RN CAPSTONE HESI EXIT COMPREHENSIVE
EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◉ The mother of the 12- month-old with cystic fibrosis reports that
her child is experiencing increasing congestion despite the use of
chest physical therapy (CPT) twice a day, and has also experiences a
loss of appetite. What instruction should the nurse provide?
a. Perform CPT after meals to increase appetite and improve food
intake.
b. CPT should be performed more frequently, but at least an hour
before meals.
c. Stop using CPT during the daytime until the child has regained an
appetite.
d. Perform CPT only in the morning, but increase frequency when
appetite improves. Answer: CPT should be performed more
frequently, but at least an hour before meals.
Rationale: CPT with inhalation therapy should be performed several
times a day to loosen the secretions and move them from the
peripheral airway into the central airways where they can be
expectorated. CPT should be done at least one hour before meals or
two hours after meals.
,◉ The nurse is evaluating the diet teaching of a client with
hypertension. What dinner selection indicates that the client
understands the dietary recommendation for hypertension?
a. Tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwich, pickles, skim milk, and
lemon meringue pie.
b. Baked pork chop, applesauce, corn on the cob, 2% milk, and key-
lime pie.
c. Grilled steak, baked potato with sour cream, green beans, coffee
and raisin cream pie.
d. Beed stir fry, fried rice, egg drop soup, diet coke and pumpkin pie.
Answer: Baked pork chop, applesauce, corn on the cob, 2% milk, and
key-lime pie
Rationale: B is limited in sodium, is high in fiber, and no additional
fat is added through cooking, so it is the best choice for an
antihypertensive meal. A high in sodium and cholesterol, which
should be avoid. C is high in fat and caffeine which can elevate the BP
D is high in sodium and cholesterol and includes caffeine.
◉ A client with type 2 diabetes mellitus is admitted for frequent
hyperglycemic episodes and a glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of
10%. Insulin glargine 10 units subcutaneously once a day at bedtime
and a sliding scale with insulin aspart q6h are prescribed. What
action should the nurse include in this client's plan of care?
,a. Fingerstick glucose assessment q6h with meals
b. Mix bedtime dose of insulin glargine with insulin aspart sliding
scale dose
c. Review with the client proper foot care and prevention of injury
d. Do not contaminate the insulin aspart so that it is available for iv
use
e. Coordinate carbohydrate controlled meals at consistent times and
intervals
f. Teach subcutaneous injection technique, site rotation and insulin
management Answer: a. Fingerstick glucose assessment q6h with
meals
c. Review with the client proper foot care and prevention of injury
e. Coordinate carbohydrate controlled meals at consistent times and
intervals
f. Teach subcutaneous injection technique, site rotation and insulin
management
◉ Which problem reported by a client taking lovastatin requires the
most immediate follow up by the nurse?
a. Diarrhea and flatulence
b. Abdominal cramps
c. Muscle pain
, d. Altered taste Answer: Muscle pain
Rationale: statins can cause rhabdomyolysis, a potentially fatal
disease of skeletal muscle characterized by myoglobinuria and
manifested with muscle pain, so this symptom should immediately
be reported to the HCP.
◉ Before leaving the room of a confused client, the nurse notes that
a half bow knot was used to attach the client's wrist restraints to the
movable portion of the client's bed frame. What action should the
nurse take before leaving the room?
a. Ensure that the knot can be quickly released.
b. Tie the knot with a double turn or square knot.
c. Move the ties so the restraints are secured to the side rails.
d. Ensure that the restraints are snug against the client's wrist.
Answer: Ensure that the knot can be quickly released.
◉ While assessing a client's chest tube (CT), the nurse discovers
bubbling in the water seal chamber of the chest tube collection
device. The client's vital signs are: blood pressure of 80/40 mmHg,
heart rate 120 beats/minutes, respiratory rate 32 breaths/minutes,
oxygen saturation 88%. Which interventions should the nurse
implement?
EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◉ The mother of the 12- month-old with cystic fibrosis reports that
her child is experiencing increasing congestion despite the use of
chest physical therapy (CPT) twice a day, and has also experiences a
loss of appetite. What instruction should the nurse provide?
a. Perform CPT after meals to increase appetite and improve food
intake.
b. CPT should be performed more frequently, but at least an hour
before meals.
c. Stop using CPT during the daytime until the child has regained an
appetite.
d. Perform CPT only in the morning, but increase frequency when
appetite improves. Answer: CPT should be performed more
frequently, but at least an hour before meals.
Rationale: CPT with inhalation therapy should be performed several
times a day to loosen the secretions and move them from the
peripheral airway into the central airways where they can be
expectorated. CPT should be done at least one hour before meals or
two hours after meals.
,◉ The nurse is evaluating the diet teaching of a client with
hypertension. What dinner selection indicates that the client
understands the dietary recommendation for hypertension?
a. Tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwich, pickles, skim milk, and
lemon meringue pie.
b. Baked pork chop, applesauce, corn on the cob, 2% milk, and key-
lime pie.
c. Grilled steak, baked potato with sour cream, green beans, coffee
and raisin cream pie.
d. Beed stir fry, fried rice, egg drop soup, diet coke and pumpkin pie.
Answer: Baked pork chop, applesauce, corn on the cob, 2% milk, and
key-lime pie
Rationale: B is limited in sodium, is high in fiber, and no additional
fat is added through cooking, so it is the best choice for an
antihypertensive meal. A high in sodium and cholesterol, which
should be avoid. C is high in fat and caffeine which can elevate the BP
D is high in sodium and cholesterol and includes caffeine.
◉ A client with type 2 diabetes mellitus is admitted for frequent
hyperglycemic episodes and a glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of
10%. Insulin glargine 10 units subcutaneously once a day at bedtime
and a sliding scale with insulin aspart q6h are prescribed. What
action should the nurse include in this client's plan of care?
,a. Fingerstick glucose assessment q6h with meals
b. Mix bedtime dose of insulin glargine with insulin aspart sliding
scale dose
c. Review with the client proper foot care and prevention of injury
d. Do not contaminate the insulin aspart so that it is available for iv
use
e. Coordinate carbohydrate controlled meals at consistent times and
intervals
f. Teach subcutaneous injection technique, site rotation and insulin
management Answer: a. Fingerstick glucose assessment q6h with
meals
c. Review with the client proper foot care and prevention of injury
e. Coordinate carbohydrate controlled meals at consistent times and
intervals
f. Teach subcutaneous injection technique, site rotation and insulin
management
◉ Which problem reported by a client taking lovastatin requires the
most immediate follow up by the nurse?
a. Diarrhea and flatulence
b. Abdominal cramps
c. Muscle pain
, d. Altered taste Answer: Muscle pain
Rationale: statins can cause rhabdomyolysis, a potentially fatal
disease of skeletal muscle characterized by myoglobinuria and
manifested with muscle pain, so this symptom should immediately
be reported to the HCP.
◉ Before leaving the room of a confused client, the nurse notes that
a half bow knot was used to attach the client's wrist restraints to the
movable portion of the client's bed frame. What action should the
nurse take before leaving the room?
a. Ensure that the knot can be quickly released.
b. Tie the knot with a double turn or square knot.
c. Move the ties so the restraints are secured to the side rails.
d. Ensure that the restraints are snug against the client's wrist.
Answer: Ensure that the knot can be quickly released.
◉ While assessing a client's chest tube (CT), the nurse discovers
bubbling in the water seal chamber of the chest tube collection
device. The client's vital signs are: blood pressure of 80/40 mmHg,
heart rate 120 beats/minutes, respiratory rate 32 breaths/minutes,
oxygen saturation 88%. Which interventions should the nurse
implement?
