HESI Comprehensive Exit Exam
1. NPO status is imposed 8 hours before the procedure on a client scheduled to undergo
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) at 1 p.m. On the morning of the procedure, the nurse
checks the client's record and notes that the client routinely takes an oral
antihypertensive medication each morning. The nurse should:
A. Administer the antihypertensive with a small sip of water
B. Withhold the antihypertensive and administer it at bedtime
C. Administer the medication by way of the intravenous (IV) route
D. Hold the antihypertensive and resume its administration on the day after the ECT
- A. Administer the antihypertensive with a small sip of water
2. A client who recently underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery comes to the
physician's office for a follow-up visit. On assessment, the client tells the nurse that he is
feeling depressed. Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
A. "Tell me more about what you're feeling."
B. "That's a normal response after this type of surgery."
C. "It will take time, but, I promise you, you will get over this depression."
D. "Every client who has this surgery feels the same way for about a month."
- A. "Tell me more about what you're feeling."
3. A client in labor experiences spontaneous rupture of the membranes. The nurse
immediately counts the fetal heart rate (FHR) for 1 full minute and then checks the
amniotic fluid. The nurse notes that the fluid is yellow and has a strong odor. Which of
the following actions should be the nurse's priority?
A. Contacting the physician
B. Documenting the findings
, C. Checking the fluid for protein
D. Continuing to monitor the client and the FHR
- A. Contacting the physician
4. A nurse has assisted a physician in inserting a central venous access device into a client
with a diagnosis of severe malnutrition who will be receiving parenteral nutrition (PN).
After insertion of the catheter, the nurse immediately plans to:
A. Call the radiography department to obtain a chest x-ray
B. Check the client's blood glucose level to serve as a baseline measurement
C. Hang the prescribed bag of PN and start the infusion at the prescribed rate
D. Infuse normal saline solution through the catheter at a rate of 100 mL/hr to maintain
patency
- A. Call the radiography department to obtain a chest x-ray
5. A rape victim being treated in the emergency department says to the nurse, "I'm really
worried that I've got HIV now." What is the appropriate response by the nurse?
A. "HIV is rarely an issue in rape victims."
B. "Every rape victim is concerned about HIV."
C. "You're more likely to get pregnant than to contract HIV."
D. "Let's talk about the information that you need to determine your risk of contracting
HIV."
- D. "Let's talk about the information that you need to determine your risk of contracting
HIV."
6. A client is taking prescribed ibuprofen (Motrin), 300 mg orally four times daily, to relieve
joint pain resulting from rheumatoid arthritis. The client tells the nurse that the
medication is causing nausea and indigestion. The nurse should tell the client to:
, A. Contact the physician
B. Stop taking the medication
C. Take the medication with food
D. Take the medication twice a day instead of four times
- C. Take the medication with food
7. A client's oral intake of liquids includes 120 mL on the night shift, 800 mL on the day
shift, and 650 mL on the evening shift. The client is receiving an intravenous (IV)
antibiotic every 12 hours, diluted in 50 mL of normal saline solution. The nurse empties
700 mL of urine from the client's Foley catheter at the end of the day shift. Thereafter,
500 mL of urine is emptied at the end of the evening shift and 325 mL at the end of the
night shift. Nasogastric tube drainage totals 155 mL for the 24-hour period, and the total
drainage from the Jackson-Pratt device is 175 mL. What is the client's total intake during
the 24-hour period? Type your answer in the space provided.
Answer: ________mL
- Correct Responses: "1670"
8. Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg by way of intravenous (IV) injection (IV push) is prescribed for
a client for the management of anxiety. The nurse prepares the medication as
prescribed and administers the medication over a period of:
A. 3 minutes
B. 10 seconds
C. 15 seconds
D. 30 minutes
- A. 3 minutes
9. A nurse, conducting an assessment of a client being seen in the clinic for symptoms of a
sinus infection, asks the client about medications that he is taking. The client tells the
, nurse that he is taking nefazodone hydrochloride (Serzone). On the basis of this
information, the nurse determines that the client most likely has a history of:
A. Depression
B. Diabetes mellitus
C. Hyperthyroidism
D. Coronary artery disease
- A. Depression
10. Enalapril maleate (Vasotec) is prescribed for a hospitalized client. Which assessment
does the nurse perform as a priority before administering the medication?
A. Checking the client's blood pressure
B. Checking the client's peripheral pulses
C. Checking the most recent potassium level
D. Checking the client's intake-and-output record for the last 24 hours
- A. Checking the client's blood pressure
Checking the client's blood pressure
Enalapril maleate is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor used to treat
hypertension. One common side effect is postural hypotension. Therefore the nurse
would check the client's blood pressure immediately before administering each dose.
Checking the client's peripheral pulses, the results of the most recent potassium level,
and the intake and output for the previous 24 hours are not specifically associated with
this mediation.
11. A client is scheduled to undergo an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series, and the nurse
provides instructions to the client about the test. Which statement by the client
indicates a need for further instruction?
