirements for visitors of clients on contact precautions
C) Visitors should wash their hands before and after touching the client
D) Visitors - -C) Visitors should wash their hands before and after touching the client
-A 26-year-old female client is admitted to the hospital for treatment of a simple goiter, and
levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid) is prescribed. Which symptoms indicate to the nurse that the
prescribed dosage is too high for this client? The client experiences:
A. Bradycardia and constipation
B. Lethargy and lack of appetite
C. Muscle cramping and dry, flushed skin
D. Palpitations and shortness of breath - -D. Palpitations and shortness of breath
-A 30 month-old child is admitted to the hospital unit. Which of the following toys would be appropriate
for the nurse to select from the toy room for this child?
A) Cartoon stickers
B) Large wooden puzzle
C) Blunt scissors and paper
D) Beach ball - -B) Large wooden puzzle
-A 35 year-old client with sickle cell crisis is talking on the telephone but stops as the nurse enters the
room to request something for pain. The nurse should
A) Administer a placebo
B) Encourage increased fluid intake
C) Administer the prescribed analgesia
D) Recommend relaxation exercises for pain control - -C) Administer the prescribed analgesia
-A 38 year-old female client is admitted to the hospital with an acute exacerbation of asthma. This is her
third admission for asthma in 7 months. She describes how she doesn't really like having to use her
medications all the time. Which explanation by the nurse best describes the long-term consequence of
uncontrolled airway inflammation?
A) Degeneration of the alveoli
,B) Chronic broncho constriction of the large airways
C) Lung remodeling and permanent changes in lung function
D) Frequent pneumonia - -C) Lung remodeling and permanent changes in lung function
-A 60 year-old male client had a hernia repair in an outpatient surgery clinic. He is awake and alert, but
has not been able to void since he returned from surgery 6 hours ago.He received 1000 mL of IV fluid.
Which action would be most likely to help him void?
A) Have him drink several glasses of water
B) Crede' the bladder from the bottom to the top
C) Assist him to stand by the side of the bed to void
D) Wait 2 hours and have him try to void again - -C) Assist him to stand by the side of the bed to void
-A 65-year-old Hispanic-Latino client with prostate cancer rates his pain as a 6 on a 0- to-10 scale. The
client refuses all pain medication other than Motrin, which does not relieve his pain. The next action for
the nurse to take is to
A) Ask the client about the refusal of certain pain medications
B) Talk with the client's family about the situation
C) Report the situation to the health care provider
D) Document the situation in the notes - -A) Ask the client about the refusal of certain pain medications
-A child is admitted to the pediatric unit with a diagnosis of suspected meningococcal meningitis. Which
admission orders should the nurse do first?
A) Institute seizure precautions
B) Monitor neurologic status every hour
C) Place in respiratory/secretion precautions
D) Cefotaxime IV 50 mg/kg/day divided q6h - -C) Place in respiratory/secretion precautions
-A client asks the nurse to call the police and states: "I need to report that I am being abused by a
nurse." The nurse should first
A) Focus on reality orientation to place and person
B) Assist with the report of the client's complaint to the police
C) Obtain more details of the client's claim of abuse
D) Document the statement on the client's chart with a report to the manager - -C) Obtain more details
of the client's claim of abuse
-A client develops volume overload from an IV that has infused too rapidly. What assessment would the
nurse expect to find?
A) S3 heart sound
B) Thready pulse
C) Flattened neck veins
D) Hypoventilation - -A) S3 heart sound
-A client frequently admitted to the locked psychiatric unit repeatedly compliments and invites one of
the nurses to go out on a date. The nurse's response should be to
A) Ask to not be assigned to this client or to work on another unit
B) Tell the client that such behavior is inappropriate
C) Inform the client that hospital policy prohibits staff to date clients
, D) Discuss the boundaries of the therapeutic relationship with the client - -D) Discuss the boundaries of
the therapeutic relationship with the client
-A client has been receiving lithium (Lithane) for the past two weeks for the treatment of bipolar illness.
When planning client teaching, what is most important to emphasize to the client?
