HESI RN Exit Exam Questions with
Correct Answers
A teenager presents to the emergency department with palpitations after vaping at a
party. The client is anxious, fearful, and hyperventilating. The nurse anticipates the
client developing which acid base imbalance?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis - Answer-D. Respiratory alkalosis
A client with dyspnea is being admitted to the medical unit. To best prepare for the
client's arrival, the nurse should ensure that the client's bed is in which position?
A. Supine
B. supine; feet elevated higher than head
C. supine; head elevated higher than feet
D. Fowlers - Answer-Fowlers
The nurse is taking the blood pressure measurement of a client with Parkinson's
disease. Which information in the client's admission assessment is relevant to the
nurse's plan for taking the blood pressure reading? (Select all the apply)
A. Frequent syncope
B. Occasional nocturia
C. Flat affect
D. Blurred vision
E. Frequent drooling - Answer-A. Frequent syncope
C. Flat affect
D. Blurred vision
While caring for a client's postoperative dressing, the nurse observes purulent drainage
at the wound. Before reporting this finding to the healthcare provider, the nurse should
review which of the client's laboratory values?
A. Serum albumin
B. Culture for sensitive organisms
C. Serum blood glucose level
D. Creatinine level - Answer-B. Culture for sensitive organisms
A preschool-aged boy is admitted to the pediatric unit following successful resuscitation
from a near-drowning incident. While providing care to the child, the nurse begins
talking with his preadolescent brother who rescued the child from the swimming pool
and initiated resuscitation. The nurse notices the older boy becomes withdrawn when
asked about what happened. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Develop a water safety teaching plan for the family
,B. Ask the older brother how he felt during the incident
C. Tell the older brother that he seems depressed
D. Commend the older brother for his heroic actions - Answer-B. Ask the older brother
how he felt during the incident
A male client with cirrhosis has jaundice and pruritus. He tells the nurse that he has
been soaking in hot baths at night with no relief of his discomfort. Which action should
the nurse take?
A. Encourage the client to use cooler water and apply calamine lotion after soaking
B. Obtain a PRN prescription for an analgesic that the client can use for symptom relief
C. Suggest that the client take brief showers and apply oil-based lotion after showering
D. Explain that the symptoms are caused by liver damage and cannot be relieved -
Answer-A. Encourage the client to use cooler water and apply calamine lotion after
soaking
An older client with a long history of coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension
(HTN), and heart failure (HF) arrives in the Emergency Department (ED) in respiratory
distress. The healthcare provider prescribes furosemide IV. Which therapeutic response
to furosemide should the nurse expected in the client with acute HF?
A. Increased cardiac contractility
B. Reduced preload
C. Relaxed vascular tone
D. Decreased afterload - Answer-B. Reduced preload
Which intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care for a child with tetanus?
A. Encourage coughing and deep breathing
B. Minimize the amount of stimuli in the room
C. Reposition from side to side every hour
D. Open window shades to provide natural light - Answer-B. Minimize the amount of
stimuli in the room
An adolescent who was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus Type 1 at the age of 9, is
admitted to the hospital in diabetic ketoacidosis. Which occurrence is the most likely
cause of the ketoacidosis?
A. Ate an extra peanut butter sandwich before gym class
B. incorrectly administered too much insulin
C. Had a cold and ear infection for the past two days
D. Skipped eating lunch - Answer-C. Had a cold and ear infection for the past two days
A client with a prescription for "do not resuscitate" (DNR) begins to manifest signs of
impending death. After notifying the family of the client's status, what priority action
should the nurse implement?
A. The impending signs of death should be documented
B. The client's status should be conveyed to the chaplain
C. The client's need for pain medication should be determined
,D. The nurse manager should be updated on the client's status - Answer-C. The client's
need for pain medication should be determined
Which self care measure is most important for the nurse to include in the plan of care of
a client recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus?
A. Self-injection techniques
B. Blood glucose monitoring
C. Diabetic diet meal planning
D. A realistic exercise plan - Answer-B. Blood glucose monitoring
A client who gave birth 48 hours ago has decided to bottle feed the infant. During the
assessment, the nurse observes that both breasts are swollen, warm, and tender on
palpation. Which instruction should the nurse provide?
A. Apply ice to the breasts for comfort
B. Wear a loose-fitting bra during the day to prevent nipple irritation
C. Run warm water over breasts
D. Express small amounts of milk from the breasts to relieve pressure - Answer-A.
Apply ice to the breasts for comfort
The nurse is preparing a client who had a below-the-knee (BKA) amputation for
discharge to home. Which recommendations should the nurse provide this client?
(Select all that apply)
A. Avoid range of motion exercises
B. Use a residual limb shrinker
C. Apply alcohol to the stump after bathing
D. Inspect skin for redness
E. Wash the stump with soap and water - Answer-B. Use a residual limb shrinker
D. Inspect skin for redness
E. Wash the stump with soap and water
A toddler presenting with a history of intermittent skin rashes, hives, abdominal pain,
and vomiting that occurs after ingesting of milk products arrives to the clinic
accompanied by the parents. Which type of testing should the nurse provide education
to the toddler's family about?
