RN CAPSTONE HESI EXIT EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ An elderly client with degenerative joint disease asks if she should
use the rubber jar openers that are available. The nurse's response
should be based on which information about assistive devices?
a. They can contribute to increased dependency
b. They decrease the risk for joint trauma
c. They promote muscle strength
d. They diminish range of motion ability. Answer: They decrease the
risk for joint trauma
Rationale: Assistive devices of this kind are very beneficial in
reducing joint trauma(B) caused by excessive twisting. These
devices promote independence, rather that increasing dependency
◉ When assessing a 6-month old infant, the nurse determines that
the anterior fontanel is bulging. In which situation would this
finding be most significant?
a. Crying
b. Straining on stool
,c. Vomiting
d. Sitting upright. Answer: Sitting upright.
Rationale: The anterior fontanel closes at 9 months of age and may
bulge when venous return is reduced from the head, but a bulging
anterior fontanel is most significant if the infant is sitting up and
may indicated an increase in cerebrospinal fluid. Activities that
reduce venous return from the head, such as crying, a Valsalva
maneuver, vomiting or a dependent position of the head, cause a
normal transient increase in intracranial pressure.
◉ A client with angina pectoris is being discharge from the hospital.
What instruction should the nurse plan to include in this discharge
teaching?
a. Engage in physical exercise immediately after eating to help
decrease cholesterol levels.
b. Walk briskly in cold weather to increase cardiac output
c. Keep nitroglycerin in a light-colored plastic bottle and readily
available.
d. Avoid all isometric exercises but walk regularly. Answer: Avoid all
isometric exercises, but walk regularly
Rationale: Isometric exercise can raise blood pressure for the
duration of the exercise, which may be dangerous for a client with
,cardiovascular disease, while walking provides aerobic conditioning
that improves ling, blood vessel, and muscle function. Client with
angina should refrain from physical exercise for 2 hours after meals,
but exercising does not decrease cholesterol levels. Cold water cause
vasoconstriction that may cause chest pain. Nitroglycerin should be
readily available and stored in a dark-colored glass bottle not C, to
ensure freshness of the medication.
◉ What is the priority nursing action when initiating morphine
therapy via an intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA)
pump?
a. Assess the client's ability to use a numeric pain scale
b. Initiate the dosage lockout mechanism on the PCA pump
c. Instruct the client to use the medication before the pain become
severe
d. Assess the abdomen for bowel sounds Answer: Initiate the dosage
lockout mechanism on the PCA pump
Rationale: Morphine depress respiration, so ensuring that the client
cannot overdose on the medications
◉ While undergoing hemodialysis, a male client suddenly complains
of dizziness. He is alert and oriented, but his skin is cool and clammy.
His vital signs are: heart rate 128 beats/minute, respirations 18
, breaths per minute, and blood pressure 90/60. Which intervention
should the nurse implement first?
a. Raise the client's legs and feet
b. Administer 250 ml saline bolus
c. Decrease blood flow from dialyzer
d. Stop the hemodialysis procedure. Answer: Raise the client's legs
and feet
Rationale: To raise the client's blood pressure is the most immediate
and easiest intervention for the nurse to implement. B and C should
be done asap to add volume to the vascular space by ceasing to pull
fluid from the client. If the blood pressure does not increase, then
the procedure may be needing to be stopped. (D)
◉ The nurse receives a newborn within the first minutes after a
vaginal delivery and intervenes to establish adequate respirations.
What priority issue should the nurse address to ensure the
newborn's survival?
a. Hypoglycemia
b. Fluid balance
c. Heat loss
d. Bleeding tendencies Answer: Heat loss
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ An elderly client with degenerative joint disease asks if she should
use the rubber jar openers that are available. The nurse's response
should be based on which information about assistive devices?
a. They can contribute to increased dependency
b. They decrease the risk for joint trauma
c. They promote muscle strength
d. They diminish range of motion ability. Answer: They decrease the
risk for joint trauma
Rationale: Assistive devices of this kind are very beneficial in
reducing joint trauma(B) caused by excessive twisting. These
devices promote independence, rather that increasing dependency
◉ When assessing a 6-month old infant, the nurse determines that
the anterior fontanel is bulging. In which situation would this
finding be most significant?
a. Crying
b. Straining on stool
,c. Vomiting
d. Sitting upright. Answer: Sitting upright.
Rationale: The anterior fontanel closes at 9 months of age and may
bulge when venous return is reduced from the head, but a bulging
anterior fontanel is most significant if the infant is sitting up and
may indicated an increase in cerebrospinal fluid. Activities that
reduce venous return from the head, such as crying, a Valsalva
maneuver, vomiting or a dependent position of the head, cause a
normal transient increase in intracranial pressure.
◉ A client with angina pectoris is being discharge from the hospital.
What instruction should the nurse plan to include in this discharge
teaching?
a. Engage in physical exercise immediately after eating to help
decrease cholesterol levels.
b. Walk briskly in cold weather to increase cardiac output
c. Keep nitroglycerin in a light-colored plastic bottle and readily
available.
d. Avoid all isometric exercises but walk regularly. Answer: Avoid all
isometric exercises, but walk regularly
Rationale: Isometric exercise can raise blood pressure for the
duration of the exercise, which may be dangerous for a client with
,cardiovascular disease, while walking provides aerobic conditioning
that improves ling, blood vessel, and muscle function. Client with
angina should refrain from physical exercise for 2 hours after meals,
but exercising does not decrease cholesterol levels. Cold water cause
vasoconstriction that may cause chest pain. Nitroglycerin should be
readily available and stored in a dark-colored glass bottle not C, to
ensure freshness of the medication.
◉ What is the priority nursing action when initiating morphine
therapy via an intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA)
pump?
a. Assess the client's ability to use a numeric pain scale
b. Initiate the dosage lockout mechanism on the PCA pump
c. Instruct the client to use the medication before the pain become
severe
d. Assess the abdomen for bowel sounds Answer: Initiate the dosage
lockout mechanism on the PCA pump
Rationale: Morphine depress respiration, so ensuring that the client
cannot overdose on the medications
◉ While undergoing hemodialysis, a male client suddenly complains
of dizziness. He is alert and oriented, but his skin is cool and clammy.
His vital signs are: heart rate 128 beats/minute, respirations 18
, breaths per minute, and blood pressure 90/60. Which intervention
should the nurse implement first?
a. Raise the client's legs and feet
b. Administer 250 ml saline bolus
c. Decrease blood flow from dialyzer
d. Stop the hemodialysis procedure. Answer: Raise the client's legs
and feet
Rationale: To raise the client's blood pressure is the most immediate
and easiest intervention for the nurse to implement. B and C should
be done asap to add volume to the vascular space by ceasing to pull
fluid from the client. If the blood pressure does not increase, then
the procedure may be needing to be stopped. (D)
◉ The nurse receives a newborn within the first minutes after a
vaginal delivery and intervenes to establish adequate respirations.
What priority issue should the nurse address to ensure the
newborn's survival?
a. Hypoglycemia
b. Fluid balance
c. Heat loss
d. Bleeding tendencies Answer: Heat loss
