HESI RN Exit Exam | Nightingale College |
2025/2026 Edition | Actual-Style Questions with
100% Verified Correct Answers
Nightingale College – HESI RN Exit Exam | Clinical Judgment, Med‑Surg, Pharmacology,
Pediatrics, Maternity, Mental Health, Leadership | Real-Exam Q&A | Expert-Verified & Graded
A+
Introduction
This question-and-answer pack mirrors the official HESI RN Exit Exam as administered to
Nightingale College nursing students in the 2025/2026 academic cycle. The exam typically
includes approximately 90 multiple-choice and alternate-format questions, spanning med-surg,
pharmacology, pediatrics, maternity, mental health, leadership, safety, and clinical
judgment—crafted to the real pattern of exit testing. All content aligns with current HESI
content domains.
Answer Format
Every correct answer is clearly marked in bold and green. Rationales accompanying select
items reinforce clinical reasoning and reinforce board-style readiness.
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a client with chest pain. What is the priority action?
A) Administer oxygen
B) Obtain an ECG
C) Give nitroglycerin
D) Check vital signs
B) Obtain an ECG
Rationale: An ECG is critical to identify cardiac ischemia or infarction quickly.
Question 2
A client is prescribed 250 mg of a medication. The available dose is 50 mg tablets. How many
tablets should the nurse administer?
A) 2 tablets
B) 3 tablets
C) 5 tablets
D) 10 tablets
C) 5 tablets
Rationale: 250 mg ÷ 50 mg/tablet = 5 tablets.
,Question 3
A 6-year-old child with a fever of 39°C (102.2°F) is irritable. What is the nurse’s next action?
A) Administer acetaminophen
B) Apply a tepid sponge bath
C) Notify the provider
D) Recheck in 1 hour
A) Administer acetaminophen
Rationale: Acetaminophen reduces fever and improves comfort in children.
Question 4
A pregnant client at 38 weeks gestation reports decreased fetal movement. What is the priority?
A) Perform Leopold maneuvers
B) Notify the healthcare provider
C) Instruct to rest and recheck
D) Monitor blood pressure
B) Notify the healthcare provider
Rationale: Decreased fetal movement may indicate fetal distress, requiring immediate
evaluation.
Question 5
A client with schizophrenia refuses medication. What is the nurse’s best response?
A) Administer it forcibly
B) Explore the client’s concerns
C) Document refusal and notify the provider
D) Withhold all care
B) Explore the client’s concerns
Rationale: Exploring concerns respects autonomy and may encourage compliance.
Question 6
A nurse is assigned to lead a team of 5 staff members. What is the priority leadership action?
A) Delegate all tasks equally
B) Assess team strengths and assign roles
C) Complete all tasks personally
D) Avoid communication with the team
B) Assess team strengths and assign roles
Rationale: Effective delegation optimizes team performance.
Question 7
A client is at risk for falls. What is the best safety intervention?
A) Keep bed in high position
B) Use bed alarms
C) Encourage unassisted ambulation
D) Remove all call bells
B) Use bed alarms
Rationale: Bed alarms alert staff to prevent falls.
, Question 8
A nurse administers 2 mg of morphine IV to a client with pain. What is the nurse’s next action?
A) Monitor respiratory rate
B) Recheck pain in 4 hours
C) Administer another dose
D) Document only
A) Monitor respiratory rate
Rationale: Monitoring prevents respiratory depression, a morphine side effect.
Question 9
A client post-surgery has a temperature of 38.5°C (101.3°F). What is the priority?
A) Administer antibiotics
B) Notify the surgeon
C) Apply a cooling blanket
D) Recheck in 2 hours
B) Notify the surgeon
Rationale: Postoperative fever may indicate infection, requiring provider assessment.
Question 10
A nurse is teaching a client about diabetes management. What is the key instruction?
A) Skip meals if blood sugar is high
B) Monitor blood glucose daily
C) Avoid all exercise
D) Increase carbohydrate intake
B) Monitor blood glucose daily
Rationale: Daily monitoring helps control blood sugar levels.
Question 11
A client with hypertension has a BP of 160/100 mmHg. What is the next action?
A) Recheck in 30 minutes
B) Administer an antihypertensive
C) Notify the provider
D) Encourage fluid intake
C) Notify the provider
Rationale: Elevated BP requires provider evaluation for treatment.
Question 12
A 4-year-old child refuses to take oral medication. What is the best approach?
A) Mix with juice and administer
B) Force the child to swallow
C) Offer a flavored medication
D) Withhold the dose
C) Offer a flavored medication
Rationale: Flavored options improve compliance in children.
Question 13
A postpartum client reports heavy bleeding. What is the priority assessment?
