HESI RN Fundamentals Exam
2026/2027 | 200 Comprehensive
Nursing Practice Questions with
Answers & Rationales – Pass Your
HESI on the First Try
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to administer medication to a client. Which of
the following is the most important action to prevent medication
errors?
A) Checking the medication label once before administration
B) Verifying the client's identity using two identifiers
C) Administering the medication within 30 minutes of the
scheduled time
D) Documenting the medication after administration
Answer: B) Verifying the client's identity using two identifiers
Rationale: Using two client identifiers (e.g., name and date of birth)
is a National Patient Safety Goal to prevent medication errors. This
ensures the right medication is given to the right client. Checking
the label once is insufficient; it should be checked three times.
Documentation should occur immediately after administration, not
before.
,Question 2
A nurse is assessing a client who has been experiencing vomiting
for 3 days. Which of the following findings should the nurse
expect?
A) Increased blood pressure
B) Decreased heart rate
C) Dry mucous membranes
D) Bounding pulses
Answer: C) Dry mucous membranes
Rationale: Prolonged vomiting leads to fluid volume deficit
(dehydration). Signs include dry mucous membranes, tachycardia,
hypotension, poor skin turgor, and decreased urine output.
Bounding pulses and increased blood pressure would indicate fluid
overload.
Question 3
A nurse is caring for a client with a stage II pressure ulcer. Which
of the following describes this stage?
A) Non-blanchable erythema of intact skin
B) Partial-thickness skin loss involving epidermis and/or dermis
,C) Full-thickness skin loss with visible subcutaneous fat
D) Full-thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, tendon, or muscle
Answer: B) Partial-thickness skin loss involving epidermis
and/or dermis
Rationale: Stage II pressure ulcers involve partial-thickness loss of
skin with exposed dermis. The wound bed is viable, pink or red, and
moist. Stage I is non-blanchable erythema, Stage III is full-thickness
loss, and Stage IV involves exposed bone, tendon, or muscle.
Question 4
A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A) Perform hand hygiene
B) Open the catheter kit
C) Position the client
D) Don sterile gloves
Answer: A) Perform hand hygiene
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the first step in any procedure to
prevent infection. It should be performed before opening the kit,
positioning the client, or donning gloves. This follows standard
precautions and infection control principles.
, Question 5
A nurse is teaching a client about a low-sodium diet. Which of the
following foods should the nurse instruct the client to avoid?
A) Fresh fruits
B) Canned soups
C) Grilled chicken
D) Steamed vegetables
Answer: B) Canned soups
Rationale: Canned soups are high in sodium due to preservation
processes. Clients on low-sodium diets should avoid processed and
canned foods. Fresh fruits, grilled chicken, and steamed vegetables
are low in sodium and appropriate choices.
Question 6
A nurse is assessing a client's pain level. The client states the pain
is "unbearable." Which of the following should the nurse do first?
A) Administer the prescribed analgesic
B) Document the client's statement
C) Assess the characteristics of the pain
2026/2027 | 200 Comprehensive
Nursing Practice Questions with
Answers & Rationales – Pass Your
HESI on the First Try
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to administer medication to a client. Which of
the following is the most important action to prevent medication
errors?
A) Checking the medication label once before administration
B) Verifying the client's identity using two identifiers
C) Administering the medication within 30 minutes of the
scheduled time
D) Documenting the medication after administration
Answer: B) Verifying the client's identity using two identifiers
Rationale: Using two client identifiers (e.g., name and date of birth)
is a National Patient Safety Goal to prevent medication errors. This
ensures the right medication is given to the right client. Checking
the label once is insufficient; it should be checked three times.
Documentation should occur immediately after administration, not
before.
,Question 2
A nurse is assessing a client who has been experiencing vomiting
for 3 days. Which of the following findings should the nurse
expect?
A) Increased blood pressure
B) Decreased heart rate
C) Dry mucous membranes
D) Bounding pulses
Answer: C) Dry mucous membranes
Rationale: Prolonged vomiting leads to fluid volume deficit
(dehydration). Signs include dry mucous membranes, tachycardia,
hypotension, poor skin turgor, and decreased urine output.
Bounding pulses and increased blood pressure would indicate fluid
overload.
Question 3
A nurse is caring for a client with a stage II pressure ulcer. Which
of the following describes this stage?
A) Non-blanchable erythema of intact skin
B) Partial-thickness skin loss involving epidermis and/or dermis
,C) Full-thickness skin loss with visible subcutaneous fat
D) Full-thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, tendon, or muscle
Answer: B) Partial-thickness skin loss involving epidermis
and/or dermis
Rationale: Stage II pressure ulcers involve partial-thickness loss of
skin with exposed dermis. The wound bed is viable, pink or red, and
moist. Stage I is non-blanchable erythema, Stage III is full-thickness
loss, and Stage IV involves exposed bone, tendon, or muscle.
Question 4
A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A) Perform hand hygiene
B) Open the catheter kit
C) Position the client
D) Don sterile gloves
Answer: A) Perform hand hygiene
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the first step in any procedure to
prevent infection. It should be performed before opening the kit,
positioning the client, or donning gloves. This follows standard
precautions and infection control principles.
, Question 5
A nurse is teaching a client about a low-sodium diet. Which of the
following foods should the nurse instruct the client to avoid?
A) Fresh fruits
B) Canned soups
C) Grilled chicken
D) Steamed vegetables
Answer: B) Canned soups
Rationale: Canned soups are high in sodium due to preservation
processes. Clients on low-sodium diets should avoid processed and
canned foods. Fresh fruits, grilled chicken, and steamed vegetables
are low in sodium and appropriate choices.
Question 6
A nurse is assessing a client's pain level. The client states the pain
is "unbearable." Which of the following should the nurse do first?
A) Administer the prescribed analgesic
B) Document the client's statement
C) Assess the characteristics of the pain
