HESI RN Exit Exam Comprehensive Study
Guide (2025)
I. Overview of the HESI RN Exit Exam
The HESI RN Exit Exam, developed by Elsevier, is an end-of-program assessment that
measures a nursing student’s readiness to pass the NCLEX-RN and begin professional practice
safely and effectively. It evaluates critical thinking, clinical judgment, and applied nursing
knowledge across all major content areas of nursing education.
Exam Format:
150 to 200 multiple-choice questions
Four possible answers per question
Computer-based test (CBT)
Time limit: 3–4 hours (varies by institution)
Passing benchmark: Commonly 850 or higher on the HESI scale (out of 1000)
Purpose:
The HESI RN Exit Exam serves as a predictive tool — a score of 850 or greater correlates
strongly with NCLEX success on the first attempt. It assesses a student’s ability to integrate
, knowledge from medical-surgical, maternal-newborn, pediatric, psychiatric, pharmacological,
and leadership domains.
II. Core Content Areas
The HESI Exit Exam mirrors the NCLEX-RN test plan, emphasizing clinical judgment and
patient-centered care. Below are the major domains and their high-yield concepts.
1. Medical-Surgical Nursing (Approx. 45% of Exam)
A. Cardiovascular
Heart failure: Recognize fluid overload (crackles, JVD, edema); treat with diuretics,
ACE inhibitors, and sodium restriction.
Myocardial infarction: MONA (morphine, oxygen, nitrates, aspirin); ECG monitoring;
watch for arrhythmias.
Hypertension: Lifestyle changes; beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel
blockers.
Peripheral vascular disease: Promote circulation, prevent ulcers, and encourage
smoking cessation.
B. Respiratory
Guide (2025)
I. Overview of the HESI RN Exit Exam
The HESI RN Exit Exam, developed by Elsevier, is an end-of-program assessment that
measures a nursing student’s readiness to pass the NCLEX-RN and begin professional practice
safely and effectively. It evaluates critical thinking, clinical judgment, and applied nursing
knowledge across all major content areas of nursing education.
Exam Format:
150 to 200 multiple-choice questions
Four possible answers per question
Computer-based test (CBT)
Time limit: 3–4 hours (varies by institution)
Passing benchmark: Commonly 850 or higher on the HESI scale (out of 1000)
Purpose:
The HESI RN Exit Exam serves as a predictive tool — a score of 850 or greater correlates
strongly with NCLEX success on the first attempt. It assesses a student’s ability to integrate
, knowledge from medical-surgical, maternal-newborn, pediatric, psychiatric, pharmacological,
and leadership domains.
II. Core Content Areas
The HESI Exit Exam mirrors the NCLEX-RN test plan, emphasizing clinical judgment and
patient-centered care. Below are the major domains and their high-yield concepts.
1. Medical-Surgical Nursing (Approx. 45% of Exam)
A. Cardiovascular
Heart failure: Recognize fluid overload (crackles, JVD, edema); treat with diuretics,
ACE inhibitors, and sodium restriction.
Myocardial infarction: MONA (morphine, oxygen, nitrates, aspirin); ECG monitoring;
watch for arrhythmias.
Hypertension: Lifestyle changes; beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel
blockers.
Peripheral vascular disease: Promote circulation, prevent ulcers, and encourage
smoking cessation.
B. Respiratory
