HESI PN Exit Exam Questions and
Answers with Rationales Latest
Version Top Rated A+
1) MCQ: A patient with suspected stroke is within the treatment
window; CT is pending. Another patient is actively seizing. Priority?
A. Stroke patient because it’s time-dependent for thrombolysis
B. Seizing patient first for airway/safety
C. Both equal
D. Wait until seizure ends then CT
Answer: B
Rationale:
• B: Correct—active seizure requires immediate safety/airway
management.
2) SATA: Tube feeding order verification—select all correct.
A. Confirm feeding rate, type of formula, and schedule per order
B. Check expiration and dietary consistency (thin vs thick)
C. Start feeding without verifying residual policy
D. Verify correct placement (as ordered) before starting feeds
Answer: A, B, D
Rationale:
• A/B/D: Correct—verify before feeding to prevent harm.
• C: Incorrect—residual policy affects safety; don’t ignore.
,3) MCQ: Patient with suspected meningitis shows severe headache,
fever, and photophobia. Another patient needs routine insulin
teaching. Priority?
A. Insulin teaching
B. Meningitis assessment/escalation
C. Both equal
D. Teaching first because required
Answer: B
Rationale:
• B: Correct—meningitis concern is life-threatening and time-
sensitive.
4) SATA: Rapid response/sepsis protocol triggers—select all that
apply.
A. Hypotension with suspected infection/altered mental status
B. SpO2 critically low or increasing work of breathing (not improving)
C. Fever without any other changes and stable vitals only
D. Lactate/organ dysfunction signs and clinician concern per policy
Answer: A, B, D
Rationale:
• A/B/D: Correct—organ dysfunction/respiratory compromise
triggers escalation.
• C: Incorrect—fever alone with stable vitals may not meet protocol
criteria (depends on policy).
,5) A patient is receiving IV potassium and ECG changes occur
(widened QRS). Another patient requests a PRN for anxiety. What
should the nurse do first?
A. Give anxiety medication first to calm them
B. Stop IV potassium and notify provider/rapid response per protocol
C. Recheck the ECG later
D. Document potassium rate change only
Answer: B
Rationale:
• A: Anxiety meds don’t address acute dysrhythmia risk.
• B: Correct—ECG changes during K infusion indicate potentially
dangerous hyperkalemia/rapid correction risk; stop and escalate.
• C: “Later” risks progression to arrest.
• D: Documentation alone is insufficient; action is required.
6) Which task should be completed first?
A. Reposition a patient with mild redness over the sacrum.
B. Assess a patient with SpO2 88% on room air.
C. Obtain discharge paperwork.
D. Encourage hydration for a patient with low urine output earlier today.
Answer: B
Rationale:
• A: Pressure injury prevention is important but not as urgent as
hypoxemia.
• B: Correct—SpO2 88% is immediate respiratory compromise risk.
• C: Non-urgent.
• D: Low urine output earlier is concerning, but oxygenation is
priority.
, 7) A patient with suspected stroke has facial droop and slurred
speech. Another patient has a headache and BP 180/96, but is
neurologically normal. Priority?
A. Suspected stroke patient
B. High BP headache patient
C. Both are equally urgent
D. Evaluate BP headache first because it’s higher BP
Answer: A
Rationale:
• A: Correct—stroke symptoms suggest time-sensitive
neurovascular emergency; prioritize.
• B: Severe BP is concerning, but neuro symptoms define priority
level.
• C: They are not equal—neurologic deficit changes urgency.
• D: BP severity alone doesn’t match stroke deficit priority.
8) Three patients need attention:
• Patient A: chest pain now, diaphoresis, HR 120
• Patient B: fever 101.5°F, wound drainage
• Patient C: Hb 7.2 and reports fatigue
Who is first?
A. Patient B
B. Patient C
C. Patient A
D. There’s no way to prioritize
Answer: C
Rationale:
Answers with Rationales Latest
Version Top Rated A+
1) MCQ: A patient with suspected stroke is within the treatment
window; CT is pending. Another patient is actively seizing. Priority?
A. Stroke patient because it’s time-dependent for thrombolysis
B. Seizing patient first for airway/safety
C. Both equal
D. Wait until seizure ends then CT
Answer: B
Rationale:
• B: Correct—active seizure requires immediate safety/airway
management.
2) SATA: Tube feeding order verification—select all correct.
A. Confirm feeding rate, type of formula, and schedule per order
B. Check expiration and dietary consistency (thin vs thick)
C. Start feeding without verifying residual policy
D. Verify correct placement (as ordered) before starting feeds
Answer: A, B, D
Rationale:
• A/B/D: Correct—verify before feeding to prevent harm.
• C: Incorrect—residual policy affects safety; don’t ignore.
,3) MCQ: Patient with suspected meningitis shows severe headache,
fever, and photophobia. Another patient needs routine insulin
teaching. Priority?
A. Insulin teaching
B. Meningitis assessment/escalation
C. Both equal
D. Teaching first because required
Answer: B
Rationale:
• B: Correct—meningitis concern is life-threatening and time-
sensitive.
4) SATA: Rapid response/sepsis protocol triggers—select all that
apply.
A. Hypotension with suspected infection/altered mental status
B. SpO2 critically low or increasing work of breathing (not improving)
C. Fever without any other changes and stable vitals only
D. Lactate/organ dysfunction signs and clinician concern per policy
Answer: A, B, D
Rationale:
• A/B/D: Correct—organ dysfunction/respiratory compromise
triggers escalation.
• C: Incorrect—fever alone with stable vitals may not meet protocol
criteria (depends on policy).
,5) A patient is receiving IV potassium and ECG changes occur
(widened QRS). Another patient requests a PRN for anxiety. What
should the nurse do first?
A. Give anxiety medication first to calm them
B. Stop IV potassium and notify provider/rapid response per protocol
C. Recheck the ECG later
D. Document potassium rate change only
Answer: B
Rationale:
• A: Anxiety meds don’t address acute dysrhythmia risk.
• B: Correct—ECG changes during K infusion indicate potentially
dangerous hyperkalemia/rapid correction risk; stop and escalate.
• C: “Later” risks progression to arrest.
• D: Documentation alone is insufficient; action is required.
6) Which task should be completed first?
A. Reposition a patient with mild redness over the sacrum.
B. Assess a patient with SpO2 88% on room air.
C. Obtain discharge paperwork.
D. Encourage hydration for a patient with low urine output earlier today.
Answer: B
Rationale:
• A: Pressure injury prevention is important but not as urgent as
hypoxemia.
• B: Correct—SpO2 88% is immediate respiratory compromise risk.
• C: Non-urgent.
• D: Low urine output earlier is concerning, but oxygenation is
priority.
, 7) A patient with suspected stroke has facial droop and slurred
speech. Another patient has a headache and BP 180/96, but is
neurologically normal. Priority?
A. Suspected stroke patient
B. High BP headache patient
C. Both are equally urgent
D. Evaluate BP headache first because it’s higher BP
Answer: A
Rationale:
• A: Correct—stroke symptoms suggest time-sensitive
neurovascular emergency; prioritize.
• B: Severe BP is concerning, but neuro symptoms define priority
level.
• C: They are not equal—neurologic deficit changes urgency.
• D: BP severity alone doesn’t match stroke deficit priority.
8) Three patients need attention:
• Patient A: chest pain now, diaphoresis, HR 120
• Patient B: fever 101.5°F, wound drainage
• Patient C: Hb 7.2 and reports fatigue
Who is first?
A. Patient B
B. Patient C
C. Patient A
D. There’s no way to prioritize
Answer: C
Rationale:
