HESI EXIT EXAM – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED
AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS | PLUS RATIONALES BE IN
ITALICS| GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST EXAM UPDATE
• CORE DOMAINS*
•
• Medical-Surgical Nursing
• Pharmacology and Medication Administration
• Maternal-Newborn Nursing
• Pediatric Nursing
• Mental Health Nursing
• Leadership and Management
• Professional Issues, Ethics, and Legal Practice
• Critical Care and Emergency Nursing
• Health Assessment and Clinical Judgment
• Infection Prevention and Patient Safety
• INTRODUCTION*
•
The HESI Exit Exam is designed to evaluate the comprehensive nursing knowledge and clinical
judgment expected of entry-level professional nurses. The examination assesses critical concepts from
major nursing specialties, including medical-surgical, maternal-child, mental health, pharmacology,
leadership, and professional practice. Questions are presented in multiple-choice and scenario-based
formats that require application of knowledge rather than simple recall. Emphasis is placed on safe
patient care, prioritization, delegation, ethical decision-making, patient education, and evidence-
based practice. Success on the examination demonstrates readiness for clinical practice and the
ability to make sound decisions in real-world healthcare environments.
SECTION ONE (QUESTIONS 1–40)
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a client experiencing acute respiratory distress. Which assessment finding
requires immediate intervention?
A. Respiratory rate of 22 breaths/minute
B. Oxygen saturation of 84% on room air
C. Mild anxiety
D. Productive cough
Correct Answer: B. Oxygen saturation of 84% on room air
Explanation: An oxygen saturation of 84% indicates significant hypoxemia requiring immediate
intervention to prevent respiratory failure.
Question 2
,A nurse is preparing to administer insulin. Which action is most important before giving the
medication?
A. Assess bowel sounds
B. Check serum potassium level
C. Verify the client's blood glucose level
D. Measure urine output
Correct Answer: C. Verify the client's blood glucose level
Explanation: Insulin administration should be based on the current blood glucose value to ensure
safe dosing.
Question 3
A client with heart failure reports sudden weight gain of 3 pounds in 24 hours. What should the
nurse do first?
A. Notify the healthcare provider
B. Restrict oral fluids
C. Encourage ambulation
D. Assess for edema and lung sounds
Correct Answer: D. Assess for edema and lung sounds
Explanation: Assessment is the priority to determine the extent of fluid overload before
implementing further interventions.
Question 4
Which laboratory value should the nurse report immediately?
A. Hemoglobin 13 g/dL
B. Sodium 138 mEq/L
C. Potassium 2.8 mEq/L
D. Platelets 200,000/mm³
Correct Answer: C. Potassium 2.8 mEq/L
Explanation: Severe hypokalemia can lead to life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias and requires
prompt attention.
Question 5
A nurse is delegating tasks to an experienced UAP. Which task is appropriate?
A. Assess pain level after medication administration
B. Teach diabetic foot care
C. Obtain routine vital signs on a stable client
D. Evaluate wound healing
Correct Answer: C. Obtain routine vital signs on a stable client
Explanation: Routine data collection on stable clients may be delegated to trained UAPs.
, Question 6
A postoperative client suddenly becomes restless and confused. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Check oxygen saturation
B. Reorient the client
C. Administer pain medication
D. Call family members
Correct Answer: A. Check oxygen saturation
Explanation: Restlessness and confusion may indicate hypoxia, which must be assessed
immediately.
Question 7
Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. Client with chronic back pain requesting medication
B. Client with diabetes whose glucose is 180 mg/dL
C. Client with chest pain rated 8/10
D. Client awaiting discharge instructions
Correct Answer: C. Client with chest pain rated 8/10
Explanation: Chest pain may indicate myocardial ischemia and requires immediate assessment.
Question 8
A nurse is caring for a client receiving warfarin. Which laboratory test is most important to monitor?
A. Hemoglobin A1C
B. INR
C. Troponin
D. Creatinine
Correct Answer: B. INR
Explanation: INR evaluates the effectiveness and safety of warfarin therapy.
Question 9
A client with bacterial meningitis is admitted to the unit. Which precaution should the nurse
implement?
A. Airborne precautions
B. Standard precautions only
C. Contact precautions
D. Droplet precautions
Correct Answer: D. Droplet precautions
Explanation: Meningitis can spread through respiratory droplets and requires droplet
precautions.
