HESI LEVEL 1 PRACTICE
EXAM|QUESTIONS WITH 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS
A 4-year-old boy who is scheduled for a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy asks the nurse, "Will
it hurt to have my tonsils and adenoids taken out?" Which response is best for the nurse to
provide?
A. "It may hurt a little because of the incision made in your throat."
B. "It won't hurt because you're such a big boy."
C. "It won't hurt because we put you to sleep."
D. "It may hurt but we'll give you medicine to help you feel better." - ✔️✔️D
The nurse is assessing a client who is bedfast and refuses to turn or move from a supine position.
How should the nurse assess the client for possible dependent edema?
A. Compress the flank and upper buttocks.
B. Measure the client's abdominal girth.
C. Gently palpate the lower abdomen.
D. Apply light pressure over the shins. - ✔️✔️A
A client with chronic gouty arthritis takes allopurinol (Zyloprim) and experiences an acute attack
of gouty arthritis. The healthcare provider prescribes concurrent low-dose colchicine. What
information should the nurse provide the client that best explains the action of the colchicine?
A. Acts like aspirin to relieve pain.
B. Facilitates the excretion of uric acid.
C. Reduces inflammation at the affected site.
D. Prevents formation of uric acid crystals. - ✔️✔️C
A client who is a Jehovah's Witness is admitted to the nursing unit. Which concern should the
nurse have for planning care in terms of the client's beliefs?
A. Autopsy of the body is prohibited.
B. Blood transfusions are forbidden.
C. Alcohol use in any form is not allowed.
D. A vegetarian diet must be followed. - ✔️✔️B
A client asks the nurse to explain the meaning of a narrow therapeutic index of a medication.
What information should the nurse use to answer the question?
A. The onset of action for the medication occurs very quickly.
B. A small margin exists between safe and toxic plasma levels.
C. Bioavailability is significantly reduced by the first-pass effect.
D. Minimum dosage is needed for the medication to be effective. - ✔️✔️B
A male client with severe orthopedic injuries following a motor vehicle collision is irritable,
angry, and belittles the nurses. While a nurse is changing the dressing over a laceration, the client
,screams, "Don't touch me! You're so stupid that you'll make it worse!" Which intervention is best
for the nurse to implement?
A. Leave the room without saying a word.
B. Provide information about infection prevention.
C. Allow the client to change the dressing himself.
D. Explain the healthcare provider's prescription. - ✔️✔️B
During CPR, when attempting to ventilate a client's lungs, the nurse notes that the chest is not
moving. What action should the nurse take first?
A. Use a laryngoscope to check for a foreign body lodged in the esophagus.
B. Reposition the head to validate that the head is in the proper position to open the airway.
C. Turn the client to the side and administer three back blows.
D. Perform a finger sweep of the mouth to remove any vomitus. - ✔️✔️B
What action should the nurse implement to prevent the formation of a sacral ulcer for a client
who is immobile?
A. Maintain in a lateral position using protective wrist and vest devices.
B. Position prone with a small pillow below the diaphragm.
C. Raise the head and knee gatch when lying in a supine position.
D. Transfer into a wheelchair close to the nurse's station for observation. - ✔️✔️B
The nurse is digitally removing a fecal impaction for a client. The nurse should stop the
procedure and take corrective action if which client reaction is noted?
A. Temperature increases from 98.8 to 99.0 F.
B. Pulse rate decreases from 78 to 52 beats/min.
C. Respiratory rate increases from 16 to 24 breaths/min.
D. Blood pressure increases from 110/84 to 118/88 mm/Hg. - ✔️✔️B
The nurse observes that a male client has removed the covering from an ice pack applied to his
knee. What action should the nurse take first?
A. Observe the appearance of the skin under the ice pack.
B. Instruct the client regarding the need for the covering.
C. Reapply the covering after filling with fresh ice.
D. Ask the client how long the ice was applied to the skin. - ✔️✔️A
The nurse is administering an intermittent infusion of an antibiotic to a client whose intravenous
(IV) access is an antecubital saline lock. After the nurse opens the roller clamp on the IV tubing,
the alarm on the infusion pump indicates an obstruction. What action should the nurse take first?
A. Check for a blood return.
B. Reposition the client's arm.
C. Remove the IV site dressing.
D. Flush the lock with saline. - ✔️✔️B
An older client who is able to stand but not to ambulate receives a prescription to be mobilized
into a chair as tolerated during each day.What is the best action for the nurse to implement when
assisting the client from the bed to the chair?
