HESI COMPASS COMPREHENSIVE EXIT EXAM
COMPREHENSIVE TEST PAPER 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
EXPERT VERIFIED GRADED A+
◉ The nurse teaches a class on bioterrorism. Which method(s) of
transmission is(are) possible with the biologic agent Bacillus
anthracis (Anthrax)? (Select all that apply.)
A.Inhalation of powder form
B.Handling of infected animals
C.Spread from person to person through coughing
D.Eating undercooked meat from infected animals
E.Direct cutaneous contact with the powder. Answer: A,B,D,E
Rationale:
Anthrax can be transmitted by the inhalation, cutaneous, and
digestive routes (A, B, D, and E); however, the disease is not spread
from person to person (C).
◉ The nurse assesses a woman in the emergency room who is in her
third trimester of pregnancy. Which finding(s) is(are) indicative of
abruptio placentae? (Select all that apply.)
A.Dark red vaginal bleeding
B.Rigid boardlike abdomen
,C.Soft abdomen on palpation
D.Complaints of severe abdominal pain
E.Painless bright red vaginal bleeding Answer: A,B,D
Rationale:
These are all signs of abruptio placentae (A, B, and D). The others
are signs of placenta previa (C and E).
◉ Which vital sign in a pediatric client is most important to report to
the primary health care provider?
A.Newborn with a heart rate of 140 beats/min
B.Three-year-old with a respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min
C.Six-year-old with a heart rate of 130 beats/min
D.Twelve-year-old with a respiratory rate of 16 breaths/min
Answer: C
Rationale:
The normal heart rate for a 6- to 10-year-old is 70 to 110 beats/min
(C). The others are all within normal range for those ages (A, B, and
D).
◉ Which finding should be reported to the primary health care
provider when caring for a client who has a continuous bladder
irrigation after a transurethral resection of the prostate gland
(TURP)?
A.The client reports a continuous feeling of needing to void.
,B.Urinary drainage is pink 24 hours after surgery.
C.The hemoglobin level is 8.4 g/dL 3 days postoperatively.
D.Sterile saline is being used for bladder irrigation. Answer: C
Rationale:
A hemoglobin level of 8.4 g/dL is abnormally low and may indicate
hemorrhage (C). The others are all expected findings after a TURP
(A, B, and D).
◉ Which of the following cardiac rhythms is represented in the
image?
A.Normal sinus rhythm
B.Sinus tachycardia
C.Ventricular fibrillation
D.Atrial fibrillation Answer: C
Rationale:
Ventricular fibrillation (C) is a life-threatening arrhythmia
characterized by irregular undulations of varying amplitudes. (A, B,
and D) are not represented in the image.
◉ An adult client with a medical diagnosis of substance abuse and
schizophrenia was recently switched from oral fluphenazine HCl
(Prolixin) to IM fluphenazine decanoate (Prolixin Decanoate)
because of medication noncompliance. What should the nurse teach
the client and family about this change in medication regimen?
, A.Long-acting medication is more effective than daily medication.
B.A client with substance abuse must not take any oral medications.
C.There will continue to be a risk of alcohol and drug interaction.
D.Support groups are only helpful for substance abuse treatment.
Answer: C
Rationale:
Alcohol enhances the side effects of Prolixin. The half-life of Prolixin
PO is 8 hours, whereas the half-life of the Prolixin Decanoate IM is 2
to 4 weeks. Therefore, the side effects of drinking alcohol are far
more severe when the client drinks alcohol after taking the long-
acting Prolixin Decanoate IM (C). (A, B, and D) provide incorrect
information.
◉ A client comes to the obstetric clinic for her first prenatal visit and
complains of feeling nauseated every morning. The client tells the
nurse, "I'm having second thoughts about wanting to have this baby."
Which response is best for the nurse to make?
A."It's normal to feel ambivalent about a pregnancy when you are
not feeling well."
B."I think you should discuss these feelings with your health care
provider."
C."How does the father of your child feel about your having this
baby?"
D."Tell me about these second thoughts you are having about this
pregnancy." Answer: D
COMPREHENSIVE TEST PAPER 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
EXPERT VERIFIED GRADED A+
◉ The nurse teaches a class on bioterrorism. Which method(s) of
transmission is(are) possible with the biologic agent Bacillus
anthracis (Anthrax)? (Select all that apply.)
A.Inhalation of powder form
B.Handling of infected animals
C.Spread from person to person through coughing
D.Eating undercooked meat from infected animals
E.Direct cutaneous contact with the powder. Answer: A,B,D,E
Rationale:
Anthrax can be transmitted by the inhalation, cutaneous, and
digestive routes (A, B, D, and E); however, the disease is not spread
from person to person (C).
◉ The nurse assesses a woman in the emergency room who is in her
third trimester of pregnancy. Which finding(s) is(are) indicative of
abruptio placentae? (Select all that apply.)
A.Dark red vaginal bleeding
B.Rigid boardlike abdomen
,C.Soft abdomen on palpation
D.Complaints of severe abdominal pain
E.Painless bright red vaginal bleeding Answer: A,B,D
Rationale:
These are all signs of abruptio placentae (A, B, and D). The others
are signs of placenta previa (C and E).
◉ Which vital sign in a pediatric client is most important to report to
the primary health care provider?
A.Newborn with a heart rate of 140 beats/min
B.Three-year-old with a respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min
C.Six-year-old with a heart rate of 130 beats/min
D.Twelve-year-old with a respiratory rate of 16 breaths/min
Answer: C
Rationale:
The normal heart rate for a 6- to 10-year-old is 70 to 110 beats/min
(C). The others are all within normal range for those ages (A, B, and
D).
◉ Which finding should be reported to the primary health care
provider when caring for a client who has a continuous bladder
irrigation after a transurethral resection of the prostate gland
(TURP)?
A.The client reports a continuous feeling of needing to void.
,B.Urinary drainage is pink 24 hours after surgery.
C.The hemoglobin level is 8.4 g/dL 3 days postoperatively.
D.Sterile saline is being used for bladder irrigation. Answer: C
Rationale:
A hemoglobin level of 8.4 g/dL is abnormally low and may indicate
hemorrhage (C). The others are all expected findings after a TURP
(A, B, and D).
◉ Which of the following cardiac rhythms is represented in the
image?
A.Normal sinus rhythm
B.Sinus tachycardia
C.Ventricular fibrillation
D.Atrial fibrillation Answer: C
Rationale:
Ventricular fibrillation (C) is a life-threatening arrhythmia
characterized by irregular undulations of varying amplitudes. (A, B,
and D) are not represented in the image.
◉ An adult client with a medical diagnosis of substance abuse and
schizophrenia was recently switched from oral fluphenazine HCl
(Prolixin) to IM fluphenazine decanoate (Prolixin Decanoate)
because of medication noncompliance. What should the nurse teach
the client and family about this change in medication regimen?
, A.Long-acting medication is more effective than daily medication.
B.A client with substance abuse must not take any oral medications.
C.There will continue to be a risk of alcohol and drug interaction.
D.Support groups are only helpful for substance abuse treatment.
Answer: C
Rationale:
Alcohol enhances the side effects of Prolixin. The half-life of Prolixin
PO is 8 hours, whereas the half-life of the Prolixin Decanoate IM is 2
to 4 weeks. Therefore, the side effects of drinking alcohol are far
more severe when the client drinks alcohol after taking the long-
acting Prolixin Decanoate IM (C). (A, B, and D) provide incorrect
information.
◉ A client comes to the obstetric clinic for her first prenatal visit and
complains of feeling nauseated every morning. The client tells the
nurse, "I'm having second thoughts about wanting to have this baby."
Which response is best for the nurse to make?
A."It's normal to feel ambivalent about a pregnancy when you are
not feeling well."
B."I think you should discuss these feelings with your health care
provider."
C."How does the father of your child feel about your having this
baby?"
D."Tell me about these second thoughts you are having about this
pregnancy." Answer: D
