HESI Fundamentals Exam Practice
Questions
The nurse observes that a male client has removed the covering from an ice park applied to his
knee. What action should the nurse take first?
A. Observe the appearance of the skin under the ice pack.
B. Instruct the client regarding the need for the covering.
C. Reapply the covering after filling with fresh ice.
D. Ask the client how long the ice was applied to the skin. - ✔✔Observe the appearance of the
skin under the ice pack (The first action taken by the nurse should be to assess the skin for any
possible thermal injury. If no injury to the skin has occurred, the nurse can take the other
actions.)
The nurse mixes 50 mg of Nipride in 250 mL of D5W and plans to administer the solution at a
rate of 5 mcg/kg/min to a client weighting 182 lbs. Using a drip factor of 60 gtt/mL, how many
drops per minute should the client receive? - ✔✔124 gtt/min
The healthcare provider prescribes an IV infusion of 1000 ml of Ringer's Lactate w/ 30 units of
Pitocin to run in over 4 hours for a client who has just delivered a 10 pound infant by cesarean
section. The tubing has been changed to a 20 gtt/ml administration set. The nurse plans to set
the flow rate at how many gtt/min? - ✔✔83 gtt/min
Which assessment data provides the most accurate determination of proper placement of a
nasogastric tube? - ✔✔Examining a chest x-ray obtained after the tubing was inserted
Three days following a surgery, a male client observes his colostomy for the first time. He
becomes quite upset and tells the nurse that it is much bigger than he expected. What is the
best response by the nurse?
A. Reassure the client that he will become accustomed to the stoma appearance in time.
B. Instruct the client that the stoma will become much smaller when the initial swelling
diminishes.
,C. Offer to contact a member of the local ostomy support group to help him with his concerns.
D. Encourage the client to handle the stoma equipment to gain confidence with the procedure.
- ✔✔B. Instruct the client that the stoma will become smaller when the initial swelling
diminishes (Postoperative swelling causes enlargement of the stoma. The nurse can teach the
client that the stoma will become smaller when swelling is diminished (B). This will help reduce
the client's anxiety and promote acceptance of the colostomy. (A) does not provide helpful
teaching or support. (C) is a useful action, and may be taken after the nurse provides pertinent
teaching. The client is not yet demonstrating readiness to learn colostomy care. (D)
A female client with a nasogastric tube attached to low suction states that she is nauseated.
The nurse assesses that there has been no drainage through the nasogastric tube in the last two
hours. What action should the nurse take first?
A. Irrigate the nasogastric tube with sterile normal saline.
B. Reposition the client on her side.
C. Advance the nasogastric tube an additional five centimeters.
D. Administer an intravenous antiemetic prescribed for PRN use. - ✔✔B. Reposition the client
on her side. (The immediate priority is to determine if the tube is functioning correctly, which
would then relieve the client's nausea. The least invasive intervention (B) should be attempted
first, followed by (A and C), unless either of these interventions is contraindicated. If these
measures are unsuccessful, the client may require an antiemetic (D))
A hospitalized male client is receiving nasogastric tube feedings via a small-bore tube and a
continuous pump infusion. He reports that he had a bad bout of severe coughing a few minutes
ago, but feels fine now. What action is best for the nurse to take?
A. Record the coughing incident. No further action is required at this time.
B. Stop the feeding, explain to the family why it is being stopped, and notify the HCP.
C. After clearing the tube with 30 ml of air, check the pH of fluid withdrawn from the tube.
D. Inject 30 ml of air into the tube while auscultating the epigastrium for gurgling. - ✔✔C. After
clearing the tube with 30 ml of air, check the pH of fluid withdrawn from the tube.
A male client tells the nurse that he does not know where he is or what year it is. What data
should the nurse document that is most accurate?
, A. demonstrates loss of remote memory
B. exhibits expressive dysphasia
C. has a diminished attention span
D. is disoriented to place and time - ✔✔D. is disoriented to place and time (The client is
exhibiting disorientation (D). (A) refers to memory of the distant past. The client is able to
express himself without difficulty (B), and does not demonstrate diminished attention span. (C).
A client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) selects a scrambled egg for his breakfast. What
action should the nurse take?
A. Commend the client for selecting a high biologic value protein.
B. Remind the client that protein in the diet should be avoided.
C. Suggest that the client also select orange juice, to promote absorption.
D. Encourage the client to attend classes on dietary management of CKD. - ✔✔A. Commend the
client for selecting a high biologic value protein. (Foods such as eggs and milk (A) are high
biologic proteins which are allowed because they are complete proteins and supply the
essential amino acids that are necessary for growth and cell repair. Orange juice is rich in
potassium and should not be encouraged. The client has made a good diet choice so (D) is not
necessary.)
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-- - ✔✔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 becoming the center of gravity for older
persons.)
In developing a plan of care for a client with dementia, the nurse should remember that
confusion in the elderly
A. is to be expected, and progresses with age
B. often follows relocation to new surroundings
C. is a result of irreversible brain pathology
Questions
The nurse observes that a male client has removed the covering from an ice park applied to his
knee. What action should the nurse take first?
