HESI COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2026
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS COMPLETE NURSING
EXAM PREPARATION RESOURCE NGN-
STYLE PRACTICE TESTS, CLINICAL
JUDGMENT, DETAILED RATIONALES,
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW NOTES AND
FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
A nurse is providing instruction in how to perform Kegel exercises to a
client with stress incontinence. What does the nurse tell the client to do?
Always perform the exercises while lying down
Expect an improvement in the control of urine in about 1 week
Tighten the pelvic muscles for as long as 5 minutes, three or four times a
day
Tighten the pelvic muscles for a slow count of 10, then relax for a slow
count of 10 - CORRECT ANSWER -Tighten the pelvic muscles for a slow
count of 10, then relax for a slow count of 10
Rationale: Kegel exercises strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor. To
perform the exercises, the client is taught to tighten the pelvic muscles to a
slow count of 10, then relax to a slow count of 10. The client is also
instructed to do this exercise 15 times while lying down, sitting up, and
,standing (a total of 45 repetitions). The client is told that an improvement
in the control of urine will be noticed after several weeks of the exercises;
some individuals report that improvement takes as long as 3 months.
Ergotamine is prescribed to a client with cluster headaches. Which
occurrence does the nurse tell the client to report to the primary health care
provider if she experiences them while taking the medication?
Cough
Fatigue and lethargy
Dizziness and fatigue
Numbness and tingling of the fingers or toes - CORRECT ANSWER -
Numbness and tingling of the fingers or toes
Rationale: Ergotamine is an antimigraine medication. Prolonged
administration or an excessive dosage may produce ergotamine poisoning
(ergotism). Signs/symptoms include nausea, vomiting, weakness in the
legs, pain in the limb muscles, and numbness and tingling of the fingers
and toes. The client is instructed to report these signs/symptoms to the
primary health care provider if they occur. Cough, fatigue, lethargy, and
dizziness are side effects and not adverse effects of the medication.
A client diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder tells the nurse that
he/she has stopped taking his/her prescribed medication because he/she
didn't like how the medication was making him/her feel. Which initial
response by the nurse is appropriate?
"That's all right. I'd stop, too, if it made me feel funny."
"Tell me more about how the medication was making you feel."
,"Did you let your doctor know that you stopped taking the medication?"
"It doesn't make sense to stop the medication. I don't know why you took it
upon yourself to do that." - CORRECT ANSWER -"Tell me more about how
the medication was making you feel."
Rationale: The appropriate response by the nurse acknowledges the client's
feelings and opens the channel of communication between the nurse and
client. "That's all right. I'd stop, too, if it made me feel funny," indicating
approval, is a nontherapeutic response and is therefore inappropriate. "Did
you let your doctor know that you stopped taking the medication?" may be
an appropriate question at some point during the conversation, but it is not
the most appropriate initial question. "It doesn't make sense to stop the
medication. I don't know why you took it upon yourself to do that" demeans
the client.
A nurse provides information to a client diagnosed with peripheral vascular
disease about ways to limit the disease's progression. Which measures does
the nurse tell the client to take? Select all that apply.
Crossing the legs at the ankles only
Engaging in exercise such as walking on a daily basis
Washing the feet daily with a mild soap and drying them well
Inspecting the feet at least once a week for injuries, especially abrasions
Using a heating pad on the legs to help keep the blood vessels dilated -
CORRECT ANSWER -Engaging in exercise such as walking on a daily basis
Washing the feet daily with a mild soap and drying them well
, Rationale: Long-term management of peripheral vascular disease consists
of measures that increase peripheral circulation. The client is instructed to
exercise regularly and is encouraged to walk for 20 minutes each day. The
client also needs to wash the feet daily with a mild soap, to dry the feet well,
and to inspect the feet daily for injuries or abrasions. Crossing the legs at
any level should be avoided because it promotes vasoconstriction. Keeping
the extremities warm is important; however, heating pads and hot water
bottles should not be placed on the extremity. Sensitivity may be
diminished in the affected extremity, increasing the risk for burns. Also,
direct application of heat increases the oxygen and nutritional
requirements of the tissue even further.
A client diagnosed with depression is anorexic. Which measure does the
nurse take to assist the client in meeting nutritional needs?
Providing food and fluid as the client requests
Offering high-calorie and high-protein foods and fluids frequently
throughout the day
Completing the dietary menu for the client to ensure that adequate
nutrition is provided
Weighing the client daily so that the client may determine whether the
nutritional plan is working - CORRECT ANSWER -Offering high-calorie and
high-protein foods and fluids frequently throughout the day
Rationale: The client should be offered high-calorie and high-protein foods
and fluids frequently throughout the day. Small, frequent snacks are more
easily tolerated than large plates of food when the client is anorexic. The
client should be offered choices of foods and fluids he/she likes, because the
client is more likely to consume foods he/she has selected. The client
should be weighed weekly, not daily. Weight gain may not be noted daily,
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS COMPLETE NURSING
EXAM PREPARATION RESOURCE NGN-
STYLE PRACTICE TESTS, CLINICAL
JUDGMENT, DETAILED RATIONALES,
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW NOTES AND
FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
A nurse is providing instruction in how to perform Kegel exercises to a
client with stress incontinence. What does the nurse tell the client to do?