1. NPO status is imposed 8 hours before the procedure on a client scheduled to undergo
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) at 1 p.m. On the morning of the procedure, the nurse
checks the client's record and notes that the client routinely takes an oral
antihypertensive medication each morning. The nurse should:
A. Administer the antihypertensive with a small sip of water
B. Withhold the antihypertensive and administer it at bedtime
C. Administer the medication by way of the intravenous (IV) route
D. Hold the antihypertensive and resume its administration on the day after the ECT
- A. Administer the antihypertensive with a small sip of water
2. A client who recently underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery comes to the
physician's office for a follow-up visit. On assessment, the client tells the nurse that he is
feeling depressed. Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
A. "Tell me more about what you're feeling."
B. "That's a normal response after this type of surgery."
C. "It will take time, but, I promise you, you will get over this depression."
D. "Every client who has this surgery feels the same way for about a month."
- A. "Tell me more about what you're feeling."
3. A client in labor experiences spontaneous rupture of the membranes. The nurse
immediately counts the fetal heart rate (FHR) for 1 full minute and then checks the
amniotic fluid. The nurse notes that the fluid is yellow and has a strong odor. Which of
the following actions should be the nurse's priority?
A. Contacting the physician
B. Documenting the findings
, C. Checking the fluid for protein
D. Continuing to monitor the client and the FHR
- A. Contacting the physician
4. A nurse has assisted a physician in inserting a central venous access device into a client
with a diagnosis of severe malnutrition who will be receiving parenteral nutrition (PN).
After insertion of the catheter, the nurse immediately plans to:
A. Call the radiography department to obtain a chest x-ray
B. Check the client's blood glucose level to serve as a baseline measurement
C. Hang the prescribed bag of PN and start the infusion at the prescribed rate
D. Infuse normal saline solution through the catheter at a rate of 100 mL/hr to maintain
patency
- A. Call the radiography department to obtain a chest x-ray
5. A rape victim being treated in the emergency department says to the nurse, "I'm really
worried that I've got HIV now." What is the appropriate response by the nurse?
A. "HIV is rarely an issue in rape victims."
B. "Every rape victim is concerned about HIV."
C. "You're more likely to get pregnant than to contract HIV."
D. "Let's talk about the information that you need to determine your risk of contracting
HIV."
- D. "Let's talk about the information that you need to determine your risk of contracting
HIV."
6. A client is taking prescribed ibuprofen (Motrin), 300 mg orally four times daily, to relieve
joint pain resulting from rheumatoid arthritis. The client tells the nurse that the
medication is causing nausea and indigestion. The nurse should tell the client to:
, A. Contact the physician
B. Stop taking the medication
C. Take the medication with food
D. Take the medication twice a day instead of four times
- C. Take the medication with food
7. A client's oral intake of liquids includes 120 mL on the night shift, 800 mL on the day
shift, and 650 mL on the evening shift. The client is receiving an intravenous (IV)
antibiotic every 12 hours, diluted in 50 mL of normal saline solution. The nurse empties
700 mL of urine from the client's Foley catheter at the end of the day shift. Thereafter,
500 mL of urine is emptied at the end of the evening shift and 325 mL at the end of the
night shift. Nasogastric tube drainage totals 155 mL for the 24-hour period, and the total
drainage from the Jackson-Pratt device is 175 mL. What is the client's total intake during
the 24-hour period? Type your answer in the space provided.
Answer: ________mL
- Correct Responses: "1670"
8. Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg by way of intravenous (IV) injection (IV push) is prescribed for
a client for the management of anxiety. The nurse prepares the medication as
prescribed and administers the medication over a period of:
A. 3 minutes
B. 10 seconds
C. 15 seconds
D. 30 minutes
- A. 3 minutes
9. A nurse, conducting an assessment of a client being seen in the clinic for symptoms of a
sinus infection, asks the client about medications that he is taking. The client tells the
, nurse that he is taking nefazodone hydrochloride (Serzone). On the basis of this
information, the nurse determines that the client most likely has a history of:
A. Depression
B. Diabetes mellitus
C. Hyperthyroidism
D. Coronary artery disease
- A. Depression
10. Enalapril maleate (Vasotec) is prescribed for a hospitalized client. Which assessment
does the nurse perform as a priority before administering the medication?
A. Checking the client's blood pressure
B. Checking the client's peripheral pulses
C. Checking the most recent potassium level
D. Checking the client's intake-and-output record for the last 24 hours
- A. Checking the client's blood pressure
Checking the client's blood pressure
Enalapril maleate is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor used to treat
hypertension. One common side effect is postural hypotension. Therefore the nurse
would check the client's blood pressure immediately before administering each dose.
Checking the client's peripheral pulses, the results of the most recent potassium level,
and the intake and output for the previous 24 hours are not specifically associated with
this mediation.
11. A client is scheduled to undergo an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series, and the nurse
provides instructions to the client about the test. Which statement by the client
indicates a need for further instruction?
