1|Page
HESI PN EXIT EXAM 2025–2026 | 160 QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS & DETAILED RATIONALES,100%
CORRECT ALREADY GRADED A+
Chapter/Topic: Fundamentals of Nursing / Patient Care
1. A nurse is caring for a patient who has just returned from surgery. Which
action is the priority?
A. Encourage the patient to ambulate
B. Assess vital signs and level of consciousness
C. Provide oral hygiene
D. Review the patient’s discharge instructions
Answer: B
Rationale: The immediate post-operative period carries the highest risk for
complications. Assessing vital signs and consciousness ensures patient
safety before any other interventions.
2. A patient with chronic heart failure reports sudden weight gain of 3
pounds in 2 days. What should the nurse do first?
A. Notify the healthcare provider
B. Assess for edema and shortness of breath
C. Restrict fluid intake
D. Encourage increased activity
Answer: B
Rationale: Sudden weight gain can indicate fluid retention. Assessing for
edema and respiratory status helps determine the urgency of intervention.
,2|Page
3. A nurse teaches a patient with diabetes about foot care. Which statement
indicates understanding?
A. “I should soak my feet daily in hot water.”
B. “I should check my feet every day for sores or redness.”
C. “I can walk barefoot inside my house.”
D. “I should apply lotion between my toes to prevent dryness.”
Answer: B
Rationale: Daily inspection helps prevent diabetic foot ulcers. Soaking in
hot water and applying lotion between toes can cause skin breakdown.
4. A patient is receiving IV potassium chloride. Which assessment is most
important?
A. Blood glucose
B. Electrolyte levels and cardiac rhythm
C. Blood pressure
D. Oxygen saturation
Answer: B
Rationale: Potassium can affect heart rhythm. Monitoring electrolyte levels
and ECG is critical to prevent arrhythmias.
5. Which intervention best prevents pressure ulcers in an immobile patient?
A. Turning every 2 hours
B. Massaging bony prominences
C. Using mild soap during baths
D. Limiting fluid intake
Answer: A
Rationale: Regular repositioning relieves pressure and reduces risk of skin
breakdown. Massaging bony areas may increase tissue damage.
,3|Page
6. A nurse assesses a patient with COPD. Which sign indicates worsening
respiratory status?
A. Pink, warm skin
B. Use of accessory muscles
C. Oxygen saturation of 95% on room air
D. Quiet, regular breathing
Answer: B
Rationale: Use of accessory muscles indicates increased work of breathing
and potential respiratory distress.
7. A patient reports severe pain after surgery. Which action should the nurse
take first?
A. Offer distraction techniques
B. Administer prescribed analgesics
C. Document the pain score
D. Reassess in 30 minutes
Answer: B
Rationale: Pain management is a priority. Administering analgesics
promptly reduces suffering and prevents complications from untreated pain.
8. A nurse is preparing a patient for a blood transfusion. Which action is
essential before starting?
A. Verify the patient’s identity and blood type
B. Start an IV with normal saline
C. Assess for a history of allergies
D. Ensure the patient has eaten
Answer: A
Rationale: Correct identification and blood type verification are critical to
prevent transfusion reactions.
, 4|Page
9. A patient with pneumonia has thick, yellow sputum. Which action is
priority?
A. Encourage increased fluid intake
B. Administer prescribed antibiotics
C. Teach deep-breathing exercises
D. Schedule a chest X-ray
Answer: B
Rationale: Antibiotics treat the infection causing the symptoms. Other
interventions are supportive but secondary.
10. A nurse is assessing a patient’s IV site. Which finding requires
immediate action?
A. Slight redness around the site
B. Cool skin near the IV
C. Swelling and pain at the insertion site
D. Dressing is dry and intact
Answer: C
Rationale: Swelling and pain suggest infiltration or infection, which must
be addressed immediately.
11. Which nursing action best prevents medication errors?
A. Administer medications quickly to save time
B. Verify the “five rights” before giving medications
C. Trust verbal orders without verification
D. Give medications according to patient request
Answer: B
Rationale: Following the five rights—right patient, drug, dose, route, time
—reduces errors and enhances patient safety.
