HESI Exit Exam 202 Test Bank: The Ultimate Study
Guide with Questions and Verified Answers for
2025/2026 to Ensure You Pass on the First Try
**1. A 68-year-old male client with a history of COPD and type 2
diabetes is admitted with an acute exacerbation. His ABG results are:
pH 7.29, PaCO2 58 mmHg, PaO2 62 mmHg, and HCO3 28 mEq/L. The
client's wife reports he is confused and agitated. What is the nurse's
highest priority action?**
A. Administer the prescribed albuterol nebulizer.
B. Reassure the wife that confusion is common.
C. Assess the client's airway patency and level of consciousness.
D. Educate the wife on the ABG results and need for possible
ventilation.
**Answer: C.** The client is in acute respiratory acidosis with signs of
impending failure. The priority is to assess airway patency and LOC (a
sign of cerebral hypoxemia) to ensure safety before other interventions
.
**2. A client with a new diagnosis of heart failure is being discharged.
Which statement indicates a need for further teaching?**
A. "I will weigh myself every day and report a gain of 2 pounds in a
day."
B. "I should limit my sodium intake to less than 2 grams per day."
C. "It's important to rest between activities to conserve my energy."
D. "If I feel short of breath, I will lie down flat with my feet elevated."
,**Answer: D.** Lying flat (supine) increases venous return, which can
worsen pulmonary congestion. The client should sit upright in High
Fowler's position to ease breathing .
**3. The nurse assesses a client with a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L.
What ECG change does the nurse expect to see?**
A. Flattened T waves
B. Prominent U waves
C. Tall, peaked T waves
D. ST segment depression
**Answer: C.** Hyperkalemia is characterized by tall, peaked T waves.
Flattened T waves and prominent U waves are seen in hypokalemia .
**4. A client is admitted with a diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. Which
intervention has the highest priority?**
A. Monitor blood pressure frequently.
B. Administer diuretics as ordered.
C. Maintain a low-sodium diet.
D. Assess for hyperglycemia.
**Answer: A.** A pheochromocytoma is a catecholamine-secreting
tumor that can cause life-threatening hypertension. Frequent BP
monitoring is critical to prevent a hypertensive crisis .
,**5. A client with rheumatoid arthritis has been on short-term
corticosteroid therapy for one month. Which laboratory finding
indicates a therapeutic response to the medication?**
A. Elevated fasting serum glucose
B. Decreased serum liver enzymes
C. Normalization of serum electrolytes
D. Decreased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
**Answer: D.** An elevated ESR indicates active inflammation. A
therapeutic response to corticosteroids would be a decrease in the ESR
.
**6. The nurse is caring for a client receiving IV potassium. The nurse
should monitor for which complication?**
A. Cardiac arrhythmias
B. Increased urine output
C. Hypotension
D. Constipation
**Answer: A.** IV potassium must be administered slowly and with
caution. Rapid infusion can lead to hyperkalemia and life-threatening
cardiac arrhythmias .
**7. A client with a history of hypertension returns to the clinic for a BP
check. The client admits to not taking the medication because it makes
him "feel bad." What is the nurse's best response?**
A. "You must take your medication or you will have a stroke."
, B. "Let's talk about the side effects you are experiencing."
C. "I will have to tell the healthcare provider you are non-compliant."
D. "Why don't you want to take your medication?"
**Answer: B.** The nurse should first assess the client's specific
concerns about side effects. This therapeutic approach opens
communication and allows for collaborative problem-solving .
**8. A client with a duodenal ulcer tells the nurse he will drink plenty of
milk to coat his stomach. What is the nurse's best follow-up action?**
A. Praise the client for this healthy choice.
B. Explain that milk can increase stomach acid production.
C. Instruct the client to only drink skim milk.
D. Tell the client to drink milk with every meal.
**Answer: B.** While milk may provide temporary relief, it actually
stimulates gastric acid production (rebound acidity), which can worsen
ulcers. The nurse should provide this education .
**9. A client is receiving a full-strength continuous enteral tube feeding
at 50 mL/hr and develops diarrhea. The provider orders the feeding to
be changed to half strength. How should the nurse implement this
order?**
A. Stop the current feeding and restart half-strength at 25 mL/hr.
B. Add equal amounts of water and formula to a new feeding bag and
infuse at 50 mL/hr.
C. Mix the formula with an anti-diarrheal medication.
Guide with Questions and Verified Answers for
2025/2026 to Ensure You Pass on the First Try
**1. A 68-year-old male client with a history of COPD and type 2
diabetes is admitted with an acute exacerbation. His ABG results are:
pH 7.29, PaCO2 58 mmHg, PaO2 62 mmHg, and HCO3 28 mEq/L. The
client's wife reports he is confused and agitated. What is the nurse's
highest priority action?**
A. Administer the prescribed albuterol nebulizer.
B. Reassure the wife that confusion is common.
C. Assess the client's airway patency and level of consciousness.
D. Educate the wife on the ABG results and need for possible
ventilation.
**Answer: C.** The client is in acute respiratory acidosis with signs of
impending failure. The priority is to assess airway patency and LOC (a
sign of cerebral hypoxemia) to ensure safety before other interventions
.
**2. A client with a new diagnosis of heart failure is being discharged.
Which statement indicates a need for further teaching?**
A. "I will weigh myself every day and report a gain of 2 pounds in a
day."
B. "I should limit my sodium intake to less than 2 grams per day."
C. "It's important to rest between activities to conserve my energy."
D. "If I feel short of breath, I will lie down flat with my feet elevated."
,**Answer: D.** Lying flat (supine) increases venous return, which can
worsen pulmonary congestion. The client should sit upright in High
Fowler's position to ease breathing .
**3. The nurse assesses a client with a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L.
What ECG change does the nurse expect to see?**
A. Flattened T waves
B. Prominent U waves
C. Tall, peaked T waves
D. ST segment depression
**Answer: C.** Hyperkalemia is characterized by tall, peaked T waves.
Flattened T waves and prominent U waves are seen in hypokalemia .
**4. A client is admitted with a diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. Which
intervention has the highest priority?**
A. Monitor blood pressure frequently.
B. Administer diuretics as ordered.
C. Maintain a low-sodium diet.
D. Assess for hyperglycemia.
**Answer: A.** A pheochromocytoma is a catecholamine-secreting
tumor that can cause life-threatening hypertension. Frequent BP
monitoring is critical to prevent a hypertensive crisis .
,**5. A client with rheumatoid arthritis has been on short-term
corticosteroid therapy for one month. Which laboratory finding
indicates a therapeutic response to the medication?**
A. Elevated fasting serum glucose
B. Decreased serum liver enzymes
C. Normalization of serum electrolytes
D. Decreased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
**Answer: D.** An elevated ESR indicates active inflammation. A
therapeutic response to corticosteroids would be a decrease in the ESR
.
**6. The nurse is caring for a client receiving IV potassium. The nurse
should monitor for which complication?**
A. Cardiac arrhythmias
B. Increased urine output
C. Hypotension
D. Constipation
**Answer: A.** IV potassium must be administered slowly and with
caution. Rapid infusion can lead to hyperkalemia and life-threatening
cardiac arrhythmias .
**7. A client with a history of hypertension returns to the clinic for a BP
check. The client admits to not taking the medication because it makes
him "feel bad." What is the nurse's best response?**
A. "You must take your medication or you will have a stroke."
, B. "Let's talk about the side effects you are experiencing."
C. "I will have to tell the healthcare provider you are non-compliant."
D. "Why don't you want to take your medication?"
**Answer: B.** The nurse should first assess the client's specific
concerns about side effects. This therapeutic approach opens
communication and allows for collaborative problem-solving .
**8. A client with a duodenal ulcer tells the nurse he will drink plenty of
milk to coat his stomach. What is the nurse's best follow-up action?**
A. Praise the client for this healthy choice.
B. Explain that milk can increase stomach acid production.
C. Instruct the client to only drink skim milk.
D. Tell the client to drink milk with every meal.
**Answer: B.** While milk may provide temporary relief, it actually
stimulates gastric acid production (rebound acidity), which can worsen
ulcers. The nurse should provide this education .
**9. A client is receiving a full-strength continuous enteral tube feeding
at 50 mL/hr and develops diarrhea. The provider orders the feeding to
be changed to half strength. How should the nurse implement this
order?**
A. Stop the current feeding and restart half-strength at 25 mL/hr.
B. Add equal amounts of water and formula to a new feeding bag and
infuse at 50 mL/hr.
C. Mix the formula with an anti-diarrheal medication.
