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Fundamental HESI Questions and Answers
Which assessment data would provide the most accurate
determination of proper placement of a nasogastric tube?
A) Aspirating gastric contents to assure a pH value of 4 or less.
B) Hearing air pass in the stomach after injecting air into the
tubing.
C) Examining a chest x-ray obtained after the tubing was inserted.
D) Checking the remaining length of tubing to ensure that the
correct length was inserted.
Ans: C) Examining a chest x-ray obtained after the tubing was inserted
Both (A and B) are methods used to determine proper placement of the
NG tubing. However, the best indicator that the tubing is properly placed
is (C). (D) is not an indicator of proper placement
When assisting an 82-year-old client to ambulate, it is important
for the nurse to realize that the center of gravity for an elderly
person is the
A) Arms.
B) Upper torso.
C) Head.
D) Feet
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Ans: B) Upper torso
The center of gravity for adults is the hips. However, as the person
grows older, a stooped posture is common because of the changes from
osteoporosis and normal bone degeneration, and the knees, hips, and
elbows flex. This stooped posture results in the upper torso (B) becoming
the center of gravity for older persons. Although (A) is a part, or an
extension of the upper torso, this is not the best and most complete
answer.
Which action is most important for the nurse to implement when
donning sterile gloves?
A) Maintain thumb at a ninety degree angle.
B) Hold hands with fingers down while gloving.
C) Keep gloved hands above the elbows.
D) Put the glove on the dominant hand first.
Ans: C) Keep gloved hands above the elbows
Gloved hands held below waist level are considered unsterile (C). (A and
B) are not essential to maintaining asepsis. While it may be helpful to put
the glove on the dominant hand first, it is not necessary to ensure
asepsis (D).
An adult male client with a history of hypertension tells the nurse
that he is tired of taking antihypertensive medications and is going
to try spiritual meditation instead. What should be the nurse's first
response?
A) It is important that you continue your medication while learning
to meditate.
B) Spiritual meditation requires a time commitment of 15 to 20
minutes daily.
C) Obtain your healthcare provider's permission before starting
meditation.
D) Complementary therapy and western medicine can be effective
for you.
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Ans: A) It is important that you continue your medication while learning
to meditate
The prolonged practice of meditation may lead to a reduced need for
antihypertensive medications. However, the medications must be
continued (A) while the physiologic response to meditation is monitored.
(B) is not as important as continuing the medication. The healthcare
provider should be informed, but permission is not required to meditate
(C). Although it is true that this complimentary therapy might be
effective (D), it is essential that the client continue with antihypertensive
medications until the effect of meditation can be measured
The nurse plans to obtain health assessment information from a
primary source. Which option is a primary source for the
completion of the health assessment?
A) Client.
B) Healthcare provider.
C) A family member.
D) Previous medical records
Ans: A) Client
A primary source of information for a health assessment is the client (A).
(B, C, and D) are considered secondary sources about the client's health
history, but other details, such as subjective data, can only be provided
directly from the client.
The nurse is instructing a client with high cholesterol about diet
and life style modification. What comment from the client
indicates that the teaching has been effective?
A) If I exercise at least two times weekly for one hour, I will lower
my cholesterol.
B) I need to avoid eating proteins, including red meat.
C) I will limit my intake of beef to 4 ounces per week.
D) My blood level of low density lipoproteins needs to increase.
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Ans: C) I will limit my intake of beef to 4 ounces per week
Limiting saturated fat from animal food sources to no more than 4
ounces per week (C) is an important diet modification for lowering
cholesterol. To be effective in reducing cholesterol, the client should
exercise 30 minutes per day, or at least 4 to 6 times per week (A). Red
meat and all proteins do not need to be eliminated (B) to lower
cholesterol, but should be restricted to lean cuts of red meat and smaller
portions (2-ounce servings). The low density lipoproteins (D) need to
decrease rather than increase
Examination of a client complaining of itching on his right arm
reveals a rash made up of multiple flat areas of redness ranging
from pinpoint to 0.5 cm in diameter. How should the nurse record
this finding?
A) Multiple vesicular areas surrounded by redness, ranging in size
from 1 mm to 0.5 cm.
B) Localized red rash comprised of flat areas, pinpoint to 0.5 cm in
diameter.
C) Several areas of red, papular lesions from pinpoint to 0.5 cm in
size.
D) Localized petechial areas, ranging in size from pinpoint to 0.5
cm in diameter.
Ans: B) Localized red rash comprised of flat areas, pinpoint to 0.5 cm in
diameter
Macules are localized flat skin discolorations less than 1 cm in diameter.
However, when recording such a finding the nurse should describe the
appearance (B) rather than simply naming the condition. (A) identifies
vesicles -- fluid filled blisters -- an incorrect description given the
symptoms listed. (C) identifies papules -- solid elevated lesions, again
not correctly identifying the symptoms. (D) identifies petechiae --
pinpoint red to purple skin discolorations that do not itch, again an
incorrect identification
© 2025 All rights reserved
Fundamental HESI Questions and Answers
Which assessment data would provide the most accurate
determination of proper placement of a nasogastric tube?
