PN EXIT HESI EXAM SCRIPT 2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔A 12-year-old child is receiving a blood transfusion per infusion pump and begins to
complain of "itchy" skin 15 minutes after the unit of blood is started. The child appears
flushed. What action should the practical nurse take first?
A. Apply lotion to the skin
B. Stop the transfusion
C. Inspect the infusion site
D. Obtain the vital signs - ✔✔B
✔✔A PN is competing a focused assessment of an older adult's skin. The PN notes a
crusted 0.7 cm lesion on the client's forehead. Which action should the PN take in
response to this finding?
A. Report the finding to the healthcare provider
B. Place a clear occlusive dressing over the site
C. Apply a warm compress to remove the crusted area
D. Explain that this is a normal skin change with aging - ✔✔C
✔✔While taking the vital signs of an older male client who takes psychotropic
medications, the PN notes that he has uncontrollable hand movements and is
excessively blinking his eyes. Which information in the client's medical record should
the PN review?
A. Prescription for lorazepam
B. History of Parkinson's disease
C. Screening for tardive dyskinesia
D. Recent urine drug screen report - ✔✔B
✔✔The PN is caring for an elderly female client who tells the PN, "When I sneeze, I wet
my pants." After discussing the client's complaint with the charge nurse, the PN plans to
reinforce teaching that the client has received about the importance of Kegel
exercises.WHat muscles are involved in these exercises?
A. Pectoral muscles
B. Buttock muscles
C. Abdominal muscles
D. Pelvic floor muscles - ✔✔D
✔✔While providing oral care for a client who is unconscious, the nurse positions the
client laterally and uses a basin to collect secretions. Which intervention is best for the
nurse to implement?
,A. Swab the oral cavity with a washcloth
B. Use oral swabs with normal saline
C. Provide a Yankauer tip for oral suction
D. Support the head with a small pillow - ✔✔B
✔✔The practical nurse and unlicensed assistive personnel are providing care for a
client who exhibits signs of neglect syndrome following a stroke affecting the right
hemisphere. What action should the PN implement?
A. Demonstrate to the UAP how to approach the client from the client's left side
B. Ask the UAP to leave the room and assess the client's body for bruising
C. Carefully observe the interaction between the client and family members.
D. Instruct the UAP to protect the client's left side when transferring to chair - ✔✔A
✔✔After administering pantoprazole to a client with gastroesophogeal reflux
disorder(GERD), which statement by the client indicates to the practical nurse that the
medication is producing the desired effect?
A. After eating my meal, I did not experience any heartburn
B. I have a great appetite and am feeling really hungry
C. I should increase the amount of vitamin C in my diet
D. While eating, I had no difficulty swallowing any of the foods - ✔✔A
✔✔During the last 30 days, an elderly client has exhibited a progressively decreasing
appetite, is spending increasing amounts of daytime hours in bed and refuses to
participate in planned daytime activities. Which action should the practical nurse take?
A. Record the findings and report the symptoms to the charge nurse
B. Ask the family members to visit more often to stimulate the patient
C. Motivate the client by offering favorite foods as a prize
D. Withold any medications that may cause side effects - ✔✔A
✔✔A male client who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia is withdrawn, isolates
himself in the day room, and answers question with one or two word responses. This
morning, the practical nurse observes that he is diaphoretic and is pacing in the hall.
Which intervention is most important to the PN to implement?
A. Persuade the client to lie down
B. Provide a drink high in electrolytes
C. Observe the client during the shift
D. Measure appropriate vital signs - ✔✔D
✔✔At 1200, the practical nurse learns that a client's 0900 dose of an anticonvulsant
was not given. The next scheduled dose is at 2100. Which action should the PN take?
, A. Administer half of the missed dose immediately
B. Administer the missed dose as soon as possible
C. Give the missed dose with the next scheduled dose
D. Withhold the mossed dose unless seizure activity occurs - ✔✔B
✔✔The practical nurse is caring for a client who had a total laryngectomy, left radical
neck dissection, and tracheostomy. The client is receiving nasogastric tube feedings via
an enteral pump. Today the rate of feeding is increased from 50 ml/hr to 75 ml/her.
What parameter should the PN use to evaluate the client's tolerance to the rate of the
feeding?
A. Daily weight
B. Gastric residual volumes
C. Bowel Sounds
D. Urinary and stool output - ✔✔B
✔✔The practical nurse is caring for a client whose urine drug screen is positive for
cocaine, Which behavior is this client likely to exhibit during cocaine withdrawal?
A. Elevated energy level
B. Euphoria
C. High self-esteem
D. Powerful craving for more - ✔✔D
✔✔The PN administered darbepoetin alfa to a client with Chronic Kidney
Disease(CKD). Which serum laboratory value should the PN monitor to gather the
effectiveness of this drug?
A. Calcium
B. Phosphorous
C. Hemoglobin
D. White Blood Cell Count - ✔✔B
✔✔The PN observes an UAP bathing a bedfast client with the bed in the high position.
Which action should the PN take?
A. Remain in the room to supervise the UAP
B. Determine if the UAP would like assistance
C. Assume care of the client immediately
D. Instruct the UAP to lower the bed for safety - ✔✔D
✔✔Thirty minutes after receiving IV morphine, a postoperative client continues yes to
rate pain as 7 on 10 point scale. Which action should the PN implement first?
A. Call HCP to request a different analgesic
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔A 12-year-old child is receiving a blood transfusion per infusion pump and begins to
complain of "itchy" skin 15 minutes after the unit of blood is started. The child appears
flushed. What action should the practical nurse take first?
A. Apply lotion to the skin
B. Stop the transfusion
C. Inspect the infusion site
D. Obtain the vital signs - ✔✔B
✔✔A PN is competing a focused assessment of an older adult's skin. The PN notes a
crusted 0.7 cm lesion on the client's forehead. Which action should the PN take in
response to this finding?
A. Report the finding to the healthcare provider
B. Place a clear occlusive dressing over the site
C. Apply a warm compress to remove the crusted area
D. Explain that this is a normal skin change with aging - ✔✔C
✔✔While taking the vital signs of an older male client who takes psychotropic
medications, the PN notes that he has uncontrollable hand movements and is
excessively blinking his eyes. Which information in the client's medical record should
the PN review?
A. Prescription for lorazepam
B. History of Parkinson's disease
C. Screening for tardive dyskinesia
D. Recent urine drug screen report - ✔✔B
✔✔The PN is caring for an elderly female client who tells the PN, "When I sneeze, I wet
my pants." After discussing the client's complaint with the charge nurse, the PN plans to
reinforce teaching that the client has received about the importance of Kegel
exercises.WHat muscles are involved in these exercises?
A. Pectoral muscles
B. Buttock muscles
C. Abdominal muscles
D. Pelvic floor muscles - ✔✔D
✔✔While providing oral care for a client who is unconscious, the nurse positions the
client laterally and uses a basin to collect secretions. Which intervention is best for the
nurse to implement?
,A. Swab the oral cavity with a washcloth
B. Use oral swabs with normal saline
C. Provide a Yankauer tip for oral suction
D. Support the head with a small pillow - ✔✔B
✔✔The practical nurse and unlicensed assistive personnel are providing care for a
client who exhibits signs of neglect syndrome following a stroke affecting the right
hemisphere. What action should the PN implement?
A. Demonstrate to the UAP how to approach the client from the client's left side
B. Ask the UAP to leave the room and assess the client's body for bruising
C. Carefully observe the interaction between the client and family members.
D. Instruct the UAP to protect the client's left side when transferring to chair - ✔✔A
✔✔After administering pantoprazole to a client with gastroesophogeal reflux
disorder(GERD), which statement by the client indicates to the practical nurse that the
medication is producing the desired effect?
A. After eating my meal, I did not experience any heartburn
B. I have a great appetite and am feeling really hungry
C. I should increase the amount of vitamin C in my diet
D. While eating, I had no difficulty swallowing any of the foods - ✔✔A
✔✔During the last 30 days, an elderly client has exhibited a progressively decreasing
appetite, is spending increasing amounts of daytime hours in bed and refuses to
participate in planned daytime activities. Which action should the practical nurse take?
A. Record the findings and report the symptoms to the charge nurse
B. Ask the family members to visit more often to stimulate the patient
C. Motivate the client by offering favorite foods as a prize
D. Withold any medications that may cause side effects - ✔✔A
✔✔A male client who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia is withdrawn, isolates
himself in the day room, and answers question with one or two word responses. This
morning, the practical nurse observes that he is diaphoretic and is pacing in the hall.
Which intervention is most important to the PN to implement?
A. Persuade the client to lie down
B. Provide a drink high in electrolytes
C. Observe the client during the shift
D. Measure appropriate vital signs - ✔✔D
✔✔At 1200, the practical nurse learns that a client's 0900 dose of an anticonvulsant
was not given. The next scheduled dose is at 2100. Which action should the PN take?
, A. Administer half of the missed dose immediately
B. Administer the missed dose as soon as possible
C. Give the missed dose with the next scheduled dose
D. Withhold the mossed dose unless seizure activity occurs - ✔✔B
✔✔The practical nurse is caring for a client who had a total laryngectomy, left radical
neck dissection, and tracheostomy. The client is receiving nasogastric tube feedings via
an enteral pump. Today the rate of feeding is increased from 50 ml/hr to 75 ml/her.
What parameter should the PN use to evaluate the client's tolerance to the rate of the
feeding?
A. Daily weight
B. Gastric residual volumes
C. Bowel Sounds
D. Urinary and stool output - ✔✔B
✔✔The practical nurse is caring for a client whose urine drug screen is positive for
cocaine, Which behavior is this client likely to exhibit during cocaine withdrawal?
A. Elevated energy level
B. Euphoria
C. High self-esteem
D. Powerful craving for more - ✔✔D
✔✔The PN administered darbepoetin alfa to a client with Chronic Kidney
Disease(CKD). Which serum laboratory value should the PN monitor to gather the
effectiveness of this drug?
A. Calcium
B. Phosphorous
C. Hemoglobin
D. White Blood Cell Count - ✔✔B
✔✔The PN observes an UAP bathing a bedfast client with the bed in the high position.
Which action should the PN take?
A. Remain in the room to supervise the UAP
B. Determine if the UAP would like assistance
C. Assume care of the client immediately
D. Instruct the UAP to lower the bed for safety - ✔✔D
✔✔Thirty minutes after receiving IV morphine, a postoperative client continues yes to
rate pain as 7 on 10 point scale. Which action should the PN implement first?
A. Call HCP to request a different analgesic
