HESI COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2026
Enalapril maleate is prescribed for a hospitalized client. Which assessment does the nurse
perform as a priority before administering the medication?
Checking the client's blood pressure
Checking the client's peripheral pulses
Checking the most recent potassium level
Checking the client's intake-and-output record for the last 24 hours - ANS Checking the
client's blood pressure
Rationale: Enalapril maleate is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor used to treat
hypertension. One common side effect is postural hypotension. Therefore the nurse would
check the client's blood pressure immediately before administering each dose. Checking the
client's peripheral pulses, the results of the most recent potassium level, and the intake and
output for the previous 24 hours are not specifically associated with this mediation.
A client is scheduled to undergo an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series, and the nurse provides
instructions to the client about the test. Which statement by the client indicates a need for
further instruction?
"The test will take about 30 minutes."
"I need to fast for 8 hours before the test."
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
1
,"I need to drink citrate of magnesia the night before the test and give myself a Fleet enema on
the morning of the test."
"I need to take a laxative after the test is completed, because the liquid that I'll have to drink for
the test can be constipating." - ANS "I need to drink citrate of magnesia the night before the
test and give myself a Fleet enema on the morning of the test."
Rationale: No special preparation is necessary before a GI series, except that NPO (nothing by
mouth) status must be maintained for 8 hours before the test. An upper GI series involves
visualization of the esophagus, duodenum, and upper jejunum by means of the use of a
contrast medium. It involves swallowing a contrast medium (usually barium), which is
administered in a flavored milkshake. Films are taken at intervals during the test, which takes
about 30 minutes. After an upper GI series, the client is prescribed a laxative to hasten
elimination of the barium. Barium that remains in the colon may become hard and difficult to
expel, leading to fecal impaction.
A nurse on the evening shift checks a primary health care provider's prescriptions and notes
that the dose of a prescribed medication is higher than the normal dose. The nurse calls the
primary health care provider's answering service and is told that the primary health care
provider is off for the night and will be available in the morning. What should the nurse do
next?
Call the nursing supervisor
Ask the answering service to contact the on-call primary health care provider
Withhold the medication until the primary health care provider can be reached in the morning
Administer the medication but consult the primary health care provider when he becomes
available - ANS Ask the answering service to contact the on-call primary health care provider
Rationale: The nurse has a duty to protect the client from harm. A nurse who believes that a
primary health care provider's prescription may be in error is responsible for clarifying the
prescription before carrying it out. Therefore the nurse would not administer the medication;
instead, the nurse would withhold the medication until the dose can be clarified. The nurse
would not wait until the next morning to obtain clarification. It is premature to call the nursing
supervisor.
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2
,An emergency department (ED) nurse is monitoring a client with suspected acute myocardial
infarction (MI) who is awaiting transfer to the coronary intensive care unit. The nurse notes the
sudden onset of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) on the monitor, checks the client's
carotid pulse, and determines that the PVCs are not perfusing. What is the nurse's most
appropriate action?
Document the findings
Ask the ED primary health care provider to check the client
Continue to monitor the client's cardiac status
Inform the client that PVCs are expected after an MI - ANS Ask the ED primary health care
provider to check the client
Rationale: The most appropriate action by the nurse would be to ask the ED health care
provider to check the client. PVCs are a result of increased irritability of ventricular cells.
Peripheral pulses may be absent or diminished with the PVCs themselves because the
decreased stroke volume of the premature beats may in turn decrease peripheral perfusion.
Because other rhythms also cause widened QRS complexes, it is essential that the nurse
determine whether the premature beats are resulting in perfusion of the extremities. This is
done by palpating the carotid, brachial, or femoral artery while observing the monitor for
widened complexes or by auscultating for apical heart sounds. In the situation of acute MI, PVCs
may be considered warning dysrhythmias, possibly heralding the onset of ventricular
tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Therefore, the nurse would not tell the client that the
PVCs are expected. Although the nurse will continue to monitor the client and document the
findings, these are not the most appropriate actions of those provided.
NPO status is imposed 8 hours before the procedure on a client scheduled to undergo
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) at 1 p.m. On the morning of the procedure, the nurse checks
the client's record and notes that the client routinely takes an oral antihypertensive medication
each morning. What action should the nurse take?
Administer the antihypertensive with a small sip of water
Withhold the antihypertensive and administer it at bedtime
Administer the medication by way of the intravenous (IV) route
Hold the antihypertensive and resume its administration on the day after the ECT -
ANS Administer the antihypertensive with a small sip of water
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
3
, Rationale: The nurse should administer the antihypertensive with a small sip of water. General
anesthesia is required for ECT, so NPO status is imposed for 6 to 8 hours before treatment to
help prevent aspiration. Exceptions include clients who routinely receive cardiac medications,
antihypertensive agents, or histamine (H2) blockers, which should be administered several
hours before treatment with a small sip of water. Withholding the antihypertensive and
administering it at bedtime and withholding the antihypertensive and resuming administration
on the day after the ECT are incorrect actions, because antihypertensives must be administered
on time; otherwise, the risk for rebound hypertension exists. The nurse would not administer a
medication by way of a route that has not been prescribed.
A client who recently underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery comes to the primary
health care provider's office for a follow-up visit. On assessment, the client tells the nurse that
he is feeling depressed. Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
"Tell me more about what you're feeling."
"That's a normal response after this type of surgery."
"It will take time, but I promise you, you will get over this depression."
"Every client who has this surgery feels the same way for about a month." - ANS "Tell me
more about what you're feeling."
Rationale: The therapeutic response by the nurse is, "Tell me more about what you're feeling."
When a client expresses feelings of depression, it is extremely important for the nurse to further
explore these feelings with the client. In stating, "This is a normal response after this type of
surgery" the nurse provides false reassurance and avoids addressing the client's feelings. "It will
take time, but I promise you, you will get over the depression" is also a false reassurance, and it
does not encourage the expression of feelings. "Every client who has this surgery feels the same
way for about a month" is a generalization that avoids the client's feelings.
A client in labor experiences spontaneous rupture of the membranes. The nurse immediately
counts the fetal heart rate (FHR) for 1 full minute and then checks the amniotic fluid. The nurse
notes that the fluid is yellow and has a strong odor. Which action should be the nurse's priority?
Contact the primary health care provider
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
4
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2026
Enalapril maleate is prescribed for a hospitalized client. Which assessment does the nurse
perform as a priority before administering the medication?
Checking the client's blood pressure
Checking the client's peripheral pulses
Checking the most recent potassium level
Checking the client's intake-and-output record for the last 24 hours - ANS Checking the
client's blood pressure
Rationale: Enalapril maleate is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor used to treat
hypertension. One common side effect is postural hypotension. Therefore the nurse would
check the client's blood pressure immediately before administering each dose. Checking the
client's peripheral pulses, the results of the most recent potassium level, and the intake and
output for the previous 24 hours are not specifically associated with this mediation.
A client is scheduled to undergo an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series, and the nurse provides
instructions to the client about the test. Which statement by the client indicates a need for
further instruction?
"The test will take about 30 minutes."
"I need to fast for 8 hours before the test."
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
1
,"I need to drink citrate of magnesia the night before the test and give myself a Fleet enema on
the morning of the test."
"I need to take a laxative after the test is completed, because the liquid that I'll have to drink for
the test can be constipating." - ANS "I need to drink citrate of magnesia the night before the
test and give myself a Fleet enema on the morning of the test."
Rationale: No special preparation is necessary before a GI series, except that NPO (nothing by
mouth) status must be maintained for 8 hours before the test. An upper GI series involves
visualization of the esophagus, duodenum, and upper jejunum by means of the use of a
contrast medium. It involves swallowing a contrast medium (usually barium), which is
administered in a flavored milkshake. Films are taken at intervals during the test, which takes
about 30 minutes. After an upper GI series, the client is prescribed a laxative to hasten
elimination of the barium. Barium that remains in the colon may become hard and difficult to
expel, leading to fecal impaction.
A nurse on the evening shift checks a primary health care provider's prescriptions and notes
that the dose of a prescribed medication is higher than the normal dose. The nurse calls the
primary health care provider's answering service and is told that the primary health care
provider is off for the night and will be available in the morning. What should the nurse do
next?
Call the nursing supervisor
Ask the answering service to contact the on-call primary health care provider
Withhold the medication until the primary health care provider can be reached in the morning
Administer the medication but consult the primary health care provider when he becomes
available - ANS Ask the answering service to contact the on-call primary health care provider
Rationale: The nurse has a duty to protect the client from harm. A nurse who believes that a
primary health care provider's prescription may be in error is responsible for clarifying the
prescription before carrying it out. Therefore the nurse would not administer the medication;
instead, the nurse would withhold the medication until the dose can be clarified. The nurse
would not wait until the next morning to obtain clarification. It is premature to call the nursing
supervisor.
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2
,An emergency department (ED) nurse is monitoring a client with suspected acute myocardial
infarction (MI) who is awaiting transfer to the coronary intensive care unit. The nurse notes the
sudden onset of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) on the monitor, checks the client's
carotid pulse, and determines that the PVCs are not perfusing. What is the nurse's most
appropriate action?
Document the findings
Ask the ED primary health care provider to check the client
Continue to monitor the client's cardiac status
Inform the client that PVCs are expected after an MI - ANS Ask the ED primary health care
provider to check the client
Rationale: The most appropriate action by the nurse would be to ask the ED health care
provider to check the client. PVCs are a result of increased irritability of ventricular cells.
Peripheral pulses may be absent or diminished with the PVCs themselves because the
decreased stroke volume of the premature beats may in turn decrease peripheral perfusion.
Because other rhythms also cause widened QRS complexes, it is essential that the nurse
determine whether the premature beats are resulting in perfusion of the extremities. This is
done by palpating the carotid, brachial, or femoral artery while observing the monitor for
widened complexes or by auscultating for apical heart sounds. In the situation of acute MI, PVCs
may be considered warning dysrhythmias, possibly heralding the onset of ventricular
tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Therefore, the nurse would not tell the client that the
PVCs are expected. Although the nurse will continue to monitor the client and document the
findings, these are not the most appropriate actions of those provided.
NPO status is imposed 8 hours before the procedure on a client scheduled to undergo
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) at 1 p.m. On the morning of the procedure, the nurse checks
the client's record and notes that the client routinely takes an oral antihypertensive medication
each morning. What action should the nurse take?
Administer the antihypertensive with a small sip of water
Withhold the antihypertensive and administer it at bedtime
Administer the medication by way of the intravenous (IV) route
Hold the antihypertensive and resume its administration on the day after the ECT -
ANS Administer the antihypertensive with a small sip of water
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
3
, Rationale: The nurse should administer the antihypertensive with a small sip of water. General
anesthesia is required for ECT, so NPO status is imposed for 6 to 8 hours before treatment to
help prevent aspiration. Exceptions include clients who routinely receive cardiac medications,
antihypertensive agents, or histamine (H2) blockers, which should be administered several
hours before treatment with a small sip of water. Withholding the antihypertensive and
administering it at bedtime and withholding the antihypertensive and resuming administration
on the day after the ECT are incorrect actions, because antihypertensives must be administered
on time; otherwise, the risk for rebound hypertension exists. The nurse would not administer a
medication by way of a route that has not been prescribed.
A client who recently underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery comes to the primary
health care provider's office for a follow-up visit. On assessment, the client tells the nurse that
he is feeling depressed. Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
"Tell me more about what you're feeling."
"That's a normal response after this type of surgery."
"It will take time, but I promise you, you will get over this depression."
"Every client who has this surgery feels the same way for about a month." - ANS "Tell me
more about what you're feeling."
Rationale: The therapeutic response by the nurse is, "Tell me more about what you're feeling."
When a client expresses feelings of depression, it is extremely important for the nurse to further
explore these feelings with the client. In stating, "This is a normal response after this type of
surgery" the nurse provides false reassurance and avoids addressing the client's feelings. "It will
take time, but I promise you, you will get over the depression" is also a false reassurance, and it
does not encourage the expression of feelings. "Every client who has this surgery feels the same
way for about a month" is a generalization that avoids the client's feelings.
A client in labor experiences spontaneous rupture of the membranes. The nurse immediately
counts the fetal heart rate (FHR) for 1 full minute and then checks the amniotic fluid. The nurse
notes that the fluid is yellow and has a strong odor. Which action should be the nurse's priority?
Contact the primary health care provider
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
4
