HESI EXIT RN EXAM V1-V7
(HESI Review over 700 QUESTIONS EXIT EXAM)
//Following discharge teaching, a male client with duodenal ulcer tells the nurse the he will
drink plenty of dairy products, such as milk, to help coat and protect his ulcer. What is the
best follow-up action by the nurse?
ANS: Review with the client the need to avoid foods that are rich in milk and cream
//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?
ANS: Stroke secondary to hemorrhage
//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?
ANS: Instruct the UAP to obtain soft blankets to secure to the side rails instead of
pillows.
//An adolescent with major depressive disorder has been taking duloxetine (Cymbalta) for the
past 12 days. Which assessment finding requires immediate follow-up?
ANS: 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?
ANS: Further evaluation involving surgery may be needed
//A client who recently underwear a tracheostomy is being prepared for discharge to home.
Which instructions is most important for the nurse to include in the discharge plan?
ANS: 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?
ANS: Document the assessment data
(Rational: reservoir bag should not deflate completely during inspiration and the
client’s respiratory rate is within normal limits.)
//During shift report, the central electrocardiogram (EKG) monitoring system alarms. Which
,client alarm should the nurse investigate firs?
ANS: 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?
ANS: 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?
ANS: Inform the anesthesia care provider
//After placing a stethoscope as seen in the picture, the nurse auscultates S1 and S2 heart
sounds. To determine if an S3 heart sound is present, what action should the nurse take first?
ANS: Listen with the bell at the same location
//A 66-year-old woman is retiring and will no longer have a health insurance through her
place of employment. Which agency should the client be referred to by the employee health
nurse for health insurance needs?
ANS: Medicare
//A client who is taking an oral dose of a tetracycline complains of gastrointestinal upset.
What snack should the nurse instruct the client to take with the tetracycline?
ANS: Toasted wheat bread and jelly
//Following a lumbar puncture, a client voices several complaints. What complaint indicated
to the nurse that the client is experiencing a complication?
“I have a headache that gets worse when I sit up”
“I am having pain in my lower back when I move my legs”
“My throat hurts when I swallow”
“I feel sick to my stomach and am going to throw up”
ANS: I have a headache that gets worse when I sit up.
//An elderly client seems confused and reports the onset of nausea, dysuria, and urgency with
incontinence. Which action should the nurse implement?
ANS: Obtain a clean catch mid-stream specimen
//The nurse is assisting the mother of a child with phenylketonuria (PKU) to select foods that
are in keeping with the child’s dietary restrictions. Which foods are contraindicated for this
child?
ANS: Foods sweetened with aspartame
//Before preparing a client for the first surgical case of the day, a part-time scrub nurse asks
the circulating nurse if a 3 minute surgical hand scrub is adequate preparation for this client.
Which response should the circulating nurse provide?
ANS: Direct the nurse to continue the surgical hand scrub for a 5 minute duration
//Which breakfast selection indicates that the client understands the nurse’s instructions about
the dietary management of osteoporosis?
ANS: Bagel with jelly and skim milk
//The charge nurse of a critical care unit is informed at the beginning of the shift that less
than the optimal number of registered nurses will be working that shift. In planning
assignments, which client should receive the most care hours by a registered nurse (RN)?
, ANS: An 82-year-old client with Alzheimer’s disease newly-fractures femur who has
a Foley catheter and soft wrist restrains applied
//A mother brings her 6-year-old child, who has just stepped on a rusty nail, to the
pediatrician’s office. Upon inspection, the nurse notes that the nail went through the shoe and
pierced the bottom of the child’s foot. Which action should the nurse implement first?
Cleanse the foot with soap and water and apply an antibiotic ointment
Provide teaching about the need for a tetanus booster within the next 72 hours.
have the mother check the child's temperature q4h for the next 24 hours
transfer the child to the emergency department to receive a gamma globulin
injection
ANS: cleanse the foot with soap and water and supply an antibiotic ointment
//The mother of an adolescent tells the clinic nurse, “My son has athlete’s foot, I have been
applying triple antibiotic ointment for two days, but there has been no improvement.” What
instruction should the nurse provide?