, A. Use a mechanical lift to transfer from the bed to a chair.
B. Place a roller board under the client who is sitting on the side of the bed and slide the client to
the chair.
C. Lift the client out of bed to the chair with another staff member using a coordinated effort on
the count of three.
D. Place a transfer belt around the client, assist to stand, and pivot to a chair that is placed at a
right angle to the bed. - ✔️✔️D
A female client with a nasogastric tube attached to low suction states that she is nauseated. The
nurse assesses that there has been no drainage through the nasogastric tube in the last two hours.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Irrigate the nasogastric tube with sterile normal saline.
B. Reposition the client on her side.
C. Advance the nasogastric tube an additional five centimeters.
D. Administer an intravenous antiemetic prescribed for PRN use. - ✔️✔️B
A client with pneumonia has a decrease in oxygen saturation from 94% to 88% while
ambulating. Based on these findings, which intervention should the nurse implement first?
A. Assist the ambulating client back to the bed.
B. Encourage the client to ambulate to resolve pneumonia.
C. Obtain a prescription for portable oxygen while ambulating.
D. Move the oximetry probe from the finger to the earlobe. - ✔️✔️A
The charge nurse observes an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) bending at the waist to lift a
20-pound box of medical supplies off the treatment room floor. What instruction should the
charge nurse provide to the UAP?
A. Ask another staff member for assistance.
B. Request that supplies are delivered in smaller containers.
C. Push the box against the wall to provide support while lifting.
D. Bend at the knees when lifting heavy objects. - ✔️✔️D
The nurse is designing a program to control nosocomial infections on a geriatric unit of an acute
care hospital. What strategy should be included in this plan?
A. Do not allow those with influenza to be admitted to the unit.
B. Require that all clients receive a pneumonia vaccine prior to admission.
C. Ensure that sterile technique is followed when changing surgical dressings.
D. Encourage clients to drink water to prevent urinary tract infections. - ✔️✔️C
A male client tells the nurse that he does not know where he is or what year it is. What data
should the nurse document that is most accurate?
A. Demonstrates loss of remote memory.
B. Exhibits expressive dysphasia.
C. Has a diminished attention span.
D. Is disoriented to place and time. - ✔️✔️D
EXAM|QUESTIONS WITH 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS
A 4-year-old boy who is scheduled for a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy asks the nurse, "Will
it hurt to have my tonsils and adenoids taken out?" Which response is best for the nurse to
provide?
A. "It may hurt a little because of the incision made in your throat."
B. "It won't hurt because you're such a big boy."
C. "It won't hurt because we put you to sleep."
D. "It may hurt but we'll give you medicine to help you feel better." - ✔️✔️D
The nurse is assessing a client who is bedfast and refuses to turn or move from a supine position.
How should the nurse assess the client for possible dependent edema?
A. Compress the flank and upper buttocks.
B. Measure the client's abdominal girth.
C. Gently palpate the lower abdomen.
D. Apply light pressure over the shins. - ✔️✔️A
A client with chronic gouty arthritis takes allopurinol (Zyloprim) and experiences an acute attack
of gouty arthritis. The healthcare provider prescribes concurrent low-dose colchicine. What
information should the nurse provide the client that best explains the action of the colchicine?
A. Acts like aspirin to relieve pain.
B. Facilitates the excretion of uric acid.
C. Reduces inflammation at the affected site.
D. Prevents formation of uric acid crystals. - ✔️✔️C
A client who is a Jehovah's Witness is admitted to the nursing unit. Which concern should the
nurse have for planning care in terms of the client's beliefs?
A. Autopsy of the body is prohibited.
B. Blood transfusions are forbidden.
C. Alcohol use in any form is not allowed.
D. A vegetarian diet must be followed. - ✔️✔️B
A client asks the nurse to explain the meaning of a narrow therapeutic index of a medication.
What information should the nurse use to answer the question?
A. The onset of action for the medication occurs very quickly.
B. A small margin exists between safe and toxic plasma levels.
C. Bioavailability is significantly reduced by the first-pass effect.
D. Minimum dosage is needed for the medication to be effective. - ✔️✔️B
A male client with severe orthopedic injuries following a motor vehicle collision is irritable,
angry, and belittles the nurses. While a nurse is changing the dressing over a laceration, the client
,screams, "Don't touch me! You're so stupid that you'll make it worse!" Which intervention is best
for the nurse to implement?