A. Serum immunoglobulin E (IgE)
B. Intradermal test
C. Atopy patch test
D. Placebo-controlled food challenge - Answer-A. Serum immunoglobulin E (IgE)
A client who is scheduled for a bronchoscopy in the morning is anxious and asking the
nurse numerous questions about the procedure. In preparing the client for the
procedure, which intervention has the highest priority?
A. Allow client to gargle with warm salt water
B. Administer a sedative to alleviate anxiety
C. Instruct client to write down the questions
, D. Deny client's request for a midnight snack - Answer-C. Instruct client to write down
the questions
The nurse assesses a client one hour after starting a transfusion of packed red blood
cells and determines that there are no indications of a transfusion reaction. What
instruction should the nurse provide the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) who is
working with the nurse?
A. Notify the nurse when the transfusion has finished, so further client assessment can
be done
B. Continue to measure the client's vital signs every thirty minutes until the transfusion
is complete
C. Monitor the client carefully for the next three hours and report the onset of a reaction
immediately
D. Since a reaction did not occur, the priority is to maintain client comfort during the
transfusion - Answer-B. Continue to measure the client's vital signs every thirty minutes
until the transfusion is complete
The healthcare provider prescribes a sepsis protocol for a client with multi-organ failure
caused by a ruptured appendix. Which intervention is most important for the nurse to
include in the plan of care?
A. Assess warmth of extremities
B. Keep head of bed raised 45 degrees
C. Monitor blood glucose level
D. Maintain strict intake and output - Answer-D. Maintain strict intake and output
A client presses the call bell and requests pain medication for a severe headache. To
assess the quality of the client's pain, which approach should the nurse use?
A. Ask the client to describe the pain
B. Observe body language and movement
C. Identify effective pain relief measures
D. Provide a numeric pain scale - Answer-A. Ask the client to describe the pain
A client presents to the labor and delivery unit with a report of leaking fluid that is
greenish-brown vaginal discharge. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Start an intravenous infusion
B. Administer oxygen via facemask
C. Perform a vaginal exam
D. Begin continuous fetal monitoring - Answer-D. Begin continuous fetal monitoring
A client asks the nurse for information about how to reduce risk factors for benign
prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Which information should the nurse provide?
A. Consume a high protein diet
B. Increase physical activity
C. Take vitamin supplements
D. Obtain a prostate-specific antigen blood level test - Answer-B. Increase physical
activity
Correct Answers
A teenager presents to the emergency department with palpitations after vaping at a
party. The client is anxious, fearful, and hyperventilating. The nurse anticipates the
client developing which acid base imbalance?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis - Answer-D. Respiratory alkalosis
A client with dyspnea is being admitted to the medical unit. To best prepare for the
client's arrival, the nurse should ensure that the client's bed is in which position?
A. Supine
B. supine; feet elevated higher than head
C. supine; head elevated higher than feet
D. Fowlers - Answer-Fowlers
The nurse is taking the blood pressure measurement of a client with Parkinson's
disease. Which information in the client's admission assessment is relevant to the
nurse's plan for taking the blood pressure reading? (Select all the apply)
A. Frequent syncope
B. Occasional nocturia
C. Flat affect
D. Blurred vision
E. Frequent drooling - Answer-A. Frequent syncope
C. Flat affect
D. Blurred vision
While caring for a client's postoperative dressing, the nurse observes purulent drainage
at the wound. Before reporting this finding to the healthcare provider, the nurse should
review which of the client's laboratory values?
A. Serum albumin
B. Culture for sensitive organisms
C. Serum blood glucose level
D. Creatinine level - Answer-B. Culture for sensitive organisms
A preschool-aged boy is admitted to the pediatric unit following successful resuscitation
from a near-drowning incident. While providing care to the child, the nurse begins
talking with his preadolescent brother who rescued the child from the swimming pool
and initiated resuscitation. The nurse notices the older boy becomes withdrawn when
asked about what happened. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Develop a water safety teaching plan for the family
,B. Ask the older brother how he felt during the incident
C. Tell the older brother that he seems depressed
D. Commend the older brother for his heroic actions - Answer-B. Ask the older brother
how he felt during the incident
A male client with cirrhosis has jaundice and pruritus. He tells the nurse that he has
been soaking in hot baths at night with no relief of his discomfort. Which action should
the nurse take?
A. Encourage the client to use cooler water and apply calamine lotion after soaking
B. Obtain a PRN prescription for an analgesic that the client can use for symptom relief
C. Suggest that the client take brief showers and apply oil-based lotion after showering
D. Explain that the symptoms are caused by liver damage and cannot be relieved -
Answer-A. Encourage the client to use cooler water and apply calamine lotion after
soaking
An older client with a long history of coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension
(HTN), and heart failure (HF) arrives in the Emergency Department (ED) in respiratory
distress. The healthcare provider prescribes furosemide IV. Which therapeutic response
to furosemide should the nurse expected in the client with acute HF?