ANS: Stop using the ointment and encourage complete drying of the feet and wearing
clean socks.
//A 26-year-old female client is admitted to the hospital for treatment of a simple goiter, and
levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid) is prescribed. Which symptoms indicate to the nurse that
the prescribed dosage is too high for this client? The client experiences
Bradycardia and constipation
Lethargy and lack of appetite
Muscle cramping and dry, flushed skin
Palpitations and shortness of breath
ANS: palpitations and shortness of breath
//A client with a history of heart failure presents to the clinic with a nausea, vomiting, yellow
vision and palpitations. Which finding is most important for the nurse to assess to the client?
ANS: Obtain a list of medications taken for cardiac history
//The healthcare provider prescribes an IV solution of isoproterenol (Isuprel) 1 mg in 250 ml
of D5W at 300 mcg/hour. The nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver how many
ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only.)
ANS: 75
(Rationale: Convert mg to mcg and use the formula D/H x Q. 300 mcg/hour /
1,000 mcg x 250 ml = 3/1 x 25 = 75 ml/hour)
//The pathophysiological mechanism are responsible for ascites related to liver failure?
(Select all that apply)
ANS: Fluid shifts from intravascular to interstitial area due to decreased serum
protein
Increased hydrostatic pressure in portal circulation increases fluid shifts into abdomen
Increased circulating aldosterone levels that increase sodium and water retention
//The nurse is auscultating a client’s heart sounds. Which description should the nurse use to
document this sound? (Please listen to the audio first to select the option that applies)
ANS: Murmur
(Rationale: A murmur is auscultated as a swishing sound that is associated with
the blood turbulence created by the heart or valvular defect.)
, //The healthcare provider prescribes celtazidime (Fortax) 35 mg every 8 hours IM for an
infant. The 500 mg vial is labeled with the instruction to add 5.3 ml diluent to provide a
concentration of 100 mg/ml. How many ml should the nurse administered for each dose?
(Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth)
ANS: 0.4
(rationale: 35mg/100mg x 1 = 0.35 = 0.4 ml)
//The nurse notes that a client has been receiving hydromorphone (Dilaudid) every six hours
for four days. What assessment is most important for the nurse to complete?
Auscultate the client's bowel sounds
Observe for edema around the ankles
Measure the client’s capillary glucose level
Count the apical and radial pulses simultaneously
ANS: auscultate the clients bowel sounds (Rationale: hydromorphone is a potent
opioid analgesic that slows peristalsis and frequently causes constipation, so it is
most important to Auscultate the client's bowel sounds)
//A female client is admitted with end stage pulmonary disease is alert, oriented, and
complaining of shortness of breath. The client tells the nurse that she wants “no heroic
measures” taken if she stops breathing, and she asks the nurse to document this in her
medical record. What action should the nurse implement?
ANS: Ask the client to discuss “do not resuscitate” with her healthcare provider
//A client is receiving a full strength continuous enteral tube feeding at 50 ml/hour and has
developed diarrhea. The client has a new prescription to change the feeding to half strength.
What intervention should the nurse implement?
ANS: Add equal amounts of water and feeding to a feeding bag and infuse at
50ml/hour
//A female client reports that her hair is becoming coarse and breaking off, that the outer part
of her eyebrows have disappeared, and that her eyes are all puffy. Which follow-up question
is best for the nurse to ask?
ANS: Have you noticed any changes in your fingernails?
(Rationale: The pattern of reported manifestations is suggestive of
hypothyroidism)
//After a third hospitalization 6 months ago, a client is admitted to the hospital with ascites
and malnutrition. The client is drowsy but responding to verbal stimuli and reports recently
spitting up blood. What assessment finding warrants immediate intervention by the nurse?
Capillary refill of 8 seconds
bruises on arms and legs
round and tight abdomen
pitting edema in lower legs
ANS: capillary refill of 8 seconds
//After the nurse witnesses a preoperative client sign the surgical consent form, the nurse
signs the form as a witness. What are the legal implications of the nurse’s signature on the
client’s surgical consent form? (Select all that apply)
ANS: The client voluntarily grants permission for the procedure to be done
The client is competent to sign the consent without impairment of judgment
The client understands the risks and benefits associated with the procedure
//Following surgery, a male client with antisocial personality disorder frequently requests that
a specific nurse be assigned to his care and is belligerent when another nurse is assigned.
What action should the charge nurse implement?
(HESI Review over 700 QUESTIONS EXIT EXAM)
//Following discharge teaching, a male client with duodenal ulcer tells the nurse the he will
drink plenty of dairy products, such as milk, to help coat and protect his ulcer. What is the
best follow-up action by the nurse?
ANS: Review with the client the need to avoid foods that are rich in milk and cream
//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?
ANS: Stroke secondary to hemorrhage
//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?
ANS: Instruct the UAP to obtain soft blankets to secure to the side rails instead of
pillows.
//An adolescent with major depressive disorder has been taking duloxetine (Cymbalta) for the
past 12 days. Which assessment finding requires immediate follow-up?
ANS: 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?
ANS: Further evaluation involving surgery may be needed
//A client who recently underwear a tracheostomy is being prepared for discharge to home.
Which instructions is most important for the nurse to include in the discharge plan?
ANS: 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?
ANS: Document the assessment data
(Rational: reservoir bag should not deflate completely during inspiration and the
client’s respiratory rate is within normal limits.)
//During shift report, the central electrocardiogram (EKG) monitoring system alarms. Which
,client alarm should the nurse investigate firs?
ANS: 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?
ANS: 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?
ANS: Inform the anesthesia care provider
//After placing a stethoscope as seen in the picture, the nurse auscultates S1 and S2 heart
sounds. To determine if an S3 heart sound is present, what action should the nurse take first?
ANS: Listen with the bell at the same location
//A 66-year-old woman is retiring and will no longer have a health insurance through her
place of employment. Which agency should the client be referred to by the employee health
nurse for health insurance needs?
ANS: Medicare
//A client who is taking an oral dose of a tetracycline complains of gastrointestinal upset.
What snack should the nurse instruct the client to take with the tetracycline?
ANS: Toasted wheat bread and jelly
//Following a lumbar puncture, a client voices several complaints. What complaint indicated
to the nurse that the client is experiencing a complication?
“I have a headache that gets worse when I sit up”
“I am having pain in my lower back when I move my legs”
“My throat hurts when I swallow”
“I feel sick to my stomach and am going to throw up”
ANS: I have a headache that gets worse when I sit up.
//An elderly client seems confused and reports the onset of nausea, dysuria, and urgency with
incontinence. Which action should the nurse implement?
ANS: Obtain a clean catch mid-stream specimen
//The nurse is assisting the mother of a child with phenylketonuria (PKU) to select foods that
are in keeping with the child’s dietary restrictions. Which foods are contraindicated for this
child?
ANS: Foods sweetened with aspartame
//Before preparing a client for the first surgical case of the day, a part-time scrub nurse asks
the circulating nurse if a 3 minute surgical hand scrub is adequate preparation for this client.
Which response should the circulating nurse provide?
ANS: Direct the nurse to continue the surgical hand scrub for a 5 minute duration
//Which breakfast selection indicates that the client understands the nurse’s instructions about
the dietary management of osteoporosis?
ANS: Bagel with jelly and skim milk
//The charge nurse of a critical care unit is informed at the beginning of the shift that less
than the optimal number of registered nurses will be working that shift. In planning
assignments, which client should receive the most care hours by a registered nurse (RN)?
, ANS: An 82-year-old client with Alzheimer’s disease newly-fractures femur who has
a Foley catheter and soft wrist restrains applied
//A mother brings her 6-year-old child, who has just stepped on a rusty nail, to the
pediatrician’s office. Upon inspection, the nurse notes that the nail went through the shoe and
pierced the bottom of the child’s foot. Which action should the nurse implement first?
