HESI PN Fundamentals Exam
Updated 2026 Edition
Practical Nursing Program
About This Resource
This comprehensive study guide contains 200 verified questions and detailed
rationales covering all major content areas for the HESI PN Fundamentals Exam. This
exam assesses foundational nursing knowledge including safe patient care, nursing
process, basic nursing skills, pharmacology, and ethical/legal considerations.
How to Use This Guide
• Review each question and attempt to answer before reading the rationale
• Focus on understanding the "why" behind each answer
• Pay special attention to priority setting and safety principles
• Use the answer key at the end for quick review
SECTION 1: SAFETY AND INFECTION CONTROL
*(Questions 1-30)*
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a patient. What is the most
important action to ensure patient safety?
• A) Check the medication label three times
• B) Ask the patient if they have allergies
• C) Verify the patient's identity using two identifiers
• D) Document the medication after administration
, Answer: C) Verify the patient's identity using two identifiers
Expert Rationale: The Joint Commission requires use of at least two patient
identifiers (e.g., name, date of birth, medical record number) before any procedure or
medication administration. This is the most critical safety step to prevent wrong-
patient errors .
2. A patient is placed on contact precautions. Which personal protective equipment
(PPE) must the nurse wear when entering the room?
• A) Surgical mask and gloves
• B) N95 respirator and gown
• C) Gown and gloves
• D) Gloves only
Answer: C) Gown and gloves
Expert Rationale: Contact precautions require gown and gloves to prevent
transmission of organisms spread by direct contact (e.g., MRSA, VRE, C. difficile).
Mask is required for droplet precautions; N95 for airborne precautions .
3. A nurse is caring for a patient with tuberculosis. Which type of precautions should
be implemented?
• A) Contact precautions
• B) Droplet precautions
• C) Airborne precautions
• D) Standard precautions only
Answer: C) Airborne precautions
Expert Rationale: Tuberculosis requires airborne precautions: negative pressure
room, N95 respirator (or higher), and patient wears a surgical mask when transported
outside the room .
, 4. The nurse is performing hand hygiene. Which action is correct?
• A) Use alcohol-based hand rub for visibly soiled hands
• B) Wash hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds
• C) Use hot water to kill bacteria
• D) Dry hands on the uniform
Answer: B) Wash hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds
Expert Rationale: Soap and water should be used when hands are visibly soiled.
Alcohol-based hand rub is acceptable for non-visibly soiled hands. Friction and
thorough drying are essential .
5. A patient falls in the bathroom. What is the nurse's priority action?
• A) Complete an incident report
• B) Assess the patient for injury
• C) Notify the healthcare provider
• D) Document the fall
Answer: B) Assess the patient for injury
Expert Rationale: The priority after a fall is to assess the patient for injury
(neurologic status, pain, bleeding). After assessment, notify the provider, document,
and complete an incident report .
6. Which finding would require the nurse to use an N95 respirator?
• A) Patient with influenza
• B) Patient with C. difficile
• C) Patient with active pulmonary tuberculosis
• D) Patient with MRSA wound infection
Answer: C) Patient with active pulmonary tuberculosis
Expert Rationale: N95 respirators are required for airborne precautions (TB,
measles, varicella). Droplet precautions (influenza, meningitis) require surgical mask .
, 7. The nurse is applying restraints to a patient. Which action is appropriate?
• A) Tie restraints to the side rail
• B) Remove restraints every 2 hours for range of motion
• C) Apply restraints tightly to prevent movement
• D) Obtain verbal order and document within 24 hours
Answer: B) Remove restraints every 2 hours for range of motion
Expert Rationale: Restraints must be removed every 2 hours to assess skin,
provide range of motion, and meet elimination needs. Restraints should be tied to
the bed frame, not side rails .
8. A patient on isolation precautions asks why visitors must wear protective
equipment. What is the best response?
• A) "This is hospital policy and must be followed"
• B) "The equipment protects you and your visitors from infection"
• C) "Only the healthcare team needs to wear protective equipment"
• D) "Visitors don't need to wear anything"
Answer: B) "The equipment protects you and your visitors from infection"
Expert Rationale: The correct response explains the purpose of isolation
precautions: to protect both the patient and visitors from infection transmission .
9. The nurse observes a colleague preparing to administer medication without
performing hand hygiene. What should the nurse do?
