HESI Practice Questions (Set: 1–100)
1. Q1 (Medical-Surgical Nursing): A client with congestive heart failure is prescribed
furosemide. Which electrolyte should the nurse monitor most closely?
A. Sodium
👉 B. Potassium
C. Calcium
D. Magnesium
Answer: B
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes potassium loss, increasing the risk of
hypokalemia.
2. Q2 (Medical-Surgical Nursing): A nurse assesses a client post-thyroidectomy and notes
tingling around the mouth and fingers. What is the priority action?
A. Notify the provider
B. Administer IV fluids
👉 C. Check for Chvostek’s sign
D. Prepare to intubate
Answer: C
Rationale: Tingling suggests hypocalcemia; checking for Chvostek’s sign helps confirm
neuromuscular excitability.
3. Q3 (Pharmacology): Which instruction is essential for a client taking levothyroxine?
A. Take at night with food
B. Skip dose if feeling well
C. Avoid dairy products
👉 D. Take on an empty stomach in the morning
Answer: D
Rationale: Levothyroxine is best absorbed on an empty stomach, ideally 30–60 minutes
before breakfast.
,4. Q4 (Pharmacology): A client prescribed warfarin asks which over-the-counter
medication is safe. The nurse should recommend:
A. Aspirin
B. Ibuprofen
👉 C. Acetaminophen
D. Naproxen
Answer: C
Rationale: Acetaminophen is safer than NSAIDs like aspirin or ibuprofen, which increase
bleeding risk with warfarin.
5. Q5 (Maternity & Newborn): A client in labor is experiencing variable decelerations on
the fetal monitor. What is the nurse’s first action?
👉 A. Reposition the client
B. Administer oxygen
C. Call the provider
D. Increase IV fluids
Answer: A
Rationale: Variable decelerations are often caused by cord compression. Repositioning the
client can relieve this.
6. Q6 (Maternity & Newborn): Which finding in a newborn requires immediate
intervention?
A. Positive Moro reflex
B. Acrocyanosis
👉 C. Nasal flaring
D. Slight tremors when crying
Answer: C
Rationale: Nasal flaring may indicate respiratory distress and requires prompt assessment.
7. Q7 (Mental Health): A client with schizophrenia reports hearing voices. What is the
nurse’s best response?
, A. 'That’s not real.'
👉 B. 'That must be frightening. Tell me more about what you hear.'
C. 'Let’s talk about something else.'
D. 'Ignore the voices.'
Answer: B
Rationale: Acknowledging the client’s feelings while not validating the hallucination is
therapeutic.
8. Q8 (Mental Health): A depressed client says, 'I just don’t see a point in going on.' What
should the nurse do first?
A. Reassure the client things will get better
B. Notify the provider immediately
👉 C. Ask, “Are you thinking about harming yourself?”
D. Encourage participation in activities
Answer: C
Rationale: Directly assessing suicidal ideation is the priority in ensuring client safety.
9. Q9 (Pediatrics): A 6-month-old infant is due for immunizations. Which vaccines should
the nurse anticipate administering?
👉 A. DTaP, Hib, IPV, HepB, PCV, RV
B. MMR, Varicella, HepA
C. Tdap, HPV, Meningococcal
D. Only HepB and IPV
Answer: A
Rationale: These are the routine immunizations given at 6 months according to CDC
guidelines.
10. Q10 (Pediatrics): A child with asthma is in the red zone after using a peak flow meter.
What should the nurse do first?
A. Encourage rest
B. Give fluids
👉 C. Administer a rescue inhaler
D. Notify the school nurse
1. Q1 (Medical-Surgical Nursing): A client with congestive heart failure is prescribed
furosemide. Which electrolyte should the nurse monitor most closely?
A. Sodium
👉 B. Potassium
C. Calcium
D. Magnesium
Answer: B
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes potassium loss, increasing the risk of
hypokalemia.
2. Q2 (Medical-Surgical Nursing): A nurse assesses a client post-thyroidectomy and notes
tingling around the mouth and fingers. What is the priority action?
A. Notify the provider
B. Administer IV fluids
👉 C. Check for Chvostek’s sign
D. Prepare to intubate
Answer: C
Rationale: Tingling suggests hypocalcemia; checking for Chvostek’s sign helps confirm
neuromuscular excitability.
3. Q3 (Pharmacology): Which instruction is essential for a client taking levothyroxine?
A. Take at night with food
B. Skip dose if feeling well
C. Avoid dairy products
👉 D. Take on an empty stomach in the morning
Answer: D
Rationale: Levothyroxine is best absorbed on an empty stomach, ideally 30–60 minutes
before breakfast.
,4. Q4 (Pharmacology): A client prescribed warfarin asks which over-the-counter
medication is safe. The nurse should recommend:
A. Aspirin
B. Ibuprofen
👉 C. Acetaminophen
D. Naproxen
Answer: C
Rationale: Acetaminophen is safer than NSAIDs like aspirin or ibuprofen, which increase
bleeding risk with warfarin.
5. Q5 (Maternity & Newborn): A client in labor is experiencing variable decelerations on
the fetal monitor. What is the nurse’s first action?
👉 A. Reposition the client
B. Administer oxygen
C. Call the provider
D. Increase IV fluids
Answer: A
Rationale: Variable decelerations are often caused by cord compression. Repositioning the
client can relieve this.
6. Q6 (Maternity & Newborn): Which finding in a newborn requires immediate
intervention?
A. Positive Moro reflex
B. Acrocyanosis
👉 C. Nasal flaring
D. Slight tremors when crying
Answer: C
Rationale: Nasal flaring may indicate respiratory distress and requires prompt assessment.
7. Q7 (Mental Health): A client with schizophrenia reports hearing voices. What is the
nurse’s best response?
, A. 'That’s not real.'
👉 B. 'That must be frightening. Tell me more about what you hear.'
C. 'Let’s talk about something else.'
D. 'Ignore the voices.'
Answer: B
Rationale: Acknowledging the client’s feelings while not validating the hallucination is
therapeutic.
8. Q8 (Mental Health): A depressed client says, 'I just don’t see a point in going on.' What
should the nurse do first?
A. Reassure the client things will get better
B. Notify the provider immediately
👉 C. Ask, “Are you thinking about harming yourself?”
D. Encourage participation in activities
Answer: C
Rationale: Directly assessing suicidal ideation is the priority in ensuring client safety.
9. Q9 (Pediatrics): A 6-month-old infant is due for immunizations. Which vaccines should
the nurse anticipate administering?
👉 A. DTaP, Hib, IPV, HepB, PCV, RV
B. MMR, Varicella, HepA
C. Tdap, HPV, Meningococcal
D. Only HepB and IPV
Answer: A
Rationale: These are the routine immunizations given at 6 months according to CDC
guidelines.
10. Q10 (Pediatrics): A child with asthma is in the red zone after using a peak flow meter.
What should the nurse do first?
A. Encourage rest
B. Give fluids
👉 C. Administer a rescue inhaler
D. Notify the school nurse
