HESI RN FUNDAMENTALS EXIT EXAM
2025–2026 COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
PRACTICE QUESTIONS VERIFIED
ANSWERS and DETAILED RATIONALES
The nurse is assisting a client to the bathroom. When the client is 5 feet
from the bathroom door, he states, "I feel faint." Before the nurse can get
the client to a chair, the client starts to fall. Which is the priority action for
the nurse to take?
A.
Check the client's carotid pulse.
B.
Encourage the client to get to the toilet.
C.
In a loud voice, call for help.
D.
Gently lower the client to the floor. - CORRECT ANSWER-D
Rationale: Option D is the most prudent intervention and is the priority
nursing action to prevent injury to the client and the nurse. Lowering the
client to the floor should be done when the client cannot support his own
weight. The client should be placed in a bed or chair only when sufficient
help is available to prevent injury. Option A is important but should be
done after the client is in a safe position. Because the client is not
supporting himself, option B is impractical. Option C is likely to cause
chaos on the unit and might alarm the other clients.
The nurse is reviewing a client's lab results from 2 hours ago. The sodium
level is 128 mEq/L. The nurse should be alert for which findings? (Select all
that apply.)
A.
,Weakness in the hands and feet
B.
+1 reflexes to the patella
C.
Headache
D.
Muscle twitching
E.
Nausea
F.
Facial redness - CORRECT ANSWER-A, B, C, E
Rationale: The client is hyponatremic. All are signs of hyponatremia except
muscle twitching and facial redness.
The nurse is drawing a blood sample from the client's basilic vein. Multiple
attempts were made prior to obtaining the sample with the tourniquet in
place for nearly 5 minutes. Which laboratory finding would the nurse
suspect is inaccurate related to the prolonged tourniquet placement?
A.
Na 148 mEq/L
B.
K 5.3 mEq/L
C.
Cl 102 mEq/L
D.
Ca 9.3 mg/dL - CORRECT ANSWER-B
,Rationale: Prolonged tourniquet placement can cause accumulation of
potassium, skewing the result upward. The sodium level is also high, but
that is not related to the blood draw. The chloride and calcium levels are
normal.
The clinic nurse is taking the vital signs of a 1-year-old. Which finding
should the nurse bring to the attention of the healthcare provider?
A.
Temperature: 97.5°F/36.4°C
B.
Pulse: 80 beats/min
C.
Respirations: 26 breaths/min
D.
Blood pressure: 90/53 mm Hg - CORRECT ANSWER-B
Rationale: A normal pulse rate for a 1-year-old is 90 to 130. This child's
heart beat is below the normal range. The remaining vital signs are within
the normal limits for a 1-year-old.
The clinic nurse is reviewing an antibiotic medication prescribed to a client
with a urinary tract infection. What instructions will the nurse include in
the client's teaching? (Select all that apply.)
A.
Take all of the medication as prescribed, especially when you start feeling
better.
B.
Take the medication with 8 ounce/240 mL of water.
C.
, Call poison control if you start itching, develop hives, or have difficulty
breathing.
D.
Keep this medication out of the reach of small children, preferably in a
locked cabinet.
E.
Call your healthcare provider (HCP) when your symptoms subside. -
CORRECT ANSWER-A, B, D
Rationale: Once symptoms subside, it is sometime hard to remember to
take antibiotics. The client needs to take the full course of antibiotics to
achieve the maximum effect. Drinking a glass of water will help keep the
body hydrated. All medication should be kept out of reach, preferably in a
locked cabinet. The client needs to call the health care provider in the event
of an allergic reaction to the antibiotic. The medication is prescribed to
treat the infection. There is no need to notify the HCP when the medication
is having the desired effects.
The nurse is aware that malnutrition is a common problem among clients
served by a community health clinic for the homeless. Which laboratory
value is the most reliable indicator of chronic protein malnutrition?
A.
Low serum albumin level
B.
Low serum transferrin level
C.
High hemoglobin level
D.
High cholesterol level - CORRECT ANSWER-A
2025–2026 COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
PRACTICE QUESTIONS VERIFIED
ANSWERS and DETAILED RATIONALES
The nurse is assisting a client to the bathroom. When the client is 5 feet
from the bathroom door, he states, "I feel faint." Before the nurse can get
the client to a chair, the client starts to fall. Which is the priority action for
the nurse to take?
A.
Check the client's carotid pulse.
B.
Encourage the client to get to the toilet.
C.
In a loud voice, call for help.
D.
Gently lower the client to the floor. - CORRECT ANSWER-D
Rationale: Option D is the most prudent intervention and is the priority
nursing action to prevent injury to the client and the nurse. Lowering the
client to the floor should be done when the client cannot support his own
weight. The client should be placed in a bed or chair only when sufficient
help is available to prevent injury. Option A is important but should be
done after the client is in a safe position. Because the client is not
supporting himself, option B is impractical. Option C is likely to cause
chaos on the unit and might alarm the other clients.
The nurse is reviewing a client's lab results from 2 hours ago. The sodium
level is 128 mEq/L. The nurse should be alert for which findings? (Select all
that apply.)
A.
,Weakness in the hands and feet
B.
+1 reflexes to the patella
C.
Headache
D.
Muscle twitching
E.
Nausea
F.
Facial redness - CORRECT ANSWER-A, B, C, E
Rationale: The client is hyponatremic. All are signs of hyponatremia except
muscle twitching and facial redness.
The nurse is drawing a blood sample from the client's basilic vein. Multiple
attempts were made prior to obtaining the sample with the tourniquet in
place for nearly 5 minutes. Which laboratory finding would the nurse
suspect is inaccurate related to the prolonged tourniquet placement?
A.
Na 148 mEq/L
B.
K 5.3 mEq/L
C.
Cl 102 mEq/L
D.
Ca 9.3 mg/dL - CORRECT ANSWER-B
,Rationale: Prolonged tourniquet placement can cause accumulation of
potassium, skewing the result upward. The sodium level is also high, but
that is not related to the blood draw. The chloride and calcium levels are
normal.
The clinic nurse is taking the vital signs of a 1-year-old. Which finding
should the nurse bring to the attention of the healthcare provider?
A.
Temperature: 97.5°F/36.4°C
B.
Pulse: 80 beats/min
C.
Respirations: 26 breaths/min
D.
Blood pressure: 90/53 mm Hg - CORRECT ANSWER-B
Rationale: A normal pulse rate for a 1-year-old is 90 to 130. This child's
heart beat is below the normal range. The remaining vital signs are within
the normal limits for a 1-year-old.
The clinic nurse is reviewing an antibiotic medication prescribed to a client
with a urinary tract infection. What instructions will the nurse include in
the client's teaching? (Select all that apply.)
A.
Take all of the medication as prescribed, especially when you start feeling
better.
B.
Take the medication with 8 ounce/240 mL of water.
C.
, Call poison control if you start itching, develop hives, or have difficulty
breathing.
D.
Keep this medication out of the reach of small children, preferably in a
locked cabinet.
E.
Call your healthcare provider (HCP) when your symptoms subside. -
CORRECT ANSWER-A, B, D
Rationale: Once symptoms subside, it is sometime hard to remember to
take antibiotics. The client needs to take the full course of antibiotics to
achieve the maximum effect. Drinking a glass of water will help keep the
body hydrated. All medication should be kept out of reach, preferably in a
locked cabinet. The client needs to call the health care provider in the event
of an allergic reaction to the antibiotic. The medication is prescribed to
treat the infection. There is no need to notify the HCP when the medication
is having the desired effects.
The nurse is aware that malnutrition is a common problem among clients
served by a community health clinic for the homeless. Which laboratory
value is the most reliable indicator of chronic protein malnutrition?
A.
Low serum albumin level
B.
Low serum transferrin level
C.
High hemoglobin level
D.
High cholesterol level - CORRECT ANSWER-A
