2026
HESI RN Exit Exam 2026
Comprehensive Nursing Readiness
Guide: Content Mastery, Practice Exams,
and Performance Analytics
Which actions of the nurse exhibit transactional leadership? Select all that apply.
A. Motivating or inspiring the employees
B. Meeting the targets within the deadline
C. Working according to organizational rules
D. Correcting the errors in a reactive manner
E. Increasing the employee commitment of an organization
Correct Answer: B, C, D
Rationale:
Transactional leadership focuses on structure, rules, and task completion. Meeting deadlines,
adhering to organizational rules, and correcting errors reactively are hallmarks of this style.
Motivating or inspiring employees and increasing commitment are characteristics of
transformational leadership, not transactional leadership.
The unit nurse manager comes to work obviously intoxicated. Which action is the staff nurse
ethically obligated to take?
A. Call the security guard
B. Tell the nurse manager to go home
C. Have the supervisor validate the observation
D. Offer the nurse manager a large cup of coffee
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
The staff nurse should report the concern to the supervisor so the situation can be validated,
documented, and handled appropriately. Security guards lack authority in this matter. Sending
the manager home bypasses proper reporting and may endanger the nurse manager if driving.
Coffee does not reverse intoxication.
,2026
Which aspects are considered when determining the willingness of a nursing assistant before
delegating a task? Select all that apply.
A. Ability
B. Attitude
C. Personality
D. Confidence
E. Commitment
Correct Answer: B, D, E
Rationale:
Willingness is determined by attitude, confidence, and commitment. Ability relates to skills and
knowledge rather than willingness. Personality traits may affect delegation effectiveness but are
not direct measures of willingness.
Which performance appraisal method is used by nurse managers to measure the performance of
the nurse both qualitatively and quantitatively?
A. Narrative method
B. Critical incidents method
C. Graphic rating scale form
D. Behaviorally anchored rating scales
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Behaviorally anchored rating scales evaluate performance using specific behaviors tied to
numerical ratings, allowing both qualitative and quantitative assessment. Narrative methods rely
on written descriptions, critical incidents track notable behaviors, and graphic rating scales use
general performance continua.
The healthcare team is caring for clients in an emergency department. How soon should clients
triaged as emergency severity index level 3 (ESI-3) be seen by the physician?
A. Immediately
B. Within 1 hour
C. Could be delayed
D. Within 10 minutes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Clients categorized as ESI-3 should be evaluated by a physician within one hour. ESI-1 requires
,2026
immediate care, ESI-2 requires care within 10 minutes, and ESI-4 and ESI-5 can safely
experience delayed care.
Which question does the registered nurse recognize as related to the right of circumstance when
delegating?
A. Is the delegation appropriate to the situation?
B. Is the task within the delegatee’s scope of practice?
C. Is the prospective delegate a willing and able employee?
D. Is the delegator able to monitor and evaluate the client appropriately?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Right circumstance focuses on whether the situation is appropriate for delegation. Scope of
practice refers to right task, willingness and ability relate to right person, and monitoring relates
to right supervision.
Which factors does the registered nurse consider in the decision-to-delegate process? Select all
that apply.
A. Evaluation
B. Nursing judgment
C. Predictability of outcomes
D. Pervasive functions of assessment
E. Complexity of the task to be performed
Correct Answer: C, E
Rationale:
Predictability of outcomes and task complexity guide delegation decisions. Evaluation, nursing
judgment, and assessment functions are responsibilities of the registered nurse and are not
delegated factors.
Under a leader, a team of followers has failed to achieve success in conducting research. What
does an effective leader do in this situation?
A. Criticizes the team members for failure
B. Provides excuses for the negative outcome
C. Refuses to take responsibility for failure
D. Accepts failure and gains experience from it
Correct Answer: D
, 2026
Rationale:
Effective leaders accept responsibility for failure and learn from it to improve future
performance. Criticizing staff, making excuses, or avoiding responsibility undermines team
growth and leadership effectiveness.
The nursing manager wants to implement transformational leadership qualities. Which actions
best describe this style of leadership? Select all that apply.
A. Providing intellectual stimulation
B. Intervening only when problems exist
C. Performing experiments with system redesign
D. Using motivator factors to inspire work performance
E. Monitoring performance and taking action to correct
Correct Answer: A, C, D
Rationale:
Transformational leaders intellectually stimulate staff, encourage innovation through system
redesign, and inspire performance using motivators. Intervening only when problems exist and
corrective monitoring are features of transactional leadership.
Which component of delegation is defined as the ability to perform duties in a specific role?
A. Authority
B. Supervision
C. Responsibility
D. Accountability
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Authority refers to the right and ability to perform specific duties. Supervision involves
oversight, responsibility relates to obligation, and accountability focuses on answerability for
outcomes.
The healthcare team is caring for a client with neutropenia. Which task is delegated to unlicensed
assistive personnel?
