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2026 HESI PHARMACOLOGY VERSION
1 (V1) EXIT EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS | A+ GRADED | WITH
EXPERT SOLUTIONS
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
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
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A child newly diagnosed with sickle cell anemia (SCA) is being
discharged from the hospital. Which information is most important
for the nurse to provide the parents prior to discharge?
A. Instructions about how much fluid the child should drink daily.
B. Signs of addiction to opioid pain medications
C. Information about non-pharmaceutical pain relief measures
D. Referral for social services for the child and family - correct
answer -A. Instructions about how much fluid the child should
drink daily
To auscultate for a carotid bruit, the nurse places the stethoscope
at what location. (Select the location on the image with a red dot).
- correct answer -I placed the red dot on the base of the neck on
the right side
After receiving report on an inpatient acute care unit, which client
should the nurse assess first?
A. The client with an obstruction of the large intestine who is
experiencing abdominal distention
B. The client who had surgery yesterday and is experiencing a
paralytic ileus with absent bowel sounds
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C. The client with a small bowel obstruction who has a
nasogastric tube that is draining greenish fluid
D. The client with a bowel obstruction due to a volvulus who is
experiencing abdominal rigidity - correct answer -D. The client
with a bowel obstruction due to a volvulus who is experiencing
abdominal rigidity
A teenager presents to the emergency department with
palpitations after vaping at a party. The client is anxious, fearful,
and hyperventilating. The nurse anticipates the client developing
which acid base imbalance?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis - correct answer -D. Respiratory alkalosis
A client with dyspnea is being admitted to the medical unit. To
best prepare for the client's arrival, the nurse should ensure that
the client's bed is in which position?
A. Supine
B. supine; feet elevated higher than head
C. supine; head elevated higher than feet
D. Fowlers - correct answer -Fowlers
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The nurse is taking the blood pressure measurement of a client
with Parkinson's disease. Which information in the client's
admission assessment is relevant to the nurse's plan for taking
the blood pressure reading? (Select all the apply)
A. Frequent syncope
B. Occasional nocturia
C. Flat affect
D. Blurred vision
E. Frequent drooling - correct answer -A. Frequent syncope
C. Flat affect
D. Blurred vision
While caring for a client's postoperative dressing, the nurse
observes purulent drainage at the wound. Before reporting this
finding to the healthcare provider, the nurse should review which
of the client's laboratory values?
A. Serum albumin
B. Culture for sensitive organisms
C. Serum blood glucose level
D. Creatinine level - correct answer -B. Culture for sensitive
organisms
2026 HESI PHARMACOLOGY VERSION
1 (V1) EXIT EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS | A+ GRADED | WITH
EXPERT SOLUTIONS
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
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
, Page | 2
A child newly diagnosed with sickle cell anemia (SCA) is being
discharged from the hospital. Which information is most important
for the nurse to provide the parents prior to discharge?
A. Instructions about how much fluid the child should drink daily.
B. Signs of addiction to opioid pain medications
C. Information about non-pharmaceutical pain relief measures
D. Referral for social services for the child and family - correct
answer -A. Instructions about how much fluid the child should
drink daily
To auscultate for a carotid bruit, the nurse places the stethoscope
at what location. (Select the location on the image with a red dot).
- correct answer -I placed the red dot on the base of the neck on
the right side
After receiving report on an inpatient acute care unit, which client
should the nurse assess first?
A. The client with an obstruction of the large intestine who is
experiencing abdominal distention
B. The client who had surgery yesterday and is experiencing a
paralytic ileus with absent bowel sounds
, Page | 3
C. The client with a small bowel obstruction who has a
nasogastric tube that is draining greenish fluid
D. The client with a bowel obstruction due to a volvulus who is
experiencing abdominal rigidity - correct answer -D. The client
with a bowel obstruction due to a volvulus who is experiencing
abdominal rigidity
A teenager presents to the emergency department with
palpitations after vaping at a party. The client is anxious, fearful,
and hyperventilating. The nurse anticipates the client developing
which acid base imbalance?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis - correct answer -D. Respiratory alkalosis
A client with dyspnea is being admitted to the medical unit. To
best prepare for the client's arrival, the nurse should ensure that
the client's bed is in which position?
A. Supine
B. supine; feet elevated higher than head
C. supine; head elevated higher than feet
D. Fowlers - correct answer -Fowlers
, Page | 4
The nurse is taking the blood pressure measurement of a client
with Parkinson's disease. Which information in the client's
admission assessment is relevant to the nurse's plan for taking
the blood pressure reading? (Select all the apply)
A. Frequent syncope
B. Occasional nocturia
C. Flat affect
D. Blurred vision
E. Frequent drooling - correct answer -A. Frequent syncope
C. Flat affect
D. Blurred vision
While caring for a client's postoperative dressing, the nurse
observes purulent drainage at the wound. Before reporting this
finding to the healthcare provider, the nurse should review which
of the client's laboratory values?
A. Serum albumin
B. Culture for sensitive organisms
C. Serum blood glucose level
D. Creatinine level - correct answer -B. Culture for sensitive
organisms