HESI PN EXIT EXAM 2025–2026 | 160 QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS & DETAILED RATIONALES,100%
CORRECT ALREADY GRADED A+
Chapter/Topic: Fundamentals of Nursing / Patient Care
1. A nurse is caring for a patient who has just returned from surgery. Which
action is the priority?
A. Encourage the patient to ambulate
B. Assess vital signs and level of consciousness
C. Provide oral hygiene
D. Review the patient’s discharge instructions
Answer: B
Rationale: The immediate post-operative period carries the highest risk for
complications. Assessing vital signs and consciousness ensures patient
safety before any other interventions.
2. A patient with chronic heart failure reports sudden weight gain of 3
pounds in 2 days. What should the nurse do first?
A. Notify the healthcare provider
B. Assess for edema and shortness of breath
C. Restrict fluid intake
D. Encourage increased activity
Answer: B
Rationale: Sudden weight gain can indicate fluid retention. Assessing for
edema and respiratory status helps determine the urgency of intervention.
,2|Page
3. A nurse teaches a patient with diabetes about foot care. Which statement
indicates understanding?
A. “I should soak my feet daily in hot water.”
B. “I should check my feet every day for sores or redness.”
C. “I can walk barefoot inside my house.”
D. “I should apply lotion between my toes to prevent dryness.”
Answer: B
Rationale: Daily inspection helps prevent diabetic foot ulcers. Soaking in
hot water and applying lotion between toes can cause skin breakdown.
4. A patient is receiving IV potassium chloride. Which assessment is most
important?
A. Blood glucose
B. Electrolyte levels and cardiac rhythm
C. Blood pressure
D. Oxygen saturation
Answer: B
Rationale: Potassium can affect heart rhythm. Monitoring electrolyte levels
and ECG is critical to prevent arrhythmias.
5. Which intervention best prevents pressure ulcers in an immobile patient?
A. Turning every 2 hours
B. Massaging bony prominences
C. Using mild soap during baths
D. Limiting fluid intake
Answer: A
Rationale: Regular repositioning relieves pressure and reduces risk of skin
breakdown. Massaging bony areas may increase tissue damage.
,3|Page
6. A nurse assesses a patient with COPD. Which sign indicates worsening
respiratory status?
A. Pink, warm skin
B. Use of accessory muscles
C. Oxygen saturation of 95% on room air
D. Quiet, regular breathing
Answer: B
Rationale: Use of accessory muscles indicates increased work of breathing
and potential respiratory distress.
7. A patient reports severe pain after surgery. Which action should the nurse
take first?
A. Offer distraction techniques
B. Administer prescribed analgesics
C. Document the pain score
D. Reassess in 30 minutes
Answer: B
Rationale: Pain management is a priority. Administering analgesics
promptly reduces suffering and prevents complications from untreated pain.
8. A nurse is preparing a patient for a blood transfusion. Which action is
essential before starting?
A. Verify the patient’s identity and blood type
B. Start an IV with normal saline
C. Assess for a history of allergies
D. Ensure the patient has eaten
Answer: A
Rationale: Correct identification and blood type verification are critical to
prevent transfusion reactions.
, 4|Page
9. A patient with pneumonia has thick, yellow sputum. Which action is
priority?
A. Encourage increased fluid intake
B. Administer prescribed antibiotics
C. Teach deep-breathing exercises
D. Schedule a chest X-ray
Answer: B
Rationale: Antibiotics treat the infection causing the symptoms. Other
interventions are supportive but secondary.
10. A nurse is assessing a patient’s IV site. Which finding requires
immediate action?
A. Slight redness around the site
B. Cool skin near the IV
C. Swelling and pain at the insertion site
D. Dressing is dry and intact
Answer: C
Rationale: Swelling and pain suggest infiltration or infection, which must
be addressed immediately.
11. Which nursing action best prevents medication errors?
A. Administer medications quickly to save time
B. Verify the “five rights” before giving medications
C. Trust verbal orders without verification
D. Give medications according to patient request
Answer: B
Rationale: Following the five rights—right patient, drug, dose, route, time
—reduces errors and enhances patient safety.