2025/2026 Edition | Actual-Style Questions with
100% Verified Correct Answers
Nightingale College – HESI RN Exit Exam | Clinical Judgment, Med‑Surg, Pharmacology,
Pediatrics, Maternity, Mental Health, Leadership | Real-Exam Q&A | Expert-Verified & Graded
A+
Introduction
This question-and-answer pack mirrors the official HESI RN Exit Exam as administered to
Nightingale College nursing students in the 2025/2026 academic cycle. The exam typically
includes approximately 90 multiple-choice and alternate-format questions, spanning med-surg,
pharmacology, pediatrics, maternity, mental health, leadership, safety, and clinical
judgment—crafted to the real pattern of exit testing. All content aligns with current HESI
content domains.
Answer Format
Every correct answer is clearly marked in bold and green. Rationales accompanying select
items reinforce clinical reasoning and reinforce board-style readiness.
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a client with chest pain. What is the priority action?
A) Administer oxygen
B) Obtain an ECG
C) Give nitroglycerin
D) Check vital signs
B) Obtain an ECG
Rationale: An ECG is critical to identify cardiac ischemia or infarction quickly.
Question 2
A client is prescribed 250 mg of a medication. The available dose is 50 mg tablets. How many
tablets should the nurse administer?
A) 2 tablets
B) 3 tablets
C) 5 tablets
D) 10 tablets
C) 5 tablets
Rationale: 250 mg ÷ 50 mg/tablet = 5 tablets.
,Question 3
A 6-year-old child with a fever of 39°C (102.2°F) is irritable. What is the nurse’s next action?
A) Administer acetaminophen
B) Apply a tepid sponge bath
C) Notify the provider
D) Recheck in 1 hour
A) Administer acetaminophen
Rationale: Acetaminophen reduces fever and improves comfort in children.
Question 4
A pregnant client at 38 weeks gestation reports decreased fetal movement. What is the priority?
A) Perform Leopold maneuvers
B) Notify the healthcare provider
C) Instruct to rest and recheck
D) Monitor blood pressure
B) Notify the healthcare provider
Rationale: Decreased fetal movement may indicate fetal distress, requiring immediate
evaluation.
Question 5
A client with schizophrenia refuses medication. What is the nurse’s best response?
A) Administer it forcibly
B) Explore the client’s concerns
C) Document refusal and notify the provider
D) Withhold all care
B) Explore the client’s concerns
Rationale: Exploring concerns respects autonomy and may encourage compliance.
Question 6
A nurse is assigned to lead a team of 5 staff members. What is the priority leadership action?
A) Delegate all tasks equally
B) Assess team strengths and assign roles
C) Complete all tasks personally
D) Avoid communication with the team
B) Assess team strengths and assign roles
Rationale: Effective delegation optimizes team performance.
Question 7
A client is at risk for falls. What is the best safety intervention?
A) Keep bed in high position
B) Use bed alarms
C) Encourage unassisted ambulation
D) Remove all call bells
B) Use bed alarms
Rationale: Bed alarms alert staff to prevent falls.
, Question 8
A nurse administers 2 mg of morphine IV to a client with pain. What is the nurse’s next action?
A) Monitor respiratory rate
B) Recheck pain in 4 hours
C) Administer another dose
D) Document only
A) Monitor respiratory rate
Rationale: Monitoring prevents respiratory depression, a morphine side effect.
Question 9
A client post-surgery has a temperature of 38.5°C (101.3°F). What is the priority?
A) Administer antibiotics
B) Notify the surgeon
C) Apply a cooling blanket
D) Recheck in 2 hours
B) Notify the surgeon
Rationale: Postoperative fever may indicate infection, requiring provider assessment.
Question 10
A nurse is teaching a client about diabetes management. What is the key instruction?
A) Skip meals if blood sugar is high
B) Monitor blood glucose daily
C) Avoid all exercise
D) Increase carbohydrate intake
B) Monitor blood glucose daily
Rationale: Daily monitoring helps control blood sugar levels.
Question 11
A client with hypertension has a BP of 160/100 mmHg. What is the next action?
A) Recheck in 30 minutes
B) Administer an antihypertensive
C) Notify the provider
D) Encourage fluid intake
C) Notify the provider
Rationale: Elevated BP requires provider evaluation for treatment.
Question 12
A 4-year-old child refuses to take oral medication. What is the best approach?
A) Mix with juice and administer
B) Force the child to swallow
C) Offer a flavored medication
D) Withhold the dose
C) Offer a flavored medication
Rationale: Flavored options improve compliance in children.
Question 13
A postpartum client reports heavy bleeding. What is the priority assessment?
