HESI PN Exam Questions and Answers
100% pass
An 80 year old male client who has arthritis and who is having difficulty walking
tells the practical nurse (PN). ''It's awful to be old. It seems as though every day a
struggle. No one cares about an old person." What is the best response for the PN
to provide.
A. "its true. We are a youth- oriented society."
B. Oh, lets not focus on the negative. Tell me something good."
C. "It sounds as though you're having a difficult time. Tell me about it."
D. "You're still able to get around, and your mind is as sharp as a tack." -
ANSWER-C. "It sounds as though you're having a difficult time. Tell me about it."
An essential component of the nurse-client relationship is communicating
empathy, which indicates to a client that his feelings are important, so
acknowledging the clients difficulty (C) best allows the client to express his
feelings. (A,B,D) dismiss the client's verbal and nonverbal communication and do
not reflect an understanding of the despair the client is communicating.
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,A client's indwelling urinary catheter is removed at 9:30am. The practical nurse
(PN) assesses the client every 2 hours for the desire to void. Which documented
assessment requires further intervention by the PN?
A. 1:30pm- unable to void.
B. 5:30pm- unable to void
C. 3:30pm- unable to void
D 11:30 am- unable to void. - ANSWER-B. 5:30pm- unable to void.
A client is due to void within 8 hours of catheter removal, so at 5:30pm (B), longer
than 8 hours after removal, catheter reinsertion may be necessary. If the bladder is
not distended, further action may not be needed at times indicated in (A,C, D)
The practical nurse (PN) is assessing a client with dark skin who is in respiratory
distress. Which client response should the PN evaluate to determine cyanosis in
the client?
A. Cyanosis in a client with dark skin is seen only in the sclera.
B. Abnormal skin color changes in a client with dark skin cannot be determined.
C. The lips and mucous membranes of a client with dark skin are dusky in color.
D. Blanching the soles of the feet in a client with dark skin reveals cyanosis. -
ANSWER-C. The lips and mucous membranes of a client with dark skin are dusky
in color
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, Causes of cyanosis include hypoxemia and decreased cardiac output, which
provided clues to respiratory status with changes in skin color and mucous
membranes. Cyanosis, a late sign of hypoxia, is best observed in the tissue that has
superficial capillary supply, such as mucous membranes, the conjunctivae, lips,
palms and under the tongue (C), which is readily visible in dark skin. (A,B,D) do
not provide accurate assessment.
What action should the practical nurse (PN) take when drawing medication from
an ampule?
A. Aspirate with a filter needle and syringe
B. Tap the bottom of the ampule lightly.
C. Snap the neck of ampule towards nurse.
D. Use an alcohol swab to open ampule. - ANSWER-A. Aspirate with a filter
needle and syringe
An ampule is made of glass with a constricted neck that is snapped off to allow
access to the medication. Medications are easily withdrawn from the ampule by
aspirating the fluid with a filter needle and syringe. Filter needles are used when
withdrawing medication from a glass ampule to prevent glass particles from being
drawn into the syringe with the medication (A). Tap the top, not the bottom (B) of
the ampule lightly to allow all of the medication to drop to the bottom. When
opening the ampule, the top should be snapped away from the nurse's face and
©️COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 3
100% pass
An 80 year old male client who has arthritis and who is having difficulty walking
tells the practical nurse (PN). ''It's awful to be old. It seems as though every day a
struggle. No one cares about an old person." What is the best response for the PN
to provide.
A. "its true. We are a youth- oriented society."
B. Oh, lets not focus on the negative. Tell me something good."
C. "It sounds as though you're having a difficult time. Tell me about it."
D. "You're still able to get around, and your mind is as sharp as a tack." -
ANSWER-C. "It sounds as though you're having a difficult time. Tell me about it."
An essential component of the nurse-client relationship is communicating
empathy, which indicates to a client that his feelings are important, so
acknowledging the clients difficulty (C) best allows the client to express his
feelings. (A,B,D) dismiss the client's verbal and nonverbal communication and do
not reflect an understanding of the despair the client is communicating.
©️COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 1
,A client's indwelling urinary catheter is removed at 9:30am. The practical nurse
(PN) assesses the client every 2 hours for the desire to void. Which documented
assessment requires further intervention by the PN?
A. 1:30pm- unable to void.
B. 5:30pm- unable to void
C. 3:30pm- unable to void
D 11:30 am- unable to void. - ANSWER-B. 5:30pm- unable to void.
A client is due to void within 8 hours of catheter removal, so at 5:30pm (B), longer
than 8 hours after removal, catheter reinsertion may be necessary. If the bladder is
not distended, further action may not be needed at times indicated in (A,C, D)
The practical nurse (PN) is assessing a client with dark skin who is in respiratory
distress. Which client response should the PN evaluate to determine cyanosis in
the client?
A. Cyanosis in a client with dark skin is seen only in the sclera.
B. Abnormal skin color changes in a client with dark skin cannot be determined.
C. The lips and mucous membranes of a client with dark skin are dusky in color.
D. Blanching the soles of the feet in a client with dark skin reveals cyanosis. -
ANSWER-C. The lips and mucous membranes of a client with dark skin are dusky
in color
©️COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 2
, Causes of cyanosis include hypoxemia and decreased cardiac output, which
provided clues to respiratory status with changes in skin color and mucous
membranes. Cyanosis, a late sign of hypoxia, is best observed in the tissue that has
superficial capillary supply, such as mucous membranes, the conjunctivae, lips,
palms and under the tongue (C), which is readily visible in dark skin. (A,B,D) do
not provide accurate assessment.
What action should the practical nurse (PN) take when drawing medication from
an ampule?
A. Aspirate with a filter needle and syringe
B. Tap the bottom of the ampule lightly.
C. Snap the neck of ampule towards nurse.
D. Use an alcohol swab to open ampule. - ANSWER-A. Aspirate with a filter
needle and syringe
An ampule is made of glass with a constricted neck that is snapped off to allow
access to the medication. Medications are easily withdrawn from the ampule by
aspirating the fluid with a filter needle and syringe. Filter needles are used when
withdrawing medication from a glass ampule to prevent glass particles from being
drawn into the syringe with the medication (A). Tap the top, not the bottom (B) of
the ampule lightly to allow all of the medication to drop to the bottom. When
opening the ampule, the top should be snapped away from the nurse's face and
©️COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 3
