2025 HESI Exit
Exam:
Comprehensive
Practice Questions
& Study Guide with
Verified Answers
Question 1:
A client presses the call bell and requests pain medication for a severe
headache. To assess the quality of the client's pain, which approach
should the nurse use?
A. Ask the client to describe the pain
B. Observe body language and movement
C. Identify effective pain relief measures
D. Provide a numeric pain scale
Correct Answer:
A. Ask the client to describe the pain
Question 2:
A nurse working on an Endocrine Unit should see which client first?
A. An older client with Addison's disease whose current blood sugar level is 62 mg/dL
B. A client taking corticosteroids who has become disoriented in the last two hours
,C. An adolescent male with type 1 diabetes who is arguing about his insulin dose
D. An adult with a blood sugar of 384 mg/dL and a urine output of 350mL in the last hour
Correct Answer:
B. A client taking corticosteroids who has become disoriented in the last two hours
Question 3:
The nurse is completing the admission assessment of a 3-year old who
is admitted with bacterial meningitis and hydrocephalus. Which
assessment finding is evidence that the child is experiencing increased
intracranial pressure (ICP)?
A. Tachycardia and tachypnea
B. Sluggish and unequal pupillary responses
C. Increased head circumference and bulging fontanels
D. Blood pressure fluctuations and syncope
Correct Answer:
B. Sluggish and unequal pupillary responses
Question 4:
A young adult male who is being seen at the employee health care clinic
for an annual assessment tells the nurse that his mother was diagnosed
with schizophrenia when she was his age and that life with a
schizophrenic mother was difficult indeed. Which response is best for
the nurse to provide?
A. Encourage the client to seek genetic counseling to determine his risk for mental illness
B. Inform the client that his mother's schizophrenia has affected his psychological development
C. Tell the client that mental illness has a familial predisposition so he should see a psychiatrist
D. Ask the client if he is worried about becoming schizophrenic at the age his mother was diagnosed
Correct Answer:
D. Ask the client if he is worried about becoming schizophrenic at the age his mother was diagnosed
Question 5:
A young male client is admitted to rehabilitation following a right above-
knee amputation (AKA) for a severe traumatic injury. He is in the
commons room and anxiously calls out to the nurse, stating that his
"right foot is aching". The nurse offers reassurance and support. Which
additional intervention is most important for the nurse to implement?
A. Encourage discussion of feelings about the loss of his limb
B. Administer a prescription for gabapentin, a neuroleptic agent
C. Tech the client how to wrap the stump with an elastic bandage
D. Offer to assist the client to a quieter location so he can relax
Correct Answer:
A. Encourage discussion of feelings about the loss of his limb
Question 6:
An adolescent who was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus Type 1 at the
age of 9, is admitted to the hospital in diabetic ketoacidosis. Which
occurrence is the most likely cause of the ketoacidosis?
,A. Ate an extra peanut butter sandwich before gym class
B. incorrectly administered too much insulin
C. Had a cold and ear infection for the past two days
D. Skipped eating lunch
Correct Answer:
C. Had a cold and ear infection for the past two days
Question 7:
An older client with a long history of coronary artery disease (CAD),
hypertension (HTN), and heart failure (HF) arrives in the Emergency
Department (ED) in respiratory distress. The healthcare provider
prescribes furosemide IV. Which therapeutic response to furosemide
should the nurse expected in the client with acute HF?
A. Increased cardiac contractility
B. Reduced preload
C. Relaxed vascular tone
D. Decreased afterload
Correct Answer:
B. Reduced preload
Question 8:
A preschool-aged boy is admitted to the pediatric unit following
successful resuscitation from a near-drowning incident. While providing
care to the child, the nurse begins talking with his preadolescent brother
who rescued the child from the swimming pool and initiated
resuscitation. The nurse notices the older boy becomes withdrawn when
asked about what happened. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Develop a water safety teaching plan for the family
B. Ask the older brother how he felt during the incident
C. Tell the older brother that he seems depressed
D. Commend the older brother for his heroic actions
Correct Answer:
B. Ask the older brother how he felt during the incident
Question 9:
A client with acute pancreatitis is admitted with severe, piercing
abdominal pain and an elevated serum amylase. Which additional
information is the client most likely to report to the nurse?
