Evolve HESI Fundamental Skills: Comprehensive
Study Guide, Practice Questions, and Test-Taking
Strategies
1. The nurse is caring for a client for whom segmental postural drainage treatments
are prescribed. The nurse should avoid scheduling the treatment at what time?
A. Before bedtime
B. After a meal ✅
C. Before ambulation
D. After deep breathing exercises
Rationale: Postural drainage involves positioning the client in ways that help drain
secretions from the lungs. Scheduling this treatment immediately after a meal may lead to
nausea and vomiting due to the postural changes.
2. The nurse is caring for a client admitted with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD). Which laboratory test should the nurse monitor to evaluate the client for
hypoxia?
A. Complete blood count (CBC)
B. Serum electrolyte levels
C. Arterial blood gas (ABG) ✅
D. Pulmonary function test (PFT)
Rationale: Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis provides a direct measurement of oxygenation
(PaO2) and helps evaluate hypoxia in clients with COPD.
3. A client with dementia who feels highly anxious and confused believes that the
current day is actually different than what it is. Which statement made by the nurse is
an example of validation therapy?
,A. "No, today is actually Wednesday."
B. "You seem confused; let's look at the calendar together."
C. "Yes, today is the day that you just mentioned." ✅
D. "It doesn’t matter what day it is. Let's focus on something else."
Rationale: Validation therapy acknowledges and accepts the client’s perception of reality,
which can help reduce anxiety and confusion rather than arguing or correcting them.
4. The nurse providing care for a client with neutropenia reviews isolation procedures
with the client’s spouse. The teaching is effective when the spouse states that
protective isolation helps prevent the spread of infection in which direction?
A. From the client to others
B. To the client from outside sources ✅
C. Between hospital staff
D. Within the environment
Rationale: Clients with neutropenia have a weakened immune system and are at high risk
for infections. Protective isolation prevents exposure to infections from external sources.
5. A community healthcare nurse is conducting a survey about homeless children.
Which finding distinguishes absolute homelessness from relative homelessness?
A. The children do not have access to medical care.
B. The children stay with different relatives each night.
C. The children do not have a physical shelter and may sleep outdoors or in vehicles.
✅
D. The children lack consistent access to nutritious food.
Rationale: Absolute homelessness means having no physical shelter at all, whereas
relative homelessness refers to unstable housing conditions, such as staying with others
temporarily.
6. A nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus
Aureus (MRSA) in the urine. The healthcare provider orders an indwelling urinary
catheter. What precaution should the nurse take during this procedure?
,A. Contact precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Surgical asepsis ✅
D. Standard precautions
Rationale: Surgical asepsis (sterile technique) is required when inserting an indwelling
catheter to prevent introducing infection into the urinary tract.
7. The home healthcare nurse visits a client who lives with her two grandchildren. The
client’s daughter is a single parent who is away at work and comes home only on
weekends. Which term describes this family form?
A. Nuclear family
B. Blended family
C. Skip-generation family ✅
D. Extended family
Rationale: A skip-generation family consists of grandparents raising their grandchildren,
with little or no parental involvement.
8. What should the community nurse teach about the risk of adolescent pregnancy?
A. Risk for premature birth ✅
B. Risk for osteoporosis
C. Risk for heart disease
D. Risk for diabetes
Rationale: Adolescent mothers are at higher risk for premature birth due to physiological
immaturity and inadequate prenatal care.
9. The nurse is helping a client and their family set and meet goals with minimal
financial cost, time, and energy. Which professional role of the nurse is applicable in
this situation?
A. Educator
B. Caregiver ✅
C. Advocate
D. Researcher
, Rationale: The caregiver role involves assisting clients in meeting health goals efficiently
while considering their resources.
10. Which nursing interventions promote safe oxygen therapy? (Select all that apply.)
A. Check tubing for kinks ✅
B. Post "no smoking" signs in the client’s room ✅
C. Keep the oxygen tank lying flat
D. Encourage high oxygen flow rates for all clients
E. Place an oil-based moisturizer near the client’s nose
Rationale: Oxygen tubing should be free of kinks to ensure proper delivery, and "no
smoking" signs reduce the risk of fire. Oxygen tanks should be kept upright, and oil-based
moisturizers should be avoided due to fire risk.
11. A client refuses to follow a prescribed treatment regimen and plans to leave the
hospital against medical advice (AMA). What should the nurse inform the client of?
A. The client must accept full responsibility for possible undesirable outcomes ✅
B. The client will lose health insurance coverage
C. The hospital will refuse future treatment
D. The police will be notified
Rationale: Clients leaving AMA must understand the potential consequences of their
decision, including health risks.
12. Which psychophysiologic factors influence communication between a nurse and a
client? (Select all that apply.)
A. Emotional status ✅
B. Growth and development ✅
C. Social status
D. Religious beliefs
E. Political views
Rationale: Emotional state and developmental level significantly impact how clients
perceive and communicate information.