Always perform the exercises while lying down
Expect an improvement in the control of urine in about 1 week
Tighten the pelvic muscles for as long as 5 minutes, three or four times a
day
Tighten the pelvic muscles for a slow count of 10, then relax for a slow
count of 10 - CORRECT ANSWER -Tighten the pelvic muscles for a slow
count of 10, then relax for a slow count of 10
Rationale: Kegel exercises strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor. To
perform the exercises, the client is taught to tighten the pelvic muscles to a
slow count of 10, then relax to a slow count of 10. The client is also
instructed to do this exercise 15 times while lying down, sitting up, and
,standing (a total of 45 repetitions). The client is told that an improvement
in the control of urine will be noticed after several weeks of the exercises;
some individuals report that improvement takes as long as 3 months.
Ergotamine is prescribed to a client with cluster headaches. Which
occurrence does the nurse tell the client to report to the primary health care
provider if she experiences them while taking the medication?
Cough
Fatigue and lethargy
Dizziness and fatigue
Numbness and tingling of the fingers or toes - CORRECT ANSWER -
Numbness and tingling of the fingers or toes
Rationale: Ergotamine is an antimigraine medication. Prolonged
administration or an excessive dosage may produce ergotamine poisoning
(ergotism). Signs/symptoms include nausea, vomiting, weakness in the
legs, pain in the limb muscles, and numbness and tingling of the fingers
and toes. The client is instructed to report these signs/symptoms to the
primary health care provider if they occur. Cough, fatigue, lethargy, and
dizziness are side effects and not adverse effects of the medication.
A client diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder tells the nurse that
he/she has stopped taking his/her prescribed medication because he/she
didn't like how the medication was making him/her feel. Which initial
response by the nurse is appropriate?
"That's all right. I'd stop, too, if it made me feel funny."
"Tell me more about how the medication was making you feel."
,"Did you let your doctor know that you stopped taking the medication?"
"It doesn't make sense to stop the medication. I don't know why you took it
upon yourself to do that." - CORRECT ANSWER -"Tell me more about how
the medication was making you feel."
Rationale: The appropriate response by the nurse acknowledges the client's
feelings and opens the channel of communication between the nurse and
client. "That's all right. I'd stop, too, if it made me feel funny," indicating
approval, is a nontherapeutic response and is therefore inappropriate. "Did
you let your doctor know that you stopped taking the medication?" may be
an appropriate question at some point during the conversation, but it is not
the most appropriate initial question. "It doesn't make sense to stop the
medication. I don't know why you took it upon yourself to do that" demeans
the client.
A nurse provides information to a client diagnosed with peripheral vascular
disease about ways to limit the disease's progression. Which measures does
the nurse tell the client to take? Select all that apply.
Crossing the legs at the ankles only
Engaging in exercise such as walking on a daily basis
Washing the feet daily with a mild soap and drying them well
Inspecting the feet at least once a week for injuries, especially abrasions
Using a heating pad on the legs to help keep the blood vessels dilated -
CORRECT ANSWER -Engaging in exercise such as walking on a daily basis
Washing the feet daily with a mild soap and drying them well
, Rationale: Long-term management of peripheral vascular disease consists
of measures that increase peripheral circulation. The client is instructed to
exercise regularly and is encouraged to walk for 20 minutes each day. The
client also needs to wash the feet daily with a mild soap, to dry the feet well,
and to inspect the feet daily for injuries or abrasions. Crossing the legs at
any level should be avoided because it promotes vasoconstriction. Keeping
the extremities warm is important; however, heating pads and hot water
bottles should not be placed on the extremity. Sensitivity may be
diminished in the affected extremity, increasing the risk for burns. Also,
direct application of heat increases the oxygen and nutritional
requirements of the tissue even further.
A client diagnosed with depression is anorexic. Which measure does the
nurse take to assist the client in meeting nutritional needs?
Providing food and fluid as the client requests
Offering high-calorie and high-protein foods and fluids frequently
throughout the day
Completing the dietary menu for the client to ensure that adequate
nutrition is provided
Weighing the client daily so that the client may determine whether the
nutritional plan is working - CORRECT ANSWER -Offering high-calorie and
high-protein foods and fluids frequently throughout the day
Rationale: The client should be offered high-calorie and high-protein foods
and fluids frequently throughout the day. Small, frequent snacks are more
easily tolerated than large plates of food when the client is anorexic. The
client should be offered choices of foods and fluids he/she likes, because the
client is more likely to consume foods he/she has selected. The client
should be weighed weekly, not daily. Weight gain may not be noted daily,