A. Abdominal pain decreases when lying supine
B. Pain lasts an hour and leaves the abdomen tender
C. Right upper quadrant pain refers to right scapula
D. Drinks alcohol until intoxicated at least twice weekly.
Correct Answer:
A. Abdominal pain decreases when lying supine
Question 10:
, The nurse is reviewing the diagnostic tests prescribed for a client with a
positive skin test. Which subjective findings reported by the client
supports the diagnosis of tuberculosis?
A. Barking cough and vomiting
B. Mucopurulent cough and night sweats
C. Dry cough and chest tightness
D. Chronic cough and fatty stools
Correct Answer:
B. Mucopurulent cough and night sweats
Question 11:
A client in the third trimester of pregnancy reports that she fells some
"lumpy places" in her breasts and that her nipples sometimes leak a
yellowish fluid. She has an appointment with her healthcare provider in
two weeks. What action should the nurse take?
A. Tell the client to begin nipple stimulation to prepare for breast feeding.
B. Reschedule the client's prenatal appointment for the following day
C. Explain that this normal secretion can be assessed at the next visit
D. Recommend that the client start wearing a supportive brassiere
Correct Answer:
C. Explain that this normal secretion can be assessed at the next visit
Question 12:
The nurse is caring for a 24-month-old toddler who has sensory
sensitivity, difficulty engaging in social interactions, and has not yet
spoken two-word phrases. Which assessment should the nurse
administer?
A. The modified checklist for autism in toddlers (M-CHAT)
B. Psychology Systems Questionnaire (PHQ-2)
C. Behavioral Style Questionnaire (BSQ)
D. The Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)
Correct Answer:
A. The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT)
Question 13:
The nurse is demonstrating correct transfer procedures to the
unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) working on a rehabilitation unit.
The UAP asks the nurse how to safely move a physically disabled client
from the wheelchair to a bed. Which action should the nurse
recommend?
A. apply a gait belt around the client's waist once a standing position has been assumed
B. Place the client's locked wheelchair on the client's strong side next to the bed
C. Pull the client into position by reaching from the opposite side of the bed
D. Hold the client at arm's length while transferring to better distribute the body weight
Correct Answer:
B. Place the client's locked wheelchair on the client's strong side next to the bed
Question 14:
Exam:
Comprehensive
Practice Questions
& Study Guide with
Verified Answers
Question 1:
A client presses the call bell and requests pain medication for a severe
headache. To assess the quality of the client's pain, which approach
should the nurse use?
A. Ask the client to describe the pain
B. Observe body language and movement
C. Identify effective pain relief measures
D. Provide a numeric pain scale
Correct Answer:
A. Ask the client to describe the pain
Question 2:
A nurse working on an Endocrine Unit should see which client first?
A. An older client with Addison's disease whose current blood sugar level is 62 mg/dL
B. A client taking corticosteroids who has become disoriented in the last two hours
,C. An adolescent male with type 1 diabetes who is arguing about his insulin dose
D. An adult with a blood sugar of 384 mg/dL and a urine output of 350mL in the last hour
Correct Answer:
B. A client taking corticosteroids who has become disoriented in the last two hours
Question 3:
The nurse is completing the admission assessment of a 3-year old who
is admitted with bacterial meningitis and hydrocephalus. Which
assessment finding is evidence that the child is experiencing increased
intracranial pressure (ICP)?
A. Tachycardia and tachypnea
B. Sluggish and unequal pupillary responses
C. Increased head circumference and bulging fontanels
D. Blood pressure fluctuations and syncope
Correct Answer:
B. Sluggish and unequal pupillary responses
Question 4:
A young adult male who is being seen at the employee health care clinic
for an annual assessment tells the nurse that his mother was diagnosed
with schizophrenia when she was his age and that life with a
schizophrenic mother was difficult indeed. Which response is best for
the nurse to provide?
A. Encourage the client to seek genetic counseling to determine his risk for mental illness
B. Inform the client that his mother's schizophrenia has affected his psychological development
C. Tell the client that mental illness has a familial predisposition so he should see a psychiatrist
D. Ask the client if he is worried about becoming schizophrenic at the age his mother was diagnosed
Correct Answer:
D. Ask the client if he is worried about becoming schizophrenic at the age his mother was diagnosed
Question 5:
A young male client is admitted to rehabilitation following a right above-
knee amputation (AKA) for a severe traumatic injury. He is in the
commons room and anxiously calls out to the nurse, stating that his
"right foot is aching". The nurse offers reassurance and support. Which
additional intervention is most important for the nurse to implement?