A. Leave the room without saying a word.
B. Provide information about infection prevention.
C. Allow the client to change the dressing himself.
D. Explain the healthcare provider's prescription. - ✔️✔️B
During CPR, when attempting to ventilate a client's lungs, the nurse notes that the chest is not
moving. What action should the nurse take first?
A. Use a laryngoscope to check for a foreign body lodged in the esophagus.
B. Reposition the head to validate that the head is in the proper position to open the airway.
C. Turn the client to the side and administer three back blows.
D. Perform a finger sweep of the mouth to remove any vomitus. - ✔️✔️B
What action should the nurse implement to prevent the formation of a sacral ulcer for a client
who is immobile?
A. Maintain in a lateral position using protective wrist and vest devices.
B. Position prone with a small pillow below the diaphragm.
C. Raise the head and knee gatch when lying in a supine position.
D. Transfer into a wheelchair close to the nurse's station for observation. - ✔️✔️B
The nurse is digitally removing a fecal impaction for a client. The nurse should stop the
procedure and take corrective action if which client reaction is noted?
A. Temperature increases from 98.8 to 99.0 F.
B. Pulse rate decreases from 78 to 52 beats/min.
C. Respiratory rate increases from 16 to 24 breaths/min.
D. Blood pressure increases from 110/84 to 118/88 mm/Hg. - ✔️✔️B
The nurse observes that a male client has removed the covering from an ice pack applied to his
knee. What action should the nurse take first?
A. Observe the appearance of the skin under the ice pack.
B. Instruct the client regarding the need for the covering.
C. Reapply the covering after filling with fresh ice.
D. Ask the client how long the ice was applied to the skin. - ✔️✔️A
The nurse is administering an intermittent infusion of an antibiotic to a client whose intravenous
(IV) access is an antecubital saline lock. After the nurse opens the roller clamp on the IV tubing,
the alarm on the infusion pump indicates an obstruction. What action should the nurse take first?
A. Check for a blood return.
B. Reposition the client's arm.
C. Remove the IV site dressing.
D. Flush the lock with saline. - ✔️✔️B
An older client who is able to stand but not to ambulate receives a prescription to be mobilized
into a chair as tolerated during each day.What is the best action for the nurse to implement when
assisting the client from the bed to the chair?
, A. Use a mechanical lift to transfer from the bed to a chair.
B. Place a roller board under the client who is sitting on the side of the bed and slide the client to
the chair.
C. Lift the client out of bed to the chair with another staff member using a coordinated effort on
the count of three.
D. Place a transfer belt around the client, assist to stand, and pivot to a chair that is placed at a
right angle to the bed. - ✔️✔️D
A female client with a nasogastric tube attached to low suction states that she is nauseated. The
nurse assesses that there has been no drainage through the nasogastric tube in the last two hours.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Irrigate the nasogastric tube with sterile normal saline.
B. Reposition the client on her side.
C. Advance the nasogastric tube an additional five centimeters.
D. Administer an intravenous antiemetic prescribed for PRN use. - ✔️✔️B
A client with pneumonia has a decrease in oxygen saturation from 94% to 88% while
ambulating. Based on these findings, which intervention should the nurse implement first?
A. Assist the ambulating client back to the bed.
B. Encourage the client to ambulate to resolve pneumonia.
C. Obtain a prescription for portable oxygen while ambulating.
D. Move the oximetry probe from the finger to the earlobe. - ✔️✔️A
The charge nurse observes an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) bending at the waist to lift a
20-pound box of medical supplies off the treatment room floor. What instruction should the
charge nurse provide to the UAP?
A. Ask another staff member for assistance.
B. Request that supplies are delivered in smaller containers.
C. Push the box against the wall to provide support while lifting.
D. Bend at the knees when lifting heavy objects. - ✔️✔️D
The nurse is designing a program to control nosocomial infections on a geriatric unit of an acute
care hospital. What strategy should be included in this plan?
A. Do not allow those with influenza to be admitted to the unit.
B. Require that all clients receive a pneumonia vaccine prior to admission.
C. Ensure that sterile technique is followed when changing surgical dressings.
D. Encourage clients to drink water to prevent urinary tract infections. - ✔️✔️C
A male client tells the nurse that he does not know where he is or what year it is. What data
should the nurse document that is most accurate?
A. Demonstrates loss of remote memory.
B. Exhibits expressive dysphasia.
C. Has a diminished attention span.
D. Is disoriented to place and time. - ✔️✔️D