A. Increased cardiac contractility
B. Reduced preload
C. Relaxed vascular tone
D. Decreased afterload - Answer-B. Reduced preload
Which intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care for a child with tetanus?
A. Encourage coughing and deep breathing
B. Minimize the amount of stimuli in the room
C. Reposition from side to side every hour
D. Open window shades to provide natural light - Answer-B. Minimize the amount of
stimuli in the room
An adolescent who was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus Type 1 at the age of 9, is
admitted to the hospital in diabetic ketoacidosis. Which occurrence is the most likely
cause of the ketoacidosis?
A. Ate an extra peanut butter sandwich before gym class
B. incorrectly administered too much insulin
C. Had a cold and ear infection for the past two days
D. Skipped eating lunch - Answer-C. Had a cold and ear infection for the past two days
A client with a prescription for "do not resuscitate" (DNR) begins to manifest signs of
impending death. After notifying the family of the client's status, what priority action
should the nurse implement?
A. The impending signs of death should be documented
B. The client's status should be conveyed to the chaplain
C. The client's need for pain medication should be determined
,D. The nurse manager should be updated on the client's status - Answer-C. The client's
need for pain medication should be determined
Which self care measure is most important for the nurse to include in the plan of care of
a client recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus?
A. Self-injection techniques
B. Blood glucose monitoring
C. Diabetic diet meal planning
D. A realistic exercise plan - Answer-B. Blood glucose monitoring
A client who gave birth 48 hours ago has decided to bottle feed the infant. During the
assessment, the nurse observes that both breasts are swollen, warm, and tender on
palpation. Which instruction should the nurse provide?
A. Apply ice to the breasts for comfort
B. Wear a loose-fitting bra during the day to prevent nipple irritation
C. Run warm water over breasts
D. Express small amounts of milk from the breasts to relieve pressure - Answer-A.
Apply ice to the breasts for comfort
The nurse is preparing a client who had a below-the-knee (BKA) amputation for
discharge to home. Which recommendations should the nurse provide this client?
(Select all that apply)
A. Avoid range of motion exercises
B. Use a residual limb shrinker
C. Apply alcohol to the stump after bathing
D. Inspect skin for redness
E. Wash the stump with soap and water - Answer-B. Use a residual limb shrinker
D. Inspect skin for redness
E. Wash the stump with soap and water
A toddler presenting with a history of intermittent skin rashes, hives, abdominal pain,
and vomiting that occurs after ingesting of milk products arrives to the clinic
accompanied by the parents. Which type of testing should the nurse provide education
to the toddler's family about?
A. Serum immunoglobulin E (IgE)
B. Intradermal test
C. Atopy patch test
D. Placebo-controlled food challenge - Answer-A. Serum immunoglobulin E (IgE)
A client who is scheduled for a bronchoscopy in the morning is anxious and asking the
nurse numerous questions about the procedure. In preparing the client for the
procedure, which intervention has the highest priority?
A. Allow client to gargle with warm salt water
B. Administer a sedative to alleviate anxiety
C. Instruct client to write down the questions
, D. Deny client's request for a midnight snack - Answer-C. Instruct client to write down
the questions
The nurse assesses a client one hour after starting a transfusion of packed red blood
cells and determines that there are no indications of a transfusion reaction. What
instruction should the nurse provide the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) who is
working with the nurse?
A. Notify the nurse when the transfusion has finished, so further client assessment can
be done
B. Continue to measure the client's vital signs every thirty minutes until the transfusion
is complete
C. Monitor the client carefully for the next three hours and report the onset of a reaction
immediately
D. Since a reaction did not occur, the priority is to maintain client comfort during the
transfusion - Answer-B. Continue to measure the client's vital signs every thirty minutes
until the transfusion is complete
The healthcare provider prescribes a sepsis protocol for a client with multi-organ failure
caused by a ruptured appendix. Which intervention is most important for the nurse to
include in the plan of care?
A. Assess warmth of extremities
B. Keep head of bed raised 45 degrees
C. Monitor blood glucose level
D. Maintain strict intake and output - Answer-D. Maintain strict intake and output
A client presses the call bell and requests pain medication for a severe headache. To
assess the quality of the client's pain, which approach should the nurse use?
A. Ask the client to describe the pain
B. Observe body language and movement
C. Identify effective pain relief measures
D. Provide a numeric pain scale - Answer-A. Ask the client to describe the pain
A client presents to the labor and delivery unit with a report of leaking fluid that is
greenish-brown vaginal discharge. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Start an intravenous infusion
B. Administer oxygen via facemask
C. Perform a vaginal exam
D. Begin continuous fetal monitoring - Answer-D. Begin continuous fetal monitoring
A client asks the nurse for information about how to reduce risk factors for benign
prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Which information should the nurse provide?
A. Consume a high protein diet
B. Increase physical activity
C. Take vitamin supplements
D. Obtain a prostate-specific antigen blood level test - Answer-B. Increase physical
activity