Question 10
AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS | PLUS RATIONALES BE IN
ITALICS| GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST EXAM UPDATE
• CORE DOMAINS*
•
• Medical-Surgical Nursing
• Pharmacology and Medication Administration
• Maternal-Newborn Nursing
• Pediatric Nursing
• Mental Health Nursing
• Leadership and Management
• Professional Issues, Ethics, and Legal Practice
• Critical Care and Emergency Nursing
• Health Assessment and Clinical Judgment
• Infection Prevention and Patient Safety
• INTRODUCTION*
•
The HESI Exit Exam is designed to evaluate the comprehensive nursing knowledge and clinical
judgment expected of entry-level professional nurses. The examination assesses critical concepts from
major nursing specialties, including medical-surgical, maternal-child, mental health, pharmacology,
leadership, and professional practice. Questions are presented in multiple-choice and scenario-based
formats that require application of knowledge rather than simple recall. Emphasis is placed on safe
patient care, prioritization, delegation, ethical decision-making, patient education, and evidence-
based practice. Success on the examination demonstrates readiness for clinical practice and the
ability to make sound decisions in real-world healthcare environments.
SECTION ONE (QUESTIONS 1–40)
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a client experiencing acute respiratory distress. Which assessment finding
requires immediate intervention?
A. Respiratory rate of 22 breaths/minute
B. Oxygen saturation of 84% on room air
C. Mild anxiety
D. Productive cough
Correct Answer: B. Oxygen saturation of 84% on room air
Explanation: An oxygen saturation of 84% indicates significant hypoxemia requiring immediate
intervention to prevent respiratory failure.
Question 2
,A nurse is preparing to administer insulin. Which action is most important before giving the
medication?
A. Assess bowel sounds
B. Check serum potassium level
C. Verify the client's blood glucose level
D. Measure urine output
Correct Answer: C. Verify the client's blood glucose level
Explanation: Insulin administration should be based on the current blood glucose value to ensure
safe dosing.
Question 3
A client with heart failure reports sudden weight gain of 3 pounds in 24 hours. What should the
nurse do first?
A. Notify the healthcare provider
B. Restrict oral fluids
C. Encourage ambulation
D. Assess for edema and lung sounds
Correct Answer: D. Assess for edema and lung sounds
Explanation: Assessment is the priority to determine the extent of fluid overload before
implementing further interventions.
Question 4
Which laboratory value should the nurse report immediately?
A. Hemoglobin 13 g/dL
B. Sodium 138 mEq/L
C. Potassium 2.8 mEq/L
D. Platelets 200,000/mm³
Correct Answer: C. Potassium 2.8 mEq/L
Explanation: Severe hypokalemia can lead to life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias and requires
prompt attention.
Question 5
A nurse is delegating tasks to an experienced UAP. Which task is appropriate?
A. Assess pain level after medication administration
B. Teach diabetic foot care
C. Obtain routine vital signs on a stable client
D. Evaluate wound healing
Correct Answer: C. Obtain routine vital signs on a stable client
Explanation: Routine data collection on stable clients may be delegated to trained UAPs.
, Question 6
A postoperative client suddenly becomes restless and confused. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Check oxygen saturation
B. Reorient the client
C. Administer pain medication
D. Call family members
Correct Answer: A. Check oxygen saturation
Explanation: Restlessness and confusion may indicate hypoxia, which must be assessed
immediately.
Question 7
Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. Client with chronic back pain requesting medication
B. Client with diabetes whose glucose is 180 mg/dL
C. Client with chest pain rated 8/10
D. Client awaiting discharge instructions
Correct Answer: C. Client with chest pain rated 8/10
Explanation: Chest pain may indicate myocardial ischemia and requires immediate assessment.
Question 8
A nurse is caring for a client receiving warfarin. Which laboratory test is most important to monitor?
A. Hemoglobin A1C
B. INR
C. Troponin
D. Creatinine
Correct Answer: B. INR
Explanation: INR evaluates the effectiveness and safety of warfarin therapy.
Question 9
A client with bacterial meningitis is admitted to the unit. Which precaution should the nurse
implement?
A. Airborne precautions
B. Standard precautions only
C. Contact precautions
D. Droplet precautions
Correct Answer: D. Droplet precautions
Explanation: Meningitis can spread through respiratory droplets and requires droplet
precautions.
Question 10
