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HESI A2 Exam Bank: Real-World
Patient Care Word Problems &
Critical Thinking Scenarios
Table of Contents
Subtopic 1: Medication Dosage and Administration Scenarios........................2
Subtopic 2: Vital Signs, Fluid Balance, and Intake & Output (I&O) Calculations
.......................................................................................................................11
Subtopic 3: Nutrition and Dietary Calculations in Patient Care......................20
Subtopic 4: Patient-Centered Time Calculations & Scheduling in Clinical
Practice..........................................................................................................29
Subtopic 5: Realistic Medical Charting, Documentation, and Report Accuracy
Scenarios.......................................................................................................38
Subtopic 6: Safe Patient Handling, Mobility, and Injury Prevention in Clinical
Contexts.........................................................................................................47
Subtopic 7: Interpreting Lab Values and Vitals in Patient Scenarios..............56
Subtopic 8: Dosage Calculations and Safe Medication Administration in
Patient Scenarios...........................................................................................65
Subtopic 9: Infection Control and Isolation Precautions in Patient Scenarios.74
Subtopic 10: Emergency Response and Critical Thinking in Acute Patient Care
Scenarios.......................................................................................................83
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Subtopic 1: Medication Dosage and
Administration Scenarios
Question 1
A patient is prescribed 0.25 mg of a medication. The vial available contains
0.5 mg/mL. How many milliliters should the nurse administer?
A. 0.2 mL
B. 0.5 mL
C. 0.75 mL
D. 1 mL
Correct Answer: B. 0.5 mL
Rationale:
Required dose: 0.25 mg
Available: 0.5 mg/mL
Volume to administer = (0.25 mg ÷ 0.5 mg/mL) = 0.5 mL
Question 2
The provider orders 600 mg of ibuprofen. The available tablets are 200 mg
each. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Correct Answer: C. 3
Rationale:
, 3
600 mg ÷ 200 mg = 3 tablets
Question 3
A patient is ordered 2 g of ceftriaxone IV. The pharmacy sends 1 g vials to be
reconstituted with 10 mL sterile water. What is the total volume the nurse
will administer?
A. 5 mL
B. 10 mL
C. 20 mL
D. 15 mL
Correct Answer: C. 20 mL
Rationale:
Each 1 g is reconstituted to 10 mL. For 2 g = 10 mL + 10 mL = 20 mL
Question 4
A child is prescribed amoxicillin 25 mg/kg/day divided into two doses. The
child weighs 18 kg. How many mg should be given per dose?
A. 150 mg
B. 225 mg
C. 300 mg
D. 450 mg
Correct Answer: B. 225 mg
Rationale:
25 mg × 18 kg = 450 mg/day
450 mg ÷ 2 = 225 mg per dose
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Question 5
The nurse is to give 1 liter of normal saline over 8 hours using an infusion
pump. What is the infusion rate in mL/hour?
A. 80 mL/hr
B. 125 mL/hr
C. 100 mL/hr
D. 150 mL/hr
Correct Answer: B. 125 mL/hr
Rationale:
1000 mL ÷ 8 hr = 125 mL/hr
Question 6
A patient requires 30 mEq of potassium chloride. The vial contains 20
mEq/10 mL. How many mL will the nurse administer?
A. 10 mL
B. 15 mL
C. 20 mL
D. 30 mL
Correct Answer: B. 15 mL
Rationale:
Set up proportion: (20 mEq/10 mL) = (30 mEq/X mL) → X = (30×10)/20 = 15
mL
Question 7
A prescription reads: furosemide 40 mg IV push. The vial reads 10 mg/mL.
How many mL should the nurse draw up?
HESI A2 Exam Bank: Real-World
Patient Care Word Problems &
Critical Thinking Scenarios
Table of Contents
Subtopic 1: Medication Dosage and Administration Scenarios........................2
Subtopic 2: Vital Signs, Fluid Balance, and Intake & Output (I&O) Calculations
.......................................................................................................................11
Subtopic 3: Nutrition and Dietary Calculations in Patient Care......................20
Subtopic 4: Patient-Centered Time Calculations & Scheduling in Clinical
Practice..........................................................................................................29
Subtopic 5: Realistic Medical Charting, Documentation, and Report Accuracy
Scenarios.......................................................................................................38
Subtopic 6: Safe Patient Handling, Mobility, and Injury Prevention in Clinical
Contexts.........................................................................................................47
Subtopic 7: Interpreting Lab Values and Vitals in Patient Scenarios..............56
Subtopic 8: Dosage Calculations and Safe Medication Administration in
Patient Scenarios...........................................................................................65
Subtopic 9: Infection Control and Isolation Precautions in Patient Scenarios.74
Subtopic 10: Emergency Response and Critical Thinking in Acute Patient Care
Scenarios.......................................................................................................83
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Subtopic 1: Medication Dosage and
Administration Scenarios
Question 1
A patient is prescribed 0.25 mg of a medication. The vial available contains
0.5 mg/mL. How many milliliters should the nurse administer?
A. 0.2 mL
B. 0.5 mL
C. 0.75 mL
D. 1 mL
Correct Answer: B. 0.5 mL
Rationale:
Required dose: 0.25 mg
Available: 0.5 mg/mL
Volume to administer = (0.25 mg ÷ 0.5 mg/mL) = 0.5 mL
Question 2
The provider orders 600 mg of ibuprofen. The available tablets are 200 mg
each. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Correct Answer: C. 3
Rationale:
, 3
600 mg ÷ 200 mg = 3 tablets
Question 3
A patient is ordered 2 g of ceftriaxone IV. The pharmacy sends 1 g vials to be
reconstituted with 10 mL sterile water. What is the total volume the nurse
will administer?
A. 5 mL
B. 10 mL
C. 20 mL
D. 15 mL
Correct Answer: C. 20 mL
Rationale:
Each 1 g is reconstituted to 10 mL. For 2 g = 10 mL + 10 mL = 20 mL
Question 4
A child is prescribed amoxicillin 25 mg/kg/day divided into two doses. The
child weighs 18 kg. How many mg should be given per dose?
A. 150 mg
B. 225 mg
C. 300 mg
D. 450 mg
Correct Answer: B. 225 mg
Rationale:
25 mg × 18 kg = 450 mg/day
450 mg ÷ 2 = 225 mg per dose
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Question 5
The nurse is to give 1 liter of normal saline over 8 hours using an infusion
pump. What is the infusion rate in mL/hour?
A. 80 mL/hr
B. 125 mL/hr
C. 100 mL/hr
D. 150 mL/hr
Correct Answer: B. 125 mL/hr
Rationale:
1000 mL ÷ 8 hr = 125 mL/hr
Question 6
A patient requires 30 mEq of potassium chloride. The vial contains 20
mEq/10 mL. How many mL will the nurse administer?
A. 10 mL
B. 15 mL
C. 20 mL
D. 30 mL
Correct Answer: B. 15 mL
Rationale:
Set up proportion: (20 mEq/10 mL) = (30 mEq/X mL) → X = (30×10)/20 = 15
mL
Question 7
A prescription reads: furosemide 40 mg IV push. The vial reads 10 mg/mL.
How many mL should the nurse draw up?
