COMPREHENSIVE HESI RN EXIT EXAM 2026
UPDATED BY EXPERTS QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+ (WITH
RATIONALE)
Following discharge teaching, a male client with duodenal ulcer tells the nurse the
he will drink plenty of dairy products, such as milk, to help coat and protect his
ulcer. What is the best follow-up action by the nurse?
a. Remind the client that it is also important to switch to decaffeinated coffee and
tea.
b. Suggest that the client also plan to eat frequent small meals to reduce discomfort
c. Review with the client the need to avoid foods that are rich in milk and cream.
d. Reinforce this teaching by asking the client to list a dairy food that he might
select.
(ANS- Review with the client the need to avoid foods that are rich in milk and
cream
Rationale: Diets rich in milk and cream stimulate gastric acid secretion and should
be avoided.
A male client with hypertension, who received new antihypertensive prescriptions
at his last visit returns to the clinic two weeks later to evaluate his blood pressure
(BP). His BP is 158/106 and he admits that he has not been taking the prescribed
medication because the drugs make him "feel bad". In explaining the need for
hypertension control, the nurse should stress that an elevated BP places the client
at risk for which pathophysiological condition?
a. Blindness secondary to cataracts
b. Acute kidney injury due to glomerular damage
c. Stroke secondary to hemorrhage
d. Heart block due to myocardial damage
(ANS- Stroke secondary to hemorrhage
Rationale: Stroke related to cerebral hemorrhage is major risk for uncontrolled
hypertension.
1
,A 66-year-old woman is retiring and will no longer have a health insurance
through her place of employment. Which agency should the client be referred to by
the employee health nurse for health insurance needs?
a. Woman, Infant, and Children program
b. Medicaid
c. Medicare
d. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act provision.
(ANS- Medicare
Rationale: Title XVII of the social security Act of 1965 created Medicare Program
to provide medical insurance for person more than 65 years or older, disable or
with permeant kidney failure, WIC provides supplemental nutrition to meet the
needs of pregnant of breastfeeding woman, infants and children up to age of 6.
Medicaid provides financial assistance to pay for medical services for poor older
adults, blind, disable and families with dependent children. COBRA(D) health
benefit provisions is a limited insurance plan for those who has been laid off or
become unemployed.
A client who is taking an oral dose of a tetracycline complains of gastrointestinal
upset. What snack should the nurse instruct the client to take with the tetracycline?
a. Fruit-flavored yogurt.
b. Cheese and crackers.
c. Cold cereal with skim milk.
d. Toasted wheat bread and jelly
(ANS- Toasted wheat bread and jelly
Rationale: Dairy products decrease the effect of tetracycline, so the nurse instructs
the client to eat a snack such as toast, which contains no dairy products and may
decrease GI symptoms.
Following a lumbar puncture, a client voices several complaints. What complaint
indicated to the nurse that the client is experiencing a complication?
a. "I am having pain in my lower back when I move my legs"
b. "My throat hurts when I swallow"
c. "I feel sick to my stomach and am going to throw up"
d. I have a headache that gets worse when I sit up"
2
,(ANS- "I have a headache that gets worse when I sit up"
Rationale: A post-lumbar puncture headache, ranging from mild to severe, may
occur as a result of leakage of cerebrospinal fluid at the puncture site. This
complication is usually managed by bedrest, analgesic, and hydration.
An elderly client seems confused and reports the onset of nausea, dysuria, and
urgency with incontinence. Which action should the nurse implement
a. Auscultate for renal bruits
b. Obtain a clean catch mid-stream specimen
c. Use a dipstick to measure for urinary ketone
d. Begin to strain the client's urine.
(ANS- Obtain a clean catch mid-stream specimen
Rationale: This elderly is experiencing symptoms of urinary tract infection. The
nurse should obtain a clean catch mid-stream specimen to determine the causative
agent so an anti-infective agent can be prescribed.
The nurse is assisting the mother of a child with phenylketonuria (PKU) to select
foods that are in keeping with the child's dietary restrictions. Which foods are
contraindicated for this child?
a. Wheat products
b. Foods sweetened with aspartame.
c. High fat foods
d. High calories foods.
(ANS- Foods sweetened with aspartame
Rationale: Aspartame should not be consumed by a child with PKU because ut is
converted to phenylalanine in the body. Additionally, milk and milk products are
contraindicated for children with PKU.
Before preparing a client for the first surgical case of the day, a part-time scrub
nurse asks the circulating nurse if a 3 minute surgical hand scrub is adequate
preparation for this client. Which response should the circulating nurse provide?
a. Ask a more experience nurse to perform that scrub since it is the first time of the
day
b. Validate the nurse is implementing the OR policy for surgical hand scrub
3
, c. Inform the nurse that hand scrubs should be 3 minutes between cases.
d. Direct the nurse to continue the surgical hand scrub for a 5-minute duration.
(ANS- Direct the nurse to continue the surgical hand scrub for a 5 minute duration
Rationale: The surgical hand scrub should last for 5 to 10 mints, so the nurse
should be directed to continue the vigorous scrub using a reliable agent for the total
duration of 5 mints. It is not necessary to reassign staff (A). The length of the hand
scrub and subsequent scrubs during the day require the same process for the same
amount of time, (B and C)
Which breakfast selection indicates that the client understands the nurse's
instructions about the dietary management of osteoporosis?
a. Egg whites, toast and coffee.
b. Bran muffin, mixed fruits, and orange juice.
c. Granola and grapefruit juice
d. Bagel with jelly and skim milk.
(ANS- Bagel with jelly and skim milk
Rationale: D includes dairy products which contain calcium and does not include
any foods that inhibit calcium absorption. The primary dietary implication of
osteoporosis is the need for increased calcium and reduction in foods that decrease
calcium absorption, such as caffeine and excessive fiber.
The nurse observes an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) positioning a newly
admitted client who has a seizure disorder. The client is supine and the UAP is
placing soft pillows along the side rails. What action should the nurse implement?
a. Ensure that the UAP has placed the pillows effectively to protect the client.
b. Instruct the UAP to obtain soft blankets to secure to the side rails instead of
pillows.
c. Assume responsibility for placing the pillows while the UAP completes another
task.
d. Ask the UAP to use some of the pillows to prop the client in a side lying
position.
(ANS- Instruct the UAP to obtain soft blankets to secure to the side rails instead of
pillows
Rationale: The nurse should instruct the UAP to pad the side rails with soft
blankest because the use of pillows could result in suffocation and would need to
4
UPDATED BY EXPERTS QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+ (WITH
RATIONALE)
Following discharge teaching, a male client with duodenal ulcer tells the nurse the
he will drink plenty of dairy products, such as milk, to help coat and protect his
ulcer. What is the best follow-up action by the nurse?
a. Remind the client that it is also important to switch to decaffeinated coffee and
tea.
b. Suggest that the client also plan to eat frequent small meals to reduce discomfort
c. Review with the client the need to avoid foods that are rich in milk and cream.
d. Reinforce this teaching by asking the client to list a dairy food that he might
select.
(ANS- Review with the client the need to avoid foods that are rich in milk and
cream
Rationale: Diets rich in milk and cream stimulate gastric acid secretion and should
be avoided.
A male client with hypertension, who received new antihypertensive prescriptions
at his last visit returns to the clinic two weeks later to evaluate his blood pressure
(BP). His BP is 158/106 and he admits that he has not been taking the prescribed
medication because the drugs make him "feel bad". In explaining the need for
hypertension control, the nurse should stress that an elevated BP places the client
at risk for which pathophysiological condition?
a. Blindness secondary to cataracts
b. Acute kidney injury due to glomerular damage
c. Stroke secondary to hemorrhage
d. Heart block due to myocardial damage
(ANS- Stroke secondary to hemorrhage
Rationale: Stroke related to cerebral hemorrhage is major risk for uncontrolled
hypertension.
1
,A 66-year-old woman is retiring and will no longer have a health insurance
through her place of employment. Which agency should the client be referred to by
the employee health nurse for health insurance needs?
a. Woman, Infant, and Children program
b. Medicaid
c. Medicare
d. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act provision.
(ANS- Medicare
Rationale: Title XVII of the social security Act of 1965 created Medicare Program
to provide medical insurance for person more than 65 years or older, disable or
with permeant kidney failure, WIC provides supplemental nutrition to meet the
needs of pregnant of breastfeeding woman, infants and children up to age of 6.
Medicaid provides financial assistance to pay for medical services for poor older
adults, blind, disable and families with dependent children. COBRA(D) health
benefit provisions is a limited insurance plan for those who has been laid off or
become unemployed.
A client who is taking an oral dose of a tetracycline complains of gastrointestinal
upset. What snack should the nurse instruct the client to take with the tetracycline?
a. Fruit-flavored yogurt.
b. Cheese and crackers.
c. Cold cereal with skim milk.
d. Toasted wheat bread and jelly
(ANS- Toasted wheat bread and jelly
Rationale: Dairy products decrease the effect of tetracycline, so the nurse instructs
the client to eat a snack such as toast, which contains no dairy products and may
decrease GI symptoms.
Following a lumbar puncture, a client voices several complaints. What complaint
indicated to the nurse that the client is experiencing a complication?
a. "I am having pain in my lower back when I move my legs"
b. "My throat hurts when I swallow"
c. "I feel sick to my stomach and am going to throw up"
d. I have a headache that gets worse when I sit up"
2
,(ANS- "I have a headache that gets worse when I sit up"
Rationale: A post-lumbar puncture headache, ranging from mild to severe, may
occur as a result of leakage of cerebrospinal fluid at the puncture site. This
complication is usually managed by bedrest, analgesic, and hydration.
An elderly client seems confused and reports the onset of nausea, dysuria, and
urgency with incontinence. Which action should the nurse implement
a. Auscultate for renal bruits
b. Obtain a clean catch mid-stream specimen
c. Use a dipstick to measure for urinary ketone
d. Begin to strain the client's urine.
(ANS- Obtain a clean catch mid-stream specimen
Rationale: This elderly is experiencing symptoms of urinary tract infection. The
nurse should obtain a clean catch mid-stream specimen to determine the causative
agent so an anti-infective agent can be prescribed.
The nurse is assisting the mother of a child with phenylketonuria (PKU) to select
foods that are in keeping with the child's dietary restrictions. Which foods are
contraindicated for this child?
a. Wheat products
b. Foods sweetened with aspartame.
c. High fat foods
d. High calories foods.
(ANS- Foods sweetened with aspartame
Rationale: Aspartame should not be consumed by a child with PKU because ut is
converted to phenylalanine in the body. Additionally, milk and milk products are
contraindicated for children with PKU.
Before preparing a client for the first surgical case of the day, a part-time scrub
nurse asks the circulating nurse if a 3 minute surgical hand scrub is adequate
preparation for this client. Which response should the circulating nurse provide?
a. Ask a more experience nurse to perform that scrub since it is the first time of the
day
b. Validate the nurse is implementing the OR policy for surgical hand scrub
3
, c. Inform the nurse that hand scrubs should be 3 minutes between cases.
d. Direct the nurse to continue the surgical hand scrub for a 5-minute duration.
(ANS- Direct the nurse to continue the surgical hand scrub for a 5 minute duration
Rationale: The surgical hand scrub should last for 5 to 10 mints, so the nurse
should be directed to continue the vigorous scrub using a reliable agent for the total
duration of 5 mints. It is not necessary to reassign staff (A). The length of the hand
scrub and subsequent scrubs during the day require the same process for the same
amount of time, (B and C)
Which breakfast selection indicates that the client understands the nurse's
instructions about the dietary management of osteoporosis?
a. Egg whites, toast and coffee.
b. Bran muffin, mixed fruits, and orange juice.
c. Granola and grapefruit juice
d. Bagel with jelly and skim milk.
(ANS- Bagel with jelly and skim milk
Rationale: D includes dairy products which contain calcium and does not include
any foods that inhibit calcium absorption. The primary dietary implication of
osteoporosis is the need for increased calcium and reduction in foods that decrease
calcium absorption, such as caffeine and excessive fiber.
The nurse observes an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) positioning a newly
admitted client who has a seizure disorder. The client is supine and the UAP is
placing soft pillows along the side rails. What action should the nurse implement?
a. Ensure that the UAP has placed the pillows effectively to protect the client.
b. Instruct the UAP to obtain soft blankets to secure to the side rails instead of
pillows.
c. Assume responsibility for placing the pillows while the UAP completes another
task.
d. Ask the UAP to use some of the pillows to prop the client in a side lying
position.
(ANS- Instruct the UAP to obtain soft blankets to secure to the side rails instead of
pillows
Rationale: The nurse should instruct the UAP to pad the side rails with soft
blankest because the use of pillows could result in suffocation and would need to
4
