HESI Exit Exam 2024 Comprehensive
Review – 100% Updated Questions &
Rationales with Full Grading Assurance
June 06, 2025
Contents
1 Exam Questions 2
1
, Introduction
This document provides 80 high-yield, original multiple-choice questions for the HESI
Exit Exam 2024. Each question includes four options, a verified correct answer, and a
clear rationale, covering priority-setting, patient safety, clinical judgment, and interdis-
ciplinary care. Content is designed for professional PDF use and aligns with 2024 test
expectations for exam readiness.
1 Exam Questions
Question 1: A nurse is caring for four patients. Which patient should the nurse assess first?
a) A patient with a blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg, reporting a headache
b) A patient with a respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min, complaining of shortness
of breath
c) A patient with a fever of 100.4°F, requesting pain medication
d) A patient scheduled for discharge, asking for education on wound care
Correct Answer: b) A patient with a respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min, com-
plaining of shortness of breath
Rationale: Using the ABC priority framework (airway, breathing, circulation),
the patient with a respiratory rate of 28 and shortness of breath indicates poten-
tial respiratory distress, requiring immediate assessment. Hypertension, fever, and
discharge education are less urgent.
Question 2: What action should a nurse take to ensure patient safety before administering a
new medication?
a) Check the patient’s weight
b) Verify the patient’s identity using two identifiers
c) Review the patient’s last vital signs
d) Ask the patient about their last meal
Correct Answer: b) Verify the patient’s identity using two identifiers
Rationale: Verifying identity with two identifiers (e.g., name and date of birth) is
a critical safety step to prevent medication errors, per current standards. Weight,
vital signs, and meal timing may be relevant but are secondary to identity confir-
mation.
Question 3: A patient with diabetes reports nausea, sweating, and shakiness. What should the
nurse do first?
a) Administer insulin
b) Check the patient’s blood glucose level
2
, c) Offer a high-protein snack
d) Call the physician
Correct Answer: b) Check the patient’s blood glucose level
Rationale: Nausea, sweating, and shakiness suggest hypoglycemia in a diabetic
patient. Checking blood glucose confirms the diagnosis and guides treatment. In-
sulin worsens hypoglycemia, a snack follows assessment, and calling the physician
is secondary.
Question 4: A patient with heart failure is being discharged. Which team member should the
nurse consult for dietary education?
a) Physical therapist
b) Dietitian
c) Social worker
d) Pharmacist
Correct Answer: b) Dietitian
Rationale: A dietitian specializes in dietary education, such as low-sodium di-
ets for heart failure. Physical therapists focus on mobility, social workers address
resources, and pharmacists handle medications.
Question 5: During a shift, a nurse receives multiple requests. Which task should be prioritized?
a) Administering a scheduled antibiotic to a stable patient
b) Responding to a patient’s call light for chest pain
c) Documenting vital signs from an hour ago
d) Preparing a patient for a routine X-ray
Correct Answer: b) Responding to a patient’s call light for chest pain
Rationale: Chest pain may indicate a life-threatening issue like a myocardial
infarction, requiring immediate attention per ABC priorities. Antibiotics, docu-
mentation, and X-rays are less urgent.
Question 6: What should a nurse do to prevent falls in an elderly patient with a history of falls?
a) Keep the bed in the highest position
b) Ensure the call light is within reach
c) Leave the room dimly lit
d) Encourage independent ambulation
Correct Answer: b) Ensure the call light is within reach
Rationale: Ensuring the call light is accessible promotes safety by allowing the
patient to request help, reducing fall risk. High beds, dim lighting, and unassisted
ambulation increase risk.
3
Review – 100% Updated Questions &
Rationales with Full Grading Assurance
June 06, 2025
Contents
1 Exam Questions 2
1
, Introduction
This document provides 80 high-yield, original multiple-choice questions for the HESI
Exit Exam 2024. Each question includes four options, a verified correct answer, and a
clear rationale, covering priority-setting, patient safety, clinical judgment, and interdis-
ciplinary care. Content is designed for professional PDF use and aligns with 2024 test
expectations for exam readiness.
1 Exam Questions
Question 1: A nurse is caring for four patients. Which patient should the nurse assess first?
a) A patient with a blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg, reporting a headache
b) A patient with a respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min, complaining of shortness
of breath
c) A patient with a fever of 100.4°F, requesting pain medication
d) A patient scheduled for discharge, asking for education on wound care
Correct Answer: b) A patient with a respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min, com-
plaining of shortness of breath
Rationale: Using the ABC priority framework (airway, breathing, circulation),
the patient with a respiratory rate of 28 and shortness of breath indicates poten-
tial respiratory distress, requiring immediate assessment. Hypertension, fever, and
discharge education are less urgent.
Question 2: What action should a nurse take to ensure patient safety before administering a
new medication?
a) Check the patient’s weight
b) Verify the patient’s identity using two identifiers
c) Review the patient’s last vital signs
d) Ask the patient about their last meal
Correct Answer: b) Verify the patient’s identity using two identifiers
Rationale: Verifying identity with two identifiers (e.g., name and date of birth) is
a critical safety step to prevent medication errors, per current standards. Weight,
vital signs, and meal timing may be relevant but are secondary to identity confir-
mation.
Question 3: A patient with diabetes reports nausea, sweating, and shakiness. What should the
nurse do first?
a) Administer insulin
b) Check the patient’s blood glucose level
2
, c) Offer a high-protein snack
d) Call the physician
Correct Answer: b) Check the patient’s blood glucose level
Rationale: Nausea, sweating, and shakiness suggest hypoglycemia in a diabetic
patient. Checking blood glucose confirms the diagnosis and guides treatment. In-
sulin worsens hypoglycemia, a snack follows assessment, and calling the physician
is secondary.
Question 4: A patient with heart failure is being discharged. Which team member should the
nurse consult for dietary education?
a) Physical therapist
b) Dietitian
c) Social worker
d) Pharmacist
Correct Answer: b) Dietitian
Rationale: A dietitian specializes in dietary education, such as low-sodium di-
ets for heart failure. Physical therapists focus on mobility, social workers address
resources, and pharmacists handle medications.
Question 5: During a shift, a nurse receives multiple requests. Which task should be prioritized?
a) Administering a scheduled antibiotic to a stable patient
b) Responding to a patient’s call light for chest pain
c) Documenting vital signs from an hour ago
d) Preparing a patient for a routine X-ray
Correct Answer: b) Responding to a patient’s call light for chest pain
Rationale: Chest pain may indicate a life-threatening issue like a myocardial
infarction, requiring immediate attention per ABC priorities. Antibiotics, docu-
mentation, and X-rays are less urgent.
Question 6: What should a nurse do to prevent falls in an elderly patient with a history of falls?
a) Keep the bed in the highest position
b) Ensure the call light is within reach
c) Leave the room dimly lit
d) Encourage independent ambulation
Correct Answer: b) Ensure the call light is within reach
Rationale: Ensuring the call light is accessible promotes safety by allowing the
patient to request help, reducing fall risk. High beds, dim lighting, and unassisted
ambulation increase risk.
3
