EXIT HESI TEST 1000 CONCEPT REVIEW GUIDE
2026 CRITICAL THINKING AND TEST TAKING
STRATEGIES
◉ The nurse observes an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)
positioning a newly admitted client who has a seizure disorder. The
client is supine and the UAP is placing soft pillows along the side
rails. What action should the nurse implement?
a. Ensure that the UAP has placed the pillows effectively to protect
the client.
b. Instruct the UAP to obtain soft blankets to secure to the side rails
instead of pillows.
c. Assume responsibility for placing the pillows while the UAP
completes another task.
d. Ask the UAP to use some of the pillows to prop the client in a side
lying position.
Answer: b. Instruct the UAP to obtain soft blankets to secure to the
side rails instead of pillows.
◉ A male client with hypertension, who received new
antihypertensive prescriptions at his last visit returns to the clinic
two weeks later to evaluate his blood pressure (BP). His BP is
158/106 and he admits that he has not been taking the prescribed
medication because the drugs make him "feel bad". In explaining the
need for hypertension control, the nurse should stress that an
,elevated BP places the client at risk for which pathophysiological
condition?
a. Blindness secondary to cataracts
b. Acute kidney injury due to glomerular damage
c. Stroke secondary to hemorrhage
d. Heart block due to myocardial damage
Answer: c. Stroke secondary to hemorrhage
◉ An adolescent with major depressive disorder has been taking
duloxetine (Cymbalta) for the past 12 days. Which assessment
finding requires immediate follow-up
a. Describes life without purpose
b. Complains of nausea and loss of appetite
c. States is often fatigued and drowsy
d. Exhibits an increase in sweating.
Answer: a. Describes life without purpose
◉ A 60-year-old female client with a positive family history of
ovarian cancer has developed an abdominal mass and is being
evaluated for possible ovarian cancer. Her Papanicolau (Pap) smear
results are negative. What information should the nurse include in
the client's teaching plan
a. Further evaluation involving surgery may be needed
b. A pelvic exam is also needed before cancer is ruled out
,c. Pap smear evaluation should be continued every six month
d. One additional negative pap smear in six months is needed.
Answer: a. Further evaluation involving surgery may be needed
◉ A client who recently underwent a tracheostomy is being
prepared for discharge to home. Which instructions is most
important for the nurse to include in the discharge plan?
a. Explain how to use communication tools.
b. Teach tracheal suctioning techniques
c. Encourage self-care and independence.
d. Demonstrate how to clean tracheostomy site.
Answer: b. Teach tracheal suctioning techniques
◉ In assessing an adult client with a partial rebreather mask, the
nurse notes that the oxygen reservoir bag does not deflate
completely during inspiration and the client's respiratory rate is 14
breaths / minute. What action should the nurse implement
a. Encourage the client to take deep breaths
b. Remove the mask to deflate the bag
c. Increase the liter flow of oxygen
d. Document the assessment data
Answer: d. Document the assessment data
, ◉ During shift report, the central electrocardiogram (EKG)
monitoring system alarms. Which client alarm should the nurse
investigate first?
a. Respiratory apnea of 30 seconds
b. Oxygen saturation rate of 88%
c. Eight premature ventricular beats every minute
d. Disconnected monitor signal for the last 6 minutes.
Answer: a. Respiratory apnea of 30 seconds
◉ During a home visit, the nurse observed an elderly client with
diabetes slip and fall. What action should the nurse take first?
a. Give the client 4 ounces of orange juice
b. Call 911 to summon emergency assistance
c. Check the client for lacerations or fractures
d. Asses clients blood sugar level
Answer: c. Check the client for lacerations or fractures
◉ At 0600 while admitting a woman for a schedule repeat cesarean
section (C-Section), the client tells the nurse that she drank a cup a
coffee at 0400 because she wanted to avoid getting a headache.
Which action should the nurse take first?
a. Ensure preoperative lab results are available
2026 CRITICAL THINKING AND TEST TAKING
STRATEGIES
◉ The nurse observes an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)
positioning a newly admitted client who has a seizure disorder. The
client is supine and the UAP is placing soft pillows along the side
rails. What action should the nurse implement?
a. Ensure that the UAP has placed the pillows effectively to protect
the client.
b. Instruct the UAP to obtain soft blankets to secure to the side rails
instead of pillows.
c. Assume responsibility for placing the pillows while the UAP
completes another task.
d. Ask the UAP to use some of the pillows to prop the client in a side
lying position.
Answer: b. Instruct the UAP to obtain soft blankets to secure to the
side rails instead of pillows.
◉ A male client with hypertension, who received new
antihypertensive prescriptions at his last visit returns to the clinic
two weeks later to evaluate his blood pressure (BP). His BP is
158/106 and he admits that he has not been taking the prescribed
medication because the drugs make him "feel bad". In explaining the
need for hypertension control, the nurse should stress that an
,elevated BP places the client at risk for which pathophysiological
condition?
a. Blindness secondary to cataracts
b. Acute kidney injury due to glomerular damage
c. Stroke secondary to hemorrhage
d. Heart block due to myocardial damage
Answer: c. Stroke secondary to hemorrhage
◉ An adolescent with major depressive disorder has been taking
duloxetine (Cymbalta) for the past 12 days. Which assessment
finding requires immediate follow-up
a. Describes life without purpose
b. Complains of nausea and loss of appetite
c. States is often fatigued and drowsy
d. Exhibits an increase in sweating.
Answer: a. Describes life without purpose
◉ A 60-year-old female client with a positive family history of
ovarian cancer has developed an abdominal mass and is being
evaluated for possible ovarian cancer. Her Papanicolau (Pap) smear
results are negative. What information should the nurse include in
the client's teaching plan
a. Further evaluation involving surgery may be needed
b. A pelvic exam is also needed before cancer is ruled out
,c. Pap smear evaluation should be continued every six month
d. One additional negative pap smear in six months is needed.
Answer: a. Further evaluation involving surgery may be needed
◉ A client who recently underwent a tracheostomy is being
prepared for discharge to home. Which instructions is most
important for the nurse to include in the discharge plan?
a. Explain how to use communication tools.
b. Teach tracheal suctioning techniques
c. Encourage self-care and independence.
d. Demonstrate how to clean tracheostomy site.
Answer: b. Teach tracheal suctioning techniques
◉ In assessing an adult client with a partial rebreather mask, the
nurse notes that the oxygen reservoir bag does not deflate
completely during inspiration and the client's respiratory rate is 14
breaths / minute. What action should the nurse implement
a. Encourage the client to take deep breaths
b. Remove the mask to deflate the bag
c. Increase the liter flow of oxygen
d. Document the assessment data
Answer: d. Document the assessment data
, ◉ During shift report, the central electrocardiogram (EKG)
monitoring system alarms. Which client alarm should the nurse
investigate first?
a. Respiratory apnea of 30 seconds
b. Oxygen saturation rate of 88%
c. Eight premature ventricular beats every minute
d. Disconnected monitor signal for the last 6 minutes.
Answer: a. Respiratory apnea of 30 seconds
◉ During a home visit, the nurse observed an elderly client with
diabetes slip and fall. What action should the nurse take first?
a. Give the client 4 ounces of orange juice
b. Call 911 to summon emergency assistance
c. Check the client for lacerations or fractures
d. Asses clients blood sugar level
Answer: c. Check the client for lacerations or fractures
◉ At 0600 while admitting a woman for a schedule repeat cesarean
section (C-Section), the client tells the nurse that she drank a cup a
coffee at 0400 because she wanted to avoid getting a headache.
Which action should the nurse take first?
a. Ensure preoperative lab results are available