A) Maintain a low sodium diet
B) Take a diuretic with lithium
C) Come in for evaluation of serum lithium levels every 1-3 months
D) Have blood lithium levels drawn during the summer months - -D) Have blood lithium levels drawn
during the summer months
-A client has received her first dose of fluphenazine (Prolixin) 2 hours ago. She suddenly experiences
torticollis and involuntary spastic muscle movement. In addition to administering the ordered
anticholinergic drug, what other measure should the nurse implement?
A) Have respiratory support equipment available
B) Immediately place her in the seclusion room
C) Assess the client for anxiety and agitation
D) Administer PRN dose of IM antipsychotic medication - -A) Have respiratory support equipment
available
-A client has returned from a cardiac catheterization. Which one of the following assessments would
indicate the client is experiencing a complication from the procedure?
A) Increased blood pressure
B) Increased heart rate
C) Loss of pulse in the extremity
D) Decreased urine output - -C) Loss of pulse in the extremity
-A client in a long term care facility complains of pain. The nurse collects data about the client's pain.
The first step in pain assessment is for the nurse to
A) Have the client identify coping methods
B) Get the description of the location and intensity of the pain
C) Accept the client's report of pain
D) Determine the client's status of pain - -C) Accept the client's report of pain
-A client is admitted for first and second degree burns on the face, neck, anterior chest and hands. The
nurse's priority should be
A) Cover the areas with dry sterile dressings
B) Assess for dyspnea or stridor
C) Initiate intravenous therapy
D) Administer pain medication - -B) Assess for dyspnea or stridor
-A client is admitted with a diagnosis of hepatitis B. In reviewing the initial laboratory
results, the nurse would expect to find elevation in which of the following values?
A) Blood urea nitrogen
B) Acid phosphatase
C) Bilirubin
D) Sedimentation Rate - -C) Bilirubin
A 2 year-old child has just been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. The child's father asks the nurse "What is
our major concern now, and what will we have to deal with in the future?" Which of the following is the
best response?
A) "There is a probability of life-long complications."
B) "Cystic fibrosis results in nutritional concerns that can be dealt with."
C) "Thin, tenacious secretions from the lungs are a constant struggle in cystic fibrosis."
D) "You will work with a team of experts and also have access to a support group that the family can
attend." - -C) "Thin, tenacious secretions from the lungs are a constant struggle in cystic fibrosis."
-A 20 year-old client has an infected leg wound from a motorcycle accident, and the client has returned
home from the hospital. The client is to keep the affected leg elevated and is on contact precautions.
The client wants to know if visitors can come. The appropriate response from the home health nurse is
that:
A) Visitors must wear a mask and a gown
B) There are no special requirements for visitors of clients on contact precautions
C) Visitors should wash their hands before and after touching the client
D) Visitors - -C) Visitors should wash their hands before and after touching the client
-A 26-year-old female client is admitted to the hospital for treatment of a simple goiter, and
levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid) is prescribed. Which symptoms indicate to the nurse that the
prescribed dosage is too high for this client? The client experiences:
A. Bradycardia and constipation
B. Lethargy and lack of appetite
C. Muscle cramping and dry, flushed skin
D. Palpitations and shortness of breath - -D. Palpitations and shortness of breath
-A 30 month-old child is admitted to the hospital unit. Which of the following toys would be appropriate
for the nurse to select from the toy room for this child?
A) Cartoon stickers
B) Large wooden puzzle
C) Blunt scissors and paper
D) Beach ball - -B) Large wooden puzzle
-A 35 year-old client with sickle cell crisis is talking on the telephone but stops as the nurse enters the
room to request something for pain. The nurse should
A) Administer a placebo
B) Encourage increased fluid intake
C) Administer the prescribed analgesia
D) Recommend relaxation exercises for pain control - -C) Administer the prescribed analgesia
-A 38 year-old female client is admitted to the hospital with an acute exacerbation of asthma. This is her
third admission for asthma in 7 months. She describes how she doesn't really like having to use her
medications all the time. Which explanation by the nurse best describes the long-term consequence of
uncontrolled airway inflammation?
A) Degeneration of the alveoli
,B) Chronic broncho constriction of the large airways
C) Lung remodeling and permanent changes in lung function
D) Frequent pneumonia - -C) Lung remodeling and permanent changes in lung function
-A 60 year-old male client had a hernia repair in an outpatient surgery clinic. He is awake and alert, but
has not been able to void since he returned from surgery 6 hours ago.He received 1000 mL of IV fluid.