• A) Ignore the behavior
• B) Report the colleague to the supervisor
• C) Remind the colleague to perform hand hygiene
• D) Document the observation
Answer: C) Remind the colleague to perform hand hygiene
Updated 2026 Edition
Practical Nursing Program
About This Resource
This comprehensive study guide contains 200 verified questions and detailed
rationales covering all major content areas for the HESI PN Fundamentals Exam. This
exam assesses foundational nursing knowledge including safe patient care, nursing
process, basic nursing skills, pharmacology, and ethical/legal considerations.
How to Use This Guide
• Review each question and attempt to answer before reading the rationale
• Focus on understanding the "why" behind each answer
• Pay special attention to priority setting and safety principles
• Use the answer key at the end for quick review
SECTION 1: SAFETY AND INFECTION CONTROL
*(Questions 1-30)*
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a patient. What is the most
important action to ensure patient safety?
• A) Check the medication label three times
• B) Ask the patient if they have allergies
• C) Verify the patient's identity using two identifiers
• D) Document the medication after administration
, Answer: C) Verify the patient's identity using two identifiers
Expert Rationale: The Joint Commission requires use of at least two patient
identifiers (e.g., name, date of birth, medical record number) before any procedure or
medication administration. This is the most critical safety step to prevent wrong-
patient errors .
2. A patient is placed on contact precautions. Which personal protective equipment
(PPE) must the nurse wear when entering the room?
• A) Surgical mask and gloves
• B) N95 respirator and gown
• C) Gown and gloves
• D) Gloves only
Answer: C) Gown and gloves
Expert Rationale: Contact precautions require gown and gloves to prevent
transmission of organisms spread by direct contact (e.g., MRSA, VRE, C. difficile).
Mask is required for droplet precautions; N95 for airborne precautions .
3. A nurse is caring for a patient with tuberculosis. Which type of precautions should
be implemented?
• A) Contact precautions
• B) Droplet precautions
• C) Airborne precautions
• D) Standard precautions only
Answer: C) Airborne precautions
Expert Rationale: Tuberculosis requires airborne precautions: negative pressure
room, N95 respirator (or higher), and patient wears a surgical mask when transported
outside the room .
, 4. The nurse is performing hand hygiene. Which action is correct?
• A) Use alcohol-based hand rub for visibly soiled hands
• B) Wash hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds
• C) Use hot water to kill bacteria
• D) Dry hands on the uniform
Answer: B) Wash hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds
Expert Rationale: Soap and water should be used when hands are visibly soiled.
Alcohol-based hand rub is acceptable for non-visibly soiled hands. Friction and
thorough drying are essential .
5. A patient falls in the bathroom. What is the nurse's priority action?
• A) Complete an incident report
• B) Assess the patient for injury
• C) Notify the healthcare provider
• D) Document the fall
Answer: B) Assess the patient for injury
Expert Rationale: The priority after a fall is to assess the patient for injury
(neurologic status, pain, bleeding). After assessment, notify the provider, document,
and complete an incident report .
6. Which finding would require the nurse to use an N95 respirator?
• A) Patient with influenza
• B) Patient with C. difficile
• C) Patient with active pulmonary tuberculosis
• D) Patient with MRSA wound infection
Answer: C) Patient with active pulmonary tuberculosis
Expert Rationale: N95 respirators are required for airborne precautions (TB,
measles, varicella). Droplet precautions (influenza, meningitis) require surgical mask .
, 7. The nurse is applying restraints to a patient. Which action is appropriate?
• A) Tie restraints to the side rail
• B) Remove restraints every 2 hours for range of motion
• C) Apply restraints tightly to prevent movement
• D) Obtain verbal order and document within 24 hours
Answer: B) Remove restraints every 2 hours for range of motion
Expert Rationale: Restraints must be removed every 2 hours to assess skin,
provide range of motion, and meet elimination needs. Restraints should be tied to
the bed frame, not side rails .
8. A patient on isolation precautions asks why visitors must wear protective
equipment. What is the best response?
• A) "This is hospital policy and must be followed"
• B) "The equipment protects you and your visitors from infection"
• C) "Only the healthcare team needs to wear protective equipment"
• D) "Visitors don't need to wear anything"
Answer: B) "The equipment protects you and your visitors from infection"
Expert Rationale: The correct response explains the purpose of isolation
precautions: to protect both the patient and visitors from infection transmission .
9. The nurse observes a colleague preparing to administer medication without
performing hand hygiene. What should the nurse do?
• A) Ignore the behavior
• B) Report the colleague to the supervisor
• C) Remind the colleague to perform hand hygiene
• D) Document the observation
Answer: C) Remind the colleague to perform hand hygiene