A. Administering antibiotics
B. Assisting with personal hygiene
C. Monitoring for signs and symptoms of infection
D. Teaching the client and caregivers about infection prevention
HESI RN Exit Exam 2026
Comprehensive Nursing Readiness
Guide: Content Mastery, Practice Exams,
and Performance Analytics
Which actions of the nurse exhibit transactional leadership? Select all that apply.
A. Motivating or inspiring the employees
B. Meeting the targets within the deadline
C. Working according to organizational rules
D. Correcting the errors in a reactive manner
E. Increasing the employee commitment of an organization
Correct Answer: B, C, D
Rationale:
Transactional leadership focuses on structure, rules, and task completion. Meeting deadlines,
adhering to organizational rules, and correcting errors reactively are hallmarks of this style.
Motivating or inspiring employees and increasing commitment are characteristics of
transformational leadership, not transactional leadership.
The unit nurse manager comes to work obviously intoxicated. Which action is the staff nurse
ethically obligated to take?
A. Call the security guard
B. Tell the nurse manager to go home
C. Have the supervisor validate the observation
D. Offer the nurse manager a large cup of coffee
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
The staff nurse should report the concern to the supervisor so the situation can be validated,
documented, and handled appropriately. Security guards lack authority in this matter. Sending
the manager home bypasses proper reporting and may endanger the nurse manager if driving.
Coffee does not reverse intoxication.
,2026
Which aspects are considered when determining the willingness of a nursing assistant before
delegating a task? Select all that apply.
A. Ability
B. Attitude
C. Personality
D. Confidence
E. Commitment
Correct Answer: B, D, E
Rationale:
Willingness is determined by attitude, confidence, and commitment. Ability relates to skills and
knowledge rather than willingness. Personality traits may affect delegation effectiveness but are
not direct measures of willingness.
Which performance appraisal method is used by nurse managers to measure the performance of
the nurse both qualitatively and quantitatively?
A. Narrative method
B. Critical incidents method
C. Graphic rating scale form
D. Behaviorally anchored rating scales
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Behaviorally anchored rating scales evaluate performance using specific behaviors tied to
numerical ratings, allowing both qualitative and quantitative assessment. Narrative methods rely
on written descriptions, critical incidents track notable behaviors, and graphic rating scales use
general performance continua.
The healthcare team is caring for clients in an emergency department. How soon should clients
triaged as emergency severity index level 3 (ESI-3) be seen by the physician?
A. Immediately
B. Within 1 hour
C. Could be delayed
D. Within 10 minutes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Clients categorized as ESI-3 should be evaluated by a physician within one hour. ESI-1 requires
,2026
immediate care, ESI-2 requires care within 10 minutes, and ESI-4 and ESI-5 can safely
experience delayed care.
Which question does the registered nurse recognize as related to the right of circumstance when
delegating?
A. Is the delegation appropriate to the situation?
B. Is the task within the delegatee’s scope of practice?
C. Is the prospective delegate a willing and able employee?
D. Is the delegator able to monitor and evaluate the client appropriately?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Right circumstance focuses on whether the situation is appropriate for delegation. Scope of
practice refers to right task, willingness and ability relate to right person, and monitoring relates
to right supervision.
Which factors does the registered nurse consider in the decision-to-delegate process? Select all
that apply.
A. Evaluation
B. Nursing judgment
C. Predictability of outcomes
D. Pervasive functions of assessment
E. Complexity of the task to be performed
Correct Answer: C, E
Rationale:
Predictability of outcomes and task complexity guide delegation decisions. Evaluation, nursing
judgment, and assessment functions are responsibilities of the registered nurse and are not
delegated factors.
Under a leader, a team of followers has failed to achieve success in conducting research. What
does an effective leader do in this situation?
A. Criticizes the team members for failure
B. Provides excuses for the negative outcome
C. Refuses to take responsibility for failure
D. Accepts failure and gains experience from it
Correct Answer: D
, 2026
Rationale:
Effective leaders accept responsibility for failure and learn from it to improve future
performance. Criticizing staff, making excuses, or avoiding responsibility undermines team
growth and leadership effectiveness.
The nursing manager wants to implement transformational leadership qualities. Which actions
best describe this style of leadership? Select all that apply.
A. Providing intellectual stimulation
B. Intervening only when problems exist
C. Performing experiments with system redesign
D. Using motivator factors to inspire work performance
E. Monitoring performance and taking action to correct
Correct Answer: A, C, D
Rationale:
Transformational leaders intellectually stimulate staff, encourage innovation through system
redesign, and inspire performance using motivators. Intervening only when problems exist and
corrective monitoring are features of transactional leadership.
Which component of delegation is defined as the ability to perform duties in a specific role?
A. Authority
B. Supervision
C. Responsibility
D. Accountability
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Authority refers to the right and ability to perform specific duties. Supervision involves
oversight, responsibility relates to obligation, and accountability focuses on answerability for
outcomes.
The healthcare team is caring for a client with neutropenia. Which task is delegated to unlicensed
assistive personnel?
A. Administering antibiotics
B. Assisting with personal hygiene
C. Monitoring for signs and symptoms of infection
D. Teaching the client and caregivers about infection prevention