Which action would be most likely to help him void?
A) Have him drink several glasses of water
B) Crede' the bladder from the bottom to the top
C) Assist him to stand by the side of the bed to void
D) Wait 2 hours and have him try to void again - -C) Assist him to stand by the side of the bed to void
-A 65-year-old Hispanic-Latino client with prostate cancer rates his pain as a 6 on a 0- to-10 scale. The
client refuses all pain medication other than Motrin, which does not relieve his pain. The next action for
the nurse to take is to
A) Ask the client about the refusal of certain pain medications
B) Talk with the client's family about the situation
C) Report the situation to the health care provider
D) Document the situation in the notes - -A) Ask the client about the refusal of certain pain medications
-A child is admitted to the pediatric unit with a diagnosis of suspected meningococcal meningitis. Which
admission orders should the nurse do first?
A) Institute seizure precautions
B) Monitor neurologic status every hour
C) Place in respiratory/secretion precautions
D) Cefotaxime IV 50 mg/kg/day divided q6h - -C) Place in respiratory/secretion precautions
-A client asks the nurse to call the police and states: "I need to report that I am being abused by a
nurse." The nurse should first
A) Focus on reality orientation to place and person
B) Assist with the report of the client's complaint to the police
C) Obtain more details of the client's claim of abuse
D) Document the statement on the client's chart with a report to the manager - -C) Obtain more details
of the client's claim of abuse
-A client develops volume overload from an IV that has infused too rapidly. What assessment would the
nurse expect to find?
A) S3 heart sound
B) Thready pulse
C) Flattened neck veins
D) Hypoventilation - -A) S3 heart sound
-A client frequently admitted to the locked psychiatric unit repeatedly compliments and invites one of
the nurses to go out on a date. The nurse's response should be to
A) Ask to not be assigned to this client or to work on another unit
B) Tell the client that such behavior is inappropriate
C) Inform the client that hospital policy prohibits staff to date clients
, D) Discuss the boundaries of the therapeutic relationship with the client - -D) Discuss the boundaries of
the therapeutic relationship with the client
-A client has been receiving lithium (Lithane) for the past two weeks for the treatment of bipolar illness.
When planning client teaching, what is most important to emphasize to the client?
A) Maintain a low sodium diet
B) Take a diuretic with lithium
C) Come in for evaluation of serum lithium levels every 1-3 months
D) Have blood lithium levels drawn during the summer months - -D) Have blood lithium levels drawn
during the summer months
-A client has received her first dose of fluphenazine (Prolixin) 2 hours ago. She suddenly experiences
torticollis and involuntary spastic muscle movement. In addition to administering the ordered
anticholinergic drug, what other measure should the nurse implement?
A) Have respiratory support equipment available
B) Immediately place her in the seclusion room
C) Assess the client for anxiety and agitation
D) Administer PRN dose of IM antipsychotic medication - -A) Have respiratory support equipment
available
-A client has returned from a cardiac catheterization. Which one of the following assessments would
indicate the client is experiencing a complication from the procedure?
A) Increased blood pressure
B) Increased heart rate
C) Loss of pulse in the extremity
D) Decreased urine output - -C) Loss of pulse in the extremity
-A client in a long term care facility complains of pain. The nurse collects data about the client's pain.
The first step in pain assessment is for the nurse to
A) Have the client identify coping methods
B) Get the description of the location and intensity of the pain
C) Accept the client's report of pain
D) Determine the client's status of pain - -C) Accept the client's report of pain
-A client is admitted for first and second degree burns on the face, neck, anterior chest and hands. The
nurse's priority should be
A) Cover the areas with dry sterile dressings
B) Assess for dyspnea or stridor
C) Initiate intravenous therapy
D) Administer pain medication - -B) Assess for dyspnea or stridor
-A client is admitted with a diagnosis of hepatitis B. In reviewing the initial laboratory
results, the nurse would expect to find elevation in which of the following values?
A) Blood urea nitrogen
B) Acid phosphatase
C) Bilirubin
D) Sedimentation Rate - -C) Bilirubin