A) Aspirating gastric contents to assure a pH value of 4 or less.
B) Hearing air pass in the stomach after injecting air into the
tubing.
C) Examining a chest x-ray obtained after the tubing was inserted.
D) Checking the remaining length of tubing to ensure that the
correct length was inserted.
Ans: C) Examining a chest x-ray obtained after the tubing was inserted
Both (A and B) are methods used to determine proper placement of the
NG tubing. However, the best indicator that the tubing is properly placed
is (C). (D) is not an indicator of proper placement
When assisting an 82-year-old client to ambulate, it is important
for the nurse to realize that the center of gravity for an elderly
person is the
A) Arms.
B) Upper torso.
C) Head.
D) Feet
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
Ans: B) Upper torso
The center of gravity for adults is the hips. However, as the person
grows older, a stooped posture is common because of the changes from
osteoporosis and normal bone degeneration, and the knees, hips, and
elbows flex. This stooped posture results in the upper torso (B) becoming
the center of gravity for older persons. Although (A) is a part, or an
extension of the upper torso, this is not the best and most complete
answer.
Which action is most important for the nurse to implement when
donning sterile gloves?
A) Maintain thumb at a ninety degree angle.
B) Hold hands with fingers down while gloving.
C) Keep gloved hands above the elbows.
D) Put the glove on the dominant hand first.
Ans: C) Keep gloved hands above the elbows
Gloved hands held below waist level are considered unsterile (C). (A and
B) are not essential to maintaining asepsis. While it may be helpful to put
the glove on the dominant hand first, it is not necessary to ensure
asepsis (D).
An adult male client with a history of hypertension tells the nurse
that he is tired of taking antihypertensive medications and is going
to try spiritual meditation instead. What should be the nurse's first
response?
A) It is important that you continue your medication while learning
to meditate.
B) Spiritual meditation requires a time commitment of 15 to 20
minutes daily.
C) Obtain your healthcare provider's permission before starting
meditation.
D) Complementary therapy and western medicine can be effective
for you.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
Ans: A) It is important that you continue your medication while learning
to meditate
The prolonged practice of meditation may lead to a reduced need for
antihypertensive medications. However, the medications must be
continued (A) while the physiologic response to meditation is monitored.
(B) is not as important as continuing the medication. The healthcare
provider should be informed, but permission is not required to meditate
(C). Although it is true that this complimentary therapy might be
effective (D), it is essential that the client continue with antihypertensive
medications until the effect of meditation can be measured
The nurse plans to obtain health assessment information from a
primary source. Which option is a primary source for the
completion of the health assessment?
A) Client.
B) Healthcare provider.
C) A family member.
D) Previous medical records
Ans: A) Client
A primary source of information for a health assessment is the client (A).
(B, C, and D) are considered secondary sources about the client's health
history, but other details, such as subjective data, can only be provided
directly from the client.
The nurse is instructing a client with high cholesterol about diet
and life style modification. What comment from the client
indicates that the teaching has been effective?
A) If I exercise at least two times weekly for one hour, I will lower
my cholesterol.
B) I need to avoid eating proteins, including red meat.
C) I will limit my intake of beef to 4 ounces per week.
D) My blood level of low density lipoproteins needs to increase.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 4 | Page
Ans: C) I will limit my intake of beef to 4 ounces per week
Limiting saturated fat from animal food sources to no more than 4
ounces per week (C) is an important diet modification for lowering
cholesterol. To be effective in reducing cholesterol, the client should
exercise 30 minutes per day, or at least 4 to 6 times per week (A). Red
meat and all proteins do not need to be eliminated (B) to lower
cholesterol, but should be restricted to lean cuts of red meat and smaller
portions (2-ounce servings). The low density lipoproteins (D) need to
decrease rather than increase
Examination of a client complaining of itching on his right arm
reveals a rash made up of multiple flat areas of redness ranging
from pinpoint to 0.5 cm in diameter. How should the nurse record
this finding?
A) Multiple vesicular areas surrounded by redness, ranging in size
from 1 mm to 0.5 cm.
B) Localized red rash comprised of flat areas, pinpoint to 0.5 cm in
diameter.
C) Several areas of red, papular lesions from pinpoint to 0.5 cm in
size.
D) Localized petechial areas, ranging in size from pinpoint to 0.5
cm in diameter.
Ans: B) Localized red rash comprised of flat areas, pinpoint to 0.5 cm in
diameter
Macules are localized flat skin discolorations less than 1 cm in diameter.
However, when recording such a finding the nurse should describe the
appearance (B) rather than simply naming the condition. (A) identifies
vesicles -- fluid filled blisters -- an incorrect description given the
symptoms listed. (C) identifies papules -- solid elevated lesions, again
not correctly identifying the symptoms. (D) identifies petechiae --
pinpoint red to purple skin discolorations that do not itch, again an
incorrect identification
© 2025 All rights reserved