Study Guide, Practice Questions, and Test-Taking
Strategies
1. The nurse is caring for a client for whom segmental postural drainage treatments
are prescribed. The nurse should avoid scheduling the treatment at what time?
A. Before bedtime
B. After a meal ✅
C. Before ambulation
D. After deep breathing exercises
Rationale: Postural drainage involves positioning the client in ways that help drain
secretions from the lungs. Scheduling this treatment immediately after a meal may lead to
nausea and vomiting due to the postural changes.
2. The nurse is caring for a client admitted with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD). Which laboratory test should the nurse monitor to evaluate the client for
hypoxia?
A. Complete blood count (CBC)
B. Serum electrolyte levels
C. Arterial blood gas (ABG) ✅
D. Pulmonary function test (PFT)
Rationale: Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis provides a direct measurement of oxygenation
(PaO2) and helps evaluate hypoxia in clients with COPD.
3. A client with dementia who feels highly anxious and confused believes that the
current day is actually different than what it is. Which statement made by the nurse is
an example of validation therapy?
,A. "No, today is actually Wednesday."
B. "You seem confused; let's look at the calendar together."
C. "Yes, today is the day that you just mentioned." ✅
D. "It doesn’t matter what day it is. Let's focus on something else."
Rationale: Validation therapy acknowledges and accepts the client’s perception of reality,
which can help reduce anxiety and confusion rather than arguing or correcting them.
4. The nurse providing care for a client with neutropenia reviews isolation procedures
with the client’s spouse. The teaching is effective when the spouse states that
protective isolation helps prevent the spread of infection in which direction?
A. From the client to others
B. To the client from outside sources ✅
C. Between hospital staff
D. Within the environment
Rationale: Clients with neutropenia have a weakened immune system and are at high risk
for infections. Protective isolation prevents exposure to infections from external sources.
5. A community healthcare nurse is conducting a survey about homeless children.
Which finding distinguishes absolute homelessness from relative homelessness?
A. The children do not have access to medical care.
B. The children stay with different relatives each night.
C. The children do not have a physical shelter and may sleep outdoors or in vehicles.
✅
D. The children lack consistent access to nutritious food.
Rationale: Absolute homelessness means having no physical shelter at all, whereas
relative homelessness refers to unstable housing conditions, such as staying with others
temporarily.
6. A nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus
Aureus (MRSA) in the urine. The healthcare provider orders an indwelling urinary
catheter. What precaution should the nurse take during this procedure?
,A. Contact precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Surgical asepsis ✅
D. Standard precautions
Rationale: Surgical asepsis (sterile technique) is required when inserting an indwelling
catheter to prevent introducing infection into the urinary tract.
7. The home healthcare nurse visits a client who lives with her two grandchildren. The
client’s daughter is a single parent who is away at work and comes home only on
weekends. Which term describes this family form?
A. Nuclear family
B. Blended family
C. Skip-generation family ✅
D. Extended family
Rationale: A skip-generation family consists of grandparents raising their grandchildren,
with little or no parental involvement.
8. What should the community nurse teach about the risk of adolescent pregnancy?
A. Risk for premature birth ✅
B. Risk for osteoporosis
C. Risk for heart disease
D. Risk for diabetes
Rationale: Adolescent mothers are at higher risk for premature birth due to physiological
immaturity and inadequate prenatal care.
9. The nurse is helping a client and their family set and meet goals with minimal
financial cost, time, and energy. Which professional role of the nurse is applicable in
this situation?
A. Educator
B. Caregiver ✅
C. Advocate
D. Researcher
, Rationale: The caregiver role involves assisting clients in meeting health goals efficiently
while considering their resources.
10. Which nursing interventions promote safe oxygen therapy? (Select all that apply.)
A. Check tubing for kinks ✅
B. Post "no smoking" signs in the client’s room ✅
C. Keep the oxygen tank lying flat
D. Encourage high oxygen flow rates for all clients
E. Place an oil-based moisturizer near the client’s nose
Rationale: Oxygen tubing should be free of kinks to ensure proper delivery, and "no
smoking" signs reduce the risk of fire. Oxygen tanks should be kept upright, and oil-based
moisturizers should be avoided due to fire risk.
11. A client refuses to follow a prescribed treatment regimen and plans to leave the
hospital against medical advice (AMA). What should the nurse inform the client of?
A. The client must accept full responsibility for possible undesirable outcomes ✅
B. The client will lose health insurance coverage
C. The hospital will refuse future treatment
D. The police will be notified
Rationale: Clients leaving AMA must understand the potential consequences of their
decision, including health risks.
12. Which psychophysiologic factors influence communication between a nurse and a
client? (Select all that apply.)
A. Emotional status ✅
B. Growth and development ✅
C. Social status
D. Religious beliefs
E. Political views
Rationale: Emotional state and developmental level significantly impact how clients
perceive and communicate information.
