HESI RN CRITICAL CARE EXAM LATEST 2024 CRITICAL
CARE HESI RN EXIT TEST BANK EXAM ALL 600 QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES|ALREADY GRADED A+
1 The nurse is providing post-procedure care to a client who had a cardiac catheterization.
The client begins to manifest signs and symptoms associated with embolization. Which
action should the nurse take?
• a. Notify the primary healthcare provider immediately
• b. Apply a warm, moist compress to the incision site
• c. Increase the intravenous fluid rate by 20 mL/hr
• d. Monitor vital signs more frequently
Answer: a. Notify the primary healthcare provider immediately
2 A nurse observes a window washer falling 25 feet (7.6 m) to the ground. The nurse rushes
to the scene and determines that the person is in cardiopulmonary arrest. What should the
nurse do first?
• a. Feel for a pulse
• b. Begin chest compressions
• c. Leave to call for assistance
• d. Perform the abdominal thrust maneuver
Answer: b. Begin chest compressions
3 A client reports left-sided chest pain after playing racquetball. The client is hospitalized
and diagnosed with left pneumothorax. When assessing the client's left chest area, the
nurse expects to identify which finding?
• a. Dull sound on percussion
• b. Vocal fremitus on palpation
• c. Rales with rhonchi on auscultation
• d. Absence of breath sounds on auscultation
Answer: d. Absence of breath sounds on auscultation
4 A client is admitted to the hospital with partial- and full-thickness burns of the chest and
face sustained while trying to extinguish a brush fire. Which is the nurse's priority
concern?
• a. Loss of skin integrity caused by the burns
, • b. Potential infection as a result of the burn injury
• c. Inadequate gas exchange caused by smoke inhalation
• d. Decreased fluid volume because of the depth of the burns
Answer: c. Inadequate gas exchange caused by smoke inhalation
5 During the first 48 hours after a client has sustained a thermal injury, which conditions
should the nurse assess for?
• a. Hypokalemia and hyponatremia
• b. Hyperkalemia and hyponatremia
• c. Hypokalemia and hypernatremia
• d. Hyperkalemia and hypernatremia
Answer: b. Hyperkalemia and hyponatremia
6 A nurse is assessing a client's ECG reading. The client's atrial and ventricular heart rates
are equal at 88 beats per min. The PR interval is 0.14 seconds, and the QRS width is 0.10
seconds. Rhythm is regular with normal P waves and QRS complexes. How will the nurse
interpret this rhythm?
• a. Normal sinus rhythm
• b. Sinus tachycardia
• c. Sinus bradycardia
• d. Sinus arrhythmia
Answer: a. Normal sinus rhythm
7 The nurse is caring for a client with a diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis. Which is the
priority concern of the nurse when caring for this client?
• a. Fluid volume
• b. Skin integrity
• c. Physical mobility
• d. Urinary elimination
Answer: b. Skin integrity
8 A client who had extensive pelvic surgery 24 hours ago becomes cyanotic, is gasping for
breath, and reports right-sided chest pain. What should the nurse do first?
• a. Obtain vital signs
, • b. Initiate a cardiac arrest code
• c. Administer oxygen using a face mask
• d. Encourage the use of an incentive spirometer
Answer: c. Administer oxygen using a face mask
9 A nurse is caring for a client with severe burns. The nurse determines that this client is at
risk for hypovolemic shock. Which physiologic finding supports the nurse's conclusion?
• a. Decreased rate of glomerular filtration
• b. Excessive blood loss through the burned tissues
• c. Plasma proteins moving out of the intravascular compartment
• d. Sodium retention occurring as a result of the aldosterone mechanism
Answer: c. Plasma proteins moving out of the intravascular compartment
10 The nurse is caring for a client with burns and reviews the client's laboratory results:
blood urea nitrogen (BUN), 30 mg/dL (10.2 mmol/L); creatinine, 2.4 mg/dL (184 mcmol/L);
serum potassium, 6.3 mEq/L (6.3 mmol/L); pH, 7.1; Po2, 90 mm Hg; and hemoglobin
(Hgb), 7.4 g/dL (74 mmol/L). Which condition does the nurse suspect the client has based
upon these findings?