A. Encourage discussion of feelings about the loss of his limb
B. Administer a prescription for gabapentin, a neuroleptic agent
C. Tech the client how to wrap the stump with an elastic bandage
D. Offer to assist the client to a quieter location so he can relax
Correct Answer:
A. Encourage discussion of feelings about the loss of his limb
Question 6:
An adolescent who was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus Type 1 at the
age of 9, is admitted to the hospital in diabetic ketoacidosis. Which
occurrence is the most likely cause of the ketoacidosis?
,A. Ate an extra peanut butter sandwich before gym class
B. incorrectly administered too much insulin
C. Had a cold and ear infection for the past two days
D. Skipped eating lunch
Correct Answer:
C. Had a cold and ear infection for the past two days
Question 7:
An older client with a long history of coronary artery disease (CAD),
hypertension (HTN), and heart failure (HF) arrives in the Emergency
Department (ED) in respiratory distress. The healthcare provider
prescribes furosemide IV. Which therapeutic response to furosemide
should the nurse expected in the client with acute HF?
A. Increased cardiac contractility
B. Reduced preload
C. Relaxed vascular tone
D. Decreased afterload
Correct Answer:
B. Reduced preload
Question 8:
A preschool-aged boy is admitted to the pediatric unit following
successful resuscitation from a near-drowning incident. While providing
care to the child, the nurse begins talking with his preadolescent brother
who rescued the child from the swimming pool and initiated
resuscitation. The nurse notices the older boy becomes withdrawn when
asked about what happened. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Develop a water safety teaching plan for the family
B. Ask the older brother how he felt during the incident
C. Tell the older brother that he seems depressed
D. Commend the older brother for his heroic actions
Correct Answer:
B. Ask the older brother how he felt during the incident
Question 9:
A client with acute pancreatitis is admitted with severe, piercing
abdominal pain and an elevated serum amylase. Which additional
information is the client most likely to report to the nurse?
A. Abdominal pain decreases when lying supine
B. Pain lasts an hour and leaves the abdomen tender
C. Right upper quadrant pain refers to right scapula
D. Drinks alcohol until intoxicated at least twice weekly.
Correct Answer:
A. Abdominal pain decreases when lying supine
Question 10:
, The nurse is reviewing the diagnostic tests prescribed for a client with a
positive skin test. Which subjective findings reported by the client
supports the diagnosis of tuberculosis?
A. Barking cough and vomiting
B. Mucopurulent cough and night sweats
C. Dry cough and chest tightness
D. Chronic cough and fatty stools
Correct Answer:
B. Mucopurulent cough and night sweats
Question 11:
A client in the third trimester of pregnancy reports that she fells some
"lumpy places" in her breasts and that her nipples sometimes leak a
yellowish fluid. She has an appointment with her healthcare provider in
two weeks. What action should the nurse take?
A. Tell the client to begin nipple stimulation to prepare for breast feeding.
B. Reschedule the client's prenatal appointment for the following day
C. Explain that this normal secretion can be assessed at the next visit
D. Recommend that the client start wearing a supportive brassiere
Correct Answer:
C. Explain that this normal secretion can be assessed at the next visit
Question 12:
The nurse is caring for a 24-month-old toddler who has sensory
sensitivity, difficulty engaging in social interactions, and has not yet
spoken two-word phrases. Which assessment should the nurse
administer?
A. The modified checklist for autism in toddlers (M-CHAT)
B. Psychology Systems Questionnaire (PHQ-2)
C. Behavioral Style Questionnaire (BSQ)
D. The Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)
Correct Answer:
A. The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT)
Question 13:
The nurse is demonstrating correct transfer procedures to the
unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) working on a rehabilitation unit.
The UAP asks the nurse how to safely move a physically disabled client
from the wheelchair to a bed. Which action should the nurse
recommend?
A. apply a gait belt around the client's waist once a standing position has been assumed
B. Place the client's locked wheelchair on the client's strong side next to the bed
C. Pull the client into position by reaching from the opposite side of the bed
D. Hold the client at arm's length while transferring to better distribute the body weight
Correct Answer:
B. Place the client's locked wheelchair on the client's strong side next to the bed
Question 14:
