HESI LPN Entrance Exam Questions and Answers |
Complete HESI LPN Prep Guide
Question 1: Which of the following fractions is equivalent to 0.75?
A. 1/4
B. 2/3
C. 3/4
D. 4/5
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 3/4
RATIONALE: The decimal 0.75 represents seventy-five hundredths, which simplifies to 3/4 when both
numerator and denominator are divided by their greatest common divisor, 25. This is a fundamental
conversion skill required for medication dosage calculations in nursing practice.
Question 2: What is the primary function of red blood cells in the human body?
A. To fight infection
B. To transport oxygen
C. To clot blood
D. To produce antibodies
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To transport oxygen
RATIONALE: Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that binds to oxygen in the lungs and carries
it to tissues throughout the body. This is a core concept in anatomy and physiology essential for
understanding respiratory and circulatory system function in nursing care.
Question 3: Which word is a synonym for "administer"?
A. Withhold
B. Deliver
C. Observe
D. Document
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Deliver
RATIONALE: "Administer" means to give or apply, particularly in medical contexts such as administering
medication. "Deliver" is the closest synonym among the options. Vocabulary precision is critical for
accurate communication in healthcare settings.
Question 4: Solve for x: 3x + 7 = 22
A. 3
B. 5
C. 7
D. 9
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 5
,RATIONALE: Subtract 7 from both sides to get 3x = 15, then divide by 3 to find x = 5. Algebraic problem-
solving skills are necessary for calculating dosages, IV drip rates, and other clinical mathematics in LPN
practice.
Question 5: Which body system is primarily responsible for hormone production?
A. Nervous system
B. Endocrine system
C. Lymphatic system
D. Integumentary system
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Endocrine system
RATIONALE: The endocrine system consists of glands that secrete hormones directly into the
bloodstream to regulate metabolism, growth, reproduction, and other vital functions. Understanding
this system is fundamental for LPNs managing patients with diabetes, thyroid disorders, and other
endocrine conditions.
Question 6: Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.
A. The list of medications are on the desk.
B. Each of the patients have unique needs.
C. The nurse and the doctor discusses the case.
D. The team of specialists reviews the chart.
CORRECT ANSWER: D. The team of specialists reviews the chart.
RATIONALE: "Team" is a collective noun treated as singular, requiring the singular verb "reviews."
Subject-verb agreement errors can lead to miscommunication in clinical documentation, making
grammar proficiency essential for nursing professionals.
Question 7: Convert 2.5 liters to milliliters.
A. 25 mL
B. 250 mL
C. 2,500 mL
D. 25,000 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 2,500 mL
RATIONALE: Since 1 liter equals 1,000 milliliters, multiplying 2.5 by 1,000 yields 2,500 mL. Metric
conversions are routinely used in medication administration and fluid balance monitoring in nursing
practice.
Question 8: Which organelle is known as the "powerhouse of the cell"?
A. Nucleus
B. Ribosome
C. Mitochondria
D. Golgi apparatus
,CORRECT ANSWER: C. Mitochondria
RATIONALE: Mitochondria generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through cellular respiration,
providing energy for cellular activities. This foundational biology concept supports understanding of
metabolism and tissue function in patient care.
Question 9: What does the prefix "brady-" mean in medical terminology?
A. Fast
B. Slow
C. Large
D. Small
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Slow
RATIONALE: "Brady-" is a Greek-derived prefix meaning slow, as in bradycardia (slow heart rate).
Mastery of medical prefixes, suffixes, and roots is essential for interpreting clinical terms and
communicating effectively in healthcare.
Question 10: Which of the following is a characteristic of acute pain?
A. Lasts longer than six months
B. Serves no biological purpose
C. Has a sudden onset and limited duration
D. Is always psychological in origin
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Has a sudden onset and limited duration
RATIONALE: Acute pain typically arises suddenly from tissue injury, surgery, or illness and resolves as
healing occurs. Differentiating acute from chronic pain is critical for appropriate assessment and
intervention in nursing practice.
Question 11: What is the greatest common factor of 24 and 36?
A. 4
B. 6
C. 8
D. 12
CORRECT ANSWER: D. 12
RATIONALE: The factors of 24 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24; the factors of 36 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36.
The largest shared factor is 12. Numerical reasoning skills support accurate medication calculations and
resource allocation in clinical settings.
Question 12: Which chamber of the heart receives oxygenated blood from the lungs?
A. Right atrium
B. Right ventricle
C. Left atrium
D. Left ventricle
, CORRECT ANSWER: C. Left atrium
RATIONALE: Oxygenated blood returns from the lungs via the pulmonary veins into the left atrium
before passing to the left ventricle for systemic circulation. Understanding cardiac anatomy is vital for
monitoring patients with cardiovascular conditions.
Question 13: Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.
A. The patient, who was anxious, asked many questions.
B. The patient who was anxious asked, many questions.
C. The patient, who was anxious asked many questions.
D. The patient who was anxious, asked many questions.
CORRECT ANSWER: A. The patient, who was anxious, asked many questions.
RATIONALE: Nonrestrictive clauses (providing extra information) are set off by commas. "Who was
anxious" is nonessential here, so commas are required. Proper punctuation ensures clarity in nursing
documentation and communication.
Question 14: A medication order reads: "Give 500 mg PO BID." How many total milligrams will the
patient receive in one day?
A. 500 mg
B. 750 mg
C. 1,000 mg
D. 1,500 mg
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 1,000 mg
RATIONALE: "BID" means twice daily. 500 mg × 2 = 1,000 mg per day. Interpreting medical
abbreviations accurately is essential to prevent medication errors in LPN practice.
Question 15: Which process describes the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane
from an area of lower solute concentration to higher solute concentration?
A. Diffusion
B. Active transport
C. Osmosis
D. Filtration
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Osmosis
RATIONALE: Osmosis is the passive movement of water to balance solute concentrations across a
membrane. This principle underlies fluid balance, IV therapy, and management of conditions like
dehydration or edema.
Question 16: What is the main idea of the following passage? "Regular hand hygiene is the single most
effective practice for preventing healthcare-associated infections. Nurses must perform handwashing
with soap and water or use alcohol-based sanitizers before and after patient contact."
Complete HESI LPN Prep Guide
Question 1: Which of the following fractions is equivalent to 0.75?
A. 1/4
B. 2/3
C. 3/4
D. 4/5
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 3/4
RATIONALE: The decimal 0.75 represents seventy-five hundredths, which simplifies to 3/4 when both
numerator and denominator are divided by their greatest common divisor, 25. This is a fundamental
conversion skill required for medication dosage calculations in nursing practice.
Question 2: What is the primary function of red blood cells in the human body?
A. To fight infection
B. To transport oxygen
C. To clot blood
D. To produce antibodies
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To transport oxygen
RATIONALE: Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that binds to oxygen in the lungs and carries
it to tissues throughout the body. This is a core concept in anatomy and physiology essential for
understanding respiratory and circulatory system function in nursing care.
Question 3: Which word is a synonym for "administer"?
A. Withhold
B. Deliver
C. Observe
D. Document
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Deliver
RATIONALE: "Administer" means to give or apply, particularly in medical contexts such as administering
medication. "Deliver" is the closest synonym among the options. Vocabulary precision is critical for
accurate communication in healthcare settings.
Question 4: Solve for x: 3x + 7 = 22
A. 3
B. 5
C. 7
D. 9
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 5
,RATIONALE: Subtract 7 from both sides to get 3x = 15, then divide by 3 to find x = 5. Algebraic problem-
solving skills are necessary for calculating dosages, IV drip rates, and other clinical mathematics in LPN
practice.
Question 5: Which body system is primarily responsible for hormone production?
A. Nervous system
B. Endocrine system
C. Lymphatic system
D. Integumentary system
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Endocrine system
RATIONALE: The endocrine system consists of glands that secrete hormones directly into the
bloodstream to regulate metabolism, growth, reproduction, and other vital functions. Understanding
this system is fundamental for LPNs managing patients with diabetes, thyroid disorders, and other
endocrine conditions.
Question 6: Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.
A. The list of medications are on the desk.
B. Each of the patients have unique needs.
C. The nurse and the doctor discusses the case.
D. The team of specialists reviews the chart.
CORRECT ANSWER: D. The team of specialists reviews the chart.
RATIONALE: "Team" is a collective noun treated as singular, requiring the singular verb "reviews."
Subject-verb agreement errors can lead to miscommunication in clinical documentation, making
grammar proficiency essential for nursing professionals.
Question 7: Convert 2.5 liters to milliliters.
A. 25 mL
B. 250 mL
C. 2,500 mL
D. 25,000 mL
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 2,500 mL
RATIONALE: Since 1 liter equals 1,000 milliliters, multiplying 2.5 by 1,000 yields 2,500 mL. Metric
conversions are routinely used in medication administration and fluid balance monitoring in nursing
practice.
Question 8: Which organelle is known as the "powerhouse of the cell"?
A. Nucleus
B. Ribosome
C. Mitochondria
D. Golgi apparatus
,CORRECT ANSWER: C. Mitochondria
RATIONALE: Mitochondria generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through cellular respiration,
providing energy for cellular activities. This foundational biology concept supports understanding of
metabolism and tissue function in patient care.
Question 9: What does the prefix "brady-" mean in medical terminology?
A. Fast
B. Slow
C. Large
D. Small
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Slow
RATIONALE: "Brady-" is a Greek-derived prefix meaning slow, as in bradycardia (slow heart rate).
Mastery of medical prefixes, suffixes, and roots is essential for interpreting clinical terms and
communicating effectively in healthcare.
Question 10: Which of the following is a characteristic of acute pain?
A. Lasts longer than six months
B. Serves no biological purpose
C. Has a sudden onset and limited duration
D. Is always psychological in origin
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Has a sudden onset and limited duration
RATIONALE: Acute pain typically arises suddenly from tissue injury, surgery, or illness and resolves as
healing occurs. Differentiating acute from chronic pain is critical for appropriate assessment and
intervention in nursing practice.
Question 11: What is the greatest common factor of 24 and 36?
A. 4
B. 6
C. 8
D. 12
CORRECT ANSWER: D. 12
RATIONALE: The factors of 24 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24; the factors of 36 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36.
The largest shared factor is 12. Numerical reasoning skills support accurate medication calculations and
resource allocation in clinical settings.
Question 12: Which chamber of the heart receives oxygenated blood from the lungs?
A. Right atrium
B. Right ventricle
C. Left atrium
D. Left ventricle
, CORRECT ANSWER: C. Left atrium
RATIONALE: Oxygenated blood returns from the lungs via the pulmonary veins into the left atrium
before passing to the left ventricle for systemic circulation. Understanding cardiac anatomy is vital for
monitoring patients with cardiovascular conditions.
Question 13: Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.
A. The patient, who was anxious, asked many questions.
B. The patient who was anxious asked, many questions.
C. The patient, who was anxious asked many questions.
D. The patient who was anxious, asked many questions.
CORRECT ANSWER: A. The patient, who was anxious, asked many questions.
RATIONALE: Nonrestrictive clauses (providing extra information) are set off by commas. "Who was
anxious" is nonessential here, so commas are required. Proper punctuation ensures clarity in nursing
documentation and communication.
Question 14: A medication order reads: "Give 500 mg PO BID." How many total milligrams will the
patient receive in one day?
A. 500 mg
B. 750 mg
C. 1,000 mg
D. 1,500 mg
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 1,000 mg
RATIONALE: "BID" means twice daily. 500 mg × 2 = 1,000 mg per day. Interpreting medical
abbreviations accurately is essential to prevent medication errors in LPN practice.
Question 15: Which process describes the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane
from an area of lower solute concentration to higher solute concentration?
A. Diffusion
B. Active transport
C. Osmosis
D. Filtration
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Osmosis
RATIONALE: Osmosis is the passive movement of water to balance solute concentrations across a
membrane. This principle underlies fluid balance, IV therapy, and management of conditions like
dehydration or edema.
Question 16: What is the main idea of the following passage? "Regular hand hygiene is the single most
effective practice for preventing healthcare-associated infections. Nurses must perform handwashing
with soap and water or use alcohol-based sanitizers before and after patient contact."