• a. Azotemia
• b. Hypokalemia
• c. Metabolic alkalosis
• d. Respiratory alkalosis
Answer: a. Azotemia
11 A nurse is caring for a client who experienced serious burns in a fire. Which relationship
between a client's burned body surface area and fluid loss should the nurse consider when
evaluating fluid loss in a client with burns?
• a. Equal
• b. Unrelated
• c. Inversely related
• d. Directly proportional
Answer: d. Directly proportional
, A burn client is receiving the open method for wound treatment. Which information will the
nurse explain to the client?
a. Bathing will not be permitted.
b. Dressings will be changed daily.
c. Personal protective equipment will be worn by staff.
d. Room temperature will be kept below 72° F (22.2° C). - ANSWER-c
A client presents to the emergency department with weakness and dizziness. The blood pressure
is
90/60 mm Hg, pulse is 92 and weak, and body weight reflects a 3-pound (1.4 kilogram) loss in
two days. The weather has been hot. Which condition should the nurse conclude is the priority
for this client? a. Deficient fluid volume
b. Impaired skin integrity
c. Inadequate nutritional intake
d. Decreased participation in activities - ANSWER-a
A client is admitted with severe burns. The nurse is caring for the client 36 hours after the client's
admission and identifies the client's potassium level of 6.0 mEq/L (6.0 mmol/L). Which drink
will the nurse recommend be included in the client's diet?
a. Milk
b. Tea
c. Orange juice
d. Tomato juice - ANSWER-b
A woman comes to the office of her healthcare provider reporting shortness of breath and
epigastric distress that is not relieved by antacids. To which question would a woman
experiencing a myocardial infarction respond differently than a man?
a. "Do you have chest pain?"
b. "Are you feeling anxious?"
CARE HESI RN EXIT TEST BANK EXAM ALL 600 QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES|ALREADY GRADED A+
1 The nurse is providing post-procedure care to a client who had a cardiac catheterization.
The client begins to manifest signs and symptoms associated with embolization. Which
action should the nurse take?
• a. Notify the primary healthcare provider immediately
• b. Apply a warm, moist compress to the incision site
• c. Increase the intravenous fluid rate by 20 mL/hr
• d. Monitor vital signs more frequently
Answer: a. Notify the primary healthcare provider immediately
2 A nurse observes a window washer falling 25 feet (7.6 m) to the ground. The nurse rushes
to the scene and determines that the person is in cardiopulmonary arrest. What should the
nurse do first?
• a. Feel for a pulse
• b. Begin chest compressions
• c. Leave to call for assistance
• d. Perform the abdominal thrust maneuver
Answer: b. Begin chest compressions
3 A client reports left-sided chest pain after playing racquetball. The client is hospitalized
and diagnosed with left pneumothorax. When assessing the client's left chest area, the
nurse expects to identify which finding?
• a. Dull sound on percussion
• b. Vocal fremitus on palpation
• c. Rales with rhonchi on auscultation
• d. Absence of breath sounds on auscultation
Answer: d. Absence of breath sounds on auscultation
4 A client is admitted to the hospital with partial- and full-thickness burns of the chest and
face sustained while trying to extinguish a brush fire. Which is the nurse's priority
concern?
• a. Loss of skin integrity caused by the burns
, • b. Potential infection as a result of the burn injury
• c. Inadequate gas exchange caused by smoke inhalation
• d. Decreased fluid volume because of the depth of the burns
Answer: c. Inadequate gas exchange caused by smoke inhalation
5 During the first 48 hours after a client has sustained a thermal injury, which conditions
should the nurse assess for?