A. Observe the appearance of the skin under the ice pack.
B. Instruct the client regarding the need for the covering.
C. Reapply the covering after filling with fresh ice.
D. Ask the client how long the ice was applied to the skin. - ✔✔Observe the appearance of the
skin under the ice pack (The first action taken by the nurse should be to assess the skin for any
possible thermal injury. If no injury to the skin has occurred, the nurse can take the other
actions.)
The nurse mixes 50 mg of Nipride in 250 mL of D5W and plans to administer the solution at a
rate of 5 mcg/kg/min to a client weighting 182 lbs. Using a drip factor of 60 gtt/mL, how many
drops per minute should the client receive? - ✔✔124 gtt/min
The healthcare provider prescribes an IV infusion of 1000 ml of Ringer's Lactate w/ 30 units of
Pitocin to run in over 4 hours for a client who has just delivered a 10 pound infant by cesarean
section. The tubing has been changed to a 20 gtt/ml administration set. The nurse plans to set
the flow rate at how many gtt/min? - ✔✔83 gtt/min
Which assessment data provides the most accurate determination of proper placement of a
nasogastric tube? - ✔✔Examining a chest x-ray obtained after the tubing was inserted
Three days following a surgery, a male client observes his colostomy for the first time. He
becomes quite upset and tells the nurse that it is much bigger than he expected. What is the
best response by the nurse?
A. Reassure the client that he will become accustomed to the stoma appearance in time.
B. Instruct the client that the stoma will become much smaller when the initial swelling
diminishes.
,C. Offer to contact a member of the local ostomy support group to help him with his concerns.
D. Encourage the client to handle the stoma equipment to gain confidence with the procedure.
- ✔✔B. Instruct the client that the stoma will become smaller when the initial swelling
diminishes (Postoperative swelling causes enlargement of the stoma. The nurse can teach the
client that the stoma will become smaller when swelling is diminished (B). This will help reduce
the client's anxiety and promote acceptance of the colostomy. (A) does not provide helpful
teaching or support. (C) is a useful action, and may be taken after the nurse provides pertinent
teaching. The client is not yet demonstrating readiness to learn colostomy care. (D)
A female client with a nasogastric tube attached to low suction states that she is nauseated.
The nurse assesses that there has been no drainage through the nasogastric tube in the last two
hours. What action should the nurse take first?
A. Irrigate the nasogastric tube with sterile normal saline.
B. Reposition the client on her side.
C. Advance the nasogastric tube an additional five centimeters.
D. Administer an intravenous antiemetic prescribed for PRN use. - ✔✔B. Reposition the client
on her side. (The immediate priority is to determine if the tube is functioning correctly, which
would then relieve the client's nausea. The least invasive intervention (B) should be attempted
first, followed by (A and C), unless either of these interventions is contraindicated. If these
measures are unsuccessful, the client may require an antiemetic (D))
A hospitalized male client is receiving nasogastric tube feedings via a small-bore tube and a
continuous pump infusion. He reports that he had a bad bout of severe coughing a few minutes
ago, but feels fine now. What action is best for the nurse to take?
A. Record the coughing incident. No further action is required at this time.
B. Stop the feeding, explain to the family why it is being stopped, and notify the HCP.
C. After clearing the tube with 30 ml of air, check the pH of fluid withdrawn from the tube.
D. Inject 30 ml of air into the tube while auscultating the epigastrium for gurgling. - ✔✔C. After
clearing the tube with 30 ml of air, check the pH of fluid withdrawn from the tube.
A male client tells the nurse that he does not know where he is or what year it is. What data
should the nurse document that is most accurate?
, A. demonstrates loss of remote memory
B. exhibits expressive dysphasia
C. has a diminished attention span
D. is disoriented to place and time - ✔✔D. is disoriented to place and time (The client is
exhibiting disorientation (D). (A) refers to memory of the distant past. The client is able to
express himself without difficulty (B), and does not demonstrate diminished attention span. (C).
A client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) selects a scrambled egg for his breakfast. What
action should the nurse take?
A. Commend the client for selecting a high biologic value protein.
B. Remind the client that protein in the diet should be avoided.
C. Suggest that the client also select orange juice, to promote absorption.
D. Encourage the client to attend classes on dietary management of CKD. - ✔✔A. Commend the
client for selecting a high biologic value protein. (Foods such as eggs and milk (A) are high
biologic proteins which are allowed because they are complete proteins and supply the
essential amino acids that are necessary for growth and cell repair. Orange juice is rich in
potassium and should not be encouraged. The client has made a good diet choice so (D) is not
necessary.)
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-- - ✔✔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 becoming the center of gravity for older
persons.)
In developing a plan of care for a client with dementia, the nurse should remember that
confusion in the elderly
A. is to be expected, and progresses with age
B. often follows relocation to new surroundings
C. is a result of irreversible brain pathology
