HESI RN Exit Exam
1. Enalapril maleate (Vasotec) is prescribed for a hospitalized client. Which assessment does the nurse perform as a
priority before administering the medication
ANSW
A) Checking the client's blood pressure
B) checking the client's peripheral pulses
C) checking the most recent potassium level
D) checking the client's intake and output record for the last 24 hours: A)Checking the client's blood pressure
Rationale--enalapril maleate is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor used to treat hypertension. One common
side effect is postural hypotension. There-fore the nurse would check the client's blood pressure immediately before
adminis-tering each dose.
2. A client is scheduled to undergo an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series, and the nurse provides instructions to the client
about the test. Which statement by the client indicates a need for further instruction
ANSW
A) "The test will take about 30 minutes"
B) "I need to fast for 8 hours before the test"
C) "I need to drink citrate of magnesia the night before the test and give myselfa Fleet enema on the morning of the test."
D) "I need to take a laxative after the test is completed, because the liquid thatI'll have to drink for the test can be
constipating.": C) "I need to drink citrate ofmagnesia the night before the test and give myself a Fleet enema on the morning
of the test."
Rationale
An upper GI series involves visualization of the esophagus, duodenum, and upperjejunum by means of the use of a contrast
medium. It involves swallowing a contrastmedium (usually barium), which is administered in a flavored milkshake. Films are
taken
at intervals during the test, which takes about 30 minutes. No special preparation isnecessary before a GI series, except that
NPO status must be maintained for 8 hoursbefore the test. After an upper GI series, the client is prescribed a laxative to hasten
elimination of the barium. Barium that remains in the colon may become hard and difficult to expel, leading to fecal
impaction.
3. A nurse on the evening shift checks a physician's prescriptions and notes that the dose of a prescribed medication is
higher than the normal dose. Thenurse calls the physician's answering service and is told that the physician if
1/7
, HESI RN Exit Exam
off for the night and will be available the next morning. The nurse should:
A) call the nursing supervisor
B) Ask the answering service to contact the on-call physician
C) Withhold the medication until the physician can be reached in the morning
D) Administer the medication but consult the physician when he becomesavailable: B) Ask the answering service to
contact the on-call physician
4. An emergency department (ED) nurse is monitoring a client with suspectedacute
myocardial infarction (MI) who is awaiting transfer to the coronary intensivecare unit.
The nurse notes the sudden onset of premature ventricular contractions(PVCs) on the
monitor, checks the client's carotid pulse, and determines that the PVCs arenot
resulting in perfusion. The appropriate action by the nurse is:
A. Documenting the findings
B. Asking the ED physician to check the client
C. Continuing to monitor the client's cardiac status
D. Informing the client that PVCs are expected after an MI: B. Asking the EDphysician to check the client
5. NPO status is imposed 8 hours before the procedure on a client scheduledto undergo
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) at 1 p.m. On the morning of the procedure,the nurse
checks the client's record and notes that the client routinely takes an oralantihypertensive medication each morning.
The nurse should:
A. Administer the antihypertensive with a small sip of water
B. Withhold the antihypertensive and administer it at bedtime
C. Administer the medication by way of the intravenous (IV) route
D. Hold the antihypertensive and resume its administration on the day afterthe ECT: Administer the antihypertensive
with a small sip of water
6. A client who recently underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgerycomes to the
physician's office for a follow-up visit. On assessment, the client tells thenurse that he is
feeling depressed. Which response by the nurse is therapeutic
ANSW
A. "Tell me more about what you're feeling."
B. "That's a normal response after this type of surgery."
C. "It will take time, but, I promise you, you will get over this depression."
2/7
1. Enalapril maleate (Vasotec) is prescribed for a hospitalized client. Which assessment does the nurse perform as a
priority before administering the medication
ANSW
A) Checking the client's blood pressure
B) checking the client's peripheral pulses
C) checking the most recent potassium level
D) checking the client's intake and output record for the last 24 hours: A)Checking the client's blood pressure
Rationale--enalapril maleate is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor used to treat hypertension. One common
side effect is postural hypotension. There-fore the nurse would check the client's blood pressure immediately before
adminis-tering each dose.
2. A client is scheduled to undergo an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series, and the nurse provides instructions to the client
about the test. Which statement by the client indicates a need for further instruction
ANSW
A) "The test will take about 30 minutes"
B) "I need to fast for 8 hours before the test"
C) "I need to drink citrate of magnesia the night before the test and give myselfa Fleet enema on the morning of the test."
D) "I need to take a laxative after the test is completed, because the liquid thatI'll have to drink for the test can be
constipating.": C) "I need to drink citrate ofmagnesia the night before the test and give myself a Fleet enema on the morning
of the test."
Rationale
An upper GI series involves visualization of the esophagus, duodenum, and upperjejunum by means of the use of a contrast
medium. It involves swallowing a contrastmedium (usually barium), which is administered in a flavored milkshake. Films are
taken
at intervals during the test, which takes about 30 minutes. No special preparation isnecessary before a GI series, except that
NPO status must be maintained for 8 hoursbefore the test. After an upper GI series, the client is prescribed a laxative to hasten
elimination of the barium. Barium that remains in the colon may become hard and difficult to expel, leading to fecal
impaction.
3. A nurse on the evening shift checks a physician's prescriptions and notes that the dose of a prescribed medication is
higher than the normal dose. Thenurse calls the physician's answering service and is told that the physician if
1/7
, HESI RN Exit Exam
off for the night and will be available the next morning. The nurse should:
A) call the nursing supervisor
B) Ask the answering service to contact the on-call physician
C) Withhold the medication until the physician can be reached in the morning
D) Administer the medication but consult the physician when he becomesavailable: B) Ask the answering service to
contact the on-call physician
4. An emergency department (ED) nurse is monitoring a client with suspectedacute
myocardial infarction (MI) who is awaiting transfer to the coronary intensivecare unit.
The nurse notes the sudden onset of premature ventricular contractions(PVCs) on the
monitor, checks the client's carotid pulse, and determines that the PVCs arenot
resulting in perfusion. The appropriate action by the nurse is:
A. Documenting the findings
B. Asking the ED physician to check the client
C. Continuing to monitor the client's cardiac status
D. Informing the client that PVCs are expected after an MI: B. Asking the EDphysician to check the client
5. NPO status is imposed 8 hours before the procedure on a client scheduledto undergo
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) at 1 p.m. On the morning of the procedure,the nurse
checks the client's record and notes that the client routinely takes an oralantihypertensive medication each morning.
The nurse should:
A. Administer the antihypertensive with a small sip of water
B. Withhold the antihypertensive and administer it at bedtime
C. Administer the medication by way of the intravenous (IV) route
D. Hold the antihypertensive and resume its administration on the day afterthe ECT: Administer the antihypertensive
with a small sip of water
6. A client who recently underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgerycomes to the
physician's office for a follow-up visit. On assessment, the client tells thenurse that he is
feeling depressed. Which response by the nurse is therapeutic
ANSW
A. "Tell me more about what you're feeling."
B. "That's a normal response after this type of surgery."
C. "It will take time, but, I promise you, you will get over this depression."
2/7