• a. Hypokalemia and hyponatremia
• b. Hyperkalemia and hyponatremia
• c. Hypokalemia and hypernatremia
• d. Hyperkalemia and hypernatremia
Answer: b. Hyperkalemia and hyponatremia
6 A nurse is assessing a client's ECG reading. The client's atrial and ventricular heart rates
are equal at 88 beats per min. The PR interval is 0.14 seconds, and the QRS width is 0.10
seconds. Rhythm is regular with normal P waves and QRS complexes. How will the nurse
interpret this rhythm?
• a. Normal sinus rhythm
• b. Sinus tachycardia
• c. Sinus bradycardia
• d. Sinus arrhythmia
Answer: a. Normal sinus rhythm
7 The nurse is caring for a client with a diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis. Which is the
priority concern of the nurse when caring for this client?
• a. Fluid volume
• b. Skin integrity
• c. Physical mobility
• d. Urinary elimination
Answer: b. Skin integrity
8 A client who had extensive pelvic surgery 24 hours ago becomes cyanotic, is gasping for
breath, and reports right-sided chest pain. What should the nurse do first?
• a. Obtain vital signs
, • b. Initiate a cardiac arrest code
• c. Administer oxygen using a face mask
• d. Encourage the use of an incentive spirometer
Answer: c. Administer oxygen using a face mask
9 A nurse is caring for a client with severe burns. The nurse determines that this client is at
risk for hypovolemic shock. Which physiologic finding supports the nurse's conclusion?
• a. Decreased rate of glomerular filtration
• b. Excessive blood loss through the burned tissues
• c. Plasma proteins moving out of the intravascular compartment
• d. Sodium retention occurring as a result of the aldosterone mechanism
Answer: c. Plasma proteins moving out of the intravascular compartment
10 The nurse is caring for a client with burns and reviews the client's laboratory results:
blood urea nitrogen (BUN), 30 mg/dL (10.2 mmol/L); creatinine, 2.4 mg/dL (184 mcmol/L);
serum potassium, 6.3 mEq/L (6.3 mmol/L); pH, 7.1; Po2, 90 mm Hg; and hemoglobin
(Hgb), 7.4 g/dL (74 mmol/L). Which condition does the nurse suspect the client has based
upon these findings?
• a. Azotemia
• b. Hypokalemia
• c. Metabolic alkalosis
• d. Respiratory alkalosis
Answer: a. Azotemia
11 A nurse is caring for a client who experienced serious burns in a fire. Which relationship
between a client's burned body surface area and fluid loss should the nurse consider when
evaluating fluid loss in a client with burns?
• a. Equal
• b. Unrelated
• c. Inversely related
• d. Directly proportional
Answer: d. Directly proportional
, A burn client is receiving the open method for wound treatment. Which information will the
nurse explain to the client?
a. Bathing will not be permitted.
b. Dressings will be changed daily.
c. Personal protective equipment will be worn by staff.
d. Room temperature will be kept below 72° F (22.2° C). - ANSWER-c
A client presents to the emergency department with weakness and dizziness. The blood pressure
is
90/60 mm Hg, pulse is 92 and weak, and body weight reflects a 3-pound (1.4 kilogram) loss in
two days. The weather has been hot. Which condition should the nurse conclude is the priority
for this client? a. Deficient fluid volume
b. Impaired skin integrity
c. Inadequate nutritional intake
d. Decreased participation in activities - ANSWER-a
A client is admitted with severe burns. The nurse is caring for the client 36 hours after the client's
admission and identifies the client's potassium level of 6.0 mEq/L (6.0 mmol/L). Which drink
will the nurse recommend be included in the client's diet?
a. Milk
b. Tea
c. Orange juice
d. Tomato juice - ANSWER-b
A woman comes to the office of her healthcare provider reporting shortness of breath and
epigastric distress that is not relieved by antacids. To which question would a woman
experiencing a myocardial infarction respond differently than a man?
a. "Do you have chest pain?"
b. "Are you feeling anxious?"