Cleanse the foot with soap and water and apply an antibiotic ointment
Provide teaching about the need for a tetanus booster within the next 72 hours.
have the mother check the child's temperature q4h for the next 24 hours
transfer the child to the emergency department to receive a gamma globulin
injection
ANS: cleanse the foot with soap and water and supply an antibiotic ointment
//The mother of an adolescent tells the clinic nurse, “My son has athlete’s foot, I have been
applying triple antibiotic ointment for two days, but there has been no improvement.” What
instruction should the nurse provide?
ANS: Stop using the ointment and encourage complete drying of the feet and wearing
clean socks.
//A 26-year-old female client is admitted to the hospital for treatment of a simple goiter, and
levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid) is prescribed. Which symptoms indicate to the nurse that
the prescribed dosage is too high for this client? The client experiences
Bradycardia and constipation
Lethargy and lack of appetite
Muscle cramping and dry, flushed skin
Palpitations and shortness of breath
ANS: palpitations and shortness of breath
//A client with a history of heart failure presents to the clinic with a nausea, vomiting, yellow
vision and palpitations. Which finding is most important for the nurse to assess to the client?
ANS: Obtain a list of medications taken for cardiac history
//The healthcare provider prescribes an IV solution of isoproterenol (Isuprel) 1 mg in 250 ml
of D5W at 300 mcg/hour. The nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver how many
ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only.)
ANS: 75
(Rationale: Convert mg to mcg and use the formula D/H x Q. 300 mcg/hour /
1,000 mcg x 250 ml = 3/1 x 25 = 75 ml/hour)
//The pathophysiological mechanism are responsible for ascites related to liver failure?
(Select all that apply)
ANS: Fluid shifts from intravascular to interstitial area due to decreased serum
protein
Increased hydrostatic pressure in portal circulation increases fluid shifts into abdomen
Increased circulating aldosterone levels that increase sodium and water retention
//The nurse is auscultating a client’s heart sounds. Which description should the nurse use to
document this sound? (Please listen to the audio first to select the option that applies)
ANS: Murmur
(Rationale: A murmur is auscultated as a swishing sound that is associated with
the blood turbulence created by the heart or valvular defect.)
, //The healthcare provider prescribes celtazidime (Fortax) 35 mg every 8 hours IM for an
infant. The 500 mg vial is labeled with the instruction to add 5.3 ml diluent to provide a
concentration of 100 mg/ml. How many ml should the nurse administered for each dose?
(Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth)
ANS: 0.4
(rationale: 35mg/100mg x 1 = 0.35 = 0.4 ml)
//The nurse notes that a client has been receiving hydromorphone (Dilaudid) every six hours
for four days. What assessment is most important for the nurse to complete?
Auscultate the client's bowel sounds
Observe for edema around the ankles
Measure the client’s capillary glucose level
Count the apical and radial pulses simultaneously
ANS: auscultate the clients bowel sounds (Rationale: hydromorphone is a potent
opioid analgesic that slows peristalsis and frequently causes constipation, so it is
most important to Auscultate the client's bowel sounds)
//A female client is admitted with end stage pulmonary disease is alert, oriented, and
complaining of shortness of breath. The client tells the nurse that she wants “no heroic
measures” taken if she stops breathing, and she asks the nurse to document this in her
medical record. What action should the nurse implement?
ANS: Ask the client to discuss “do not resuscitate” with her healthcare provider
//A client is receiving a full strength continuous enteral tube feeding at 50 ml/hour and has
developed diarrhea. The client has a new prescription to change the feeding to half strength.
What intervention should the nurse implement?
ANS: Add equal amounts of water and feeding to a feeding bag and infuse at
50ml/hour
//A female client reports that her hair is becoming coarse and breaking off, that the outer part
of her eyebrows have disappeared, and that her eyes are all puffy. Which follow-up question
is best for the nurse to ask?
ANS: Have you noticed any changes in your fingernails?
(Rationale: The pattern of reported manifestations is suggestive of
hypothyroidism)
//After a third hospitalization 6 months ago, a client is admitted to the hospital with ascites
and malnutrition. The client is drowsy but responding to verbal stimuli and reports recently
spitting up blood. What assessment finding warrants immediate intervention by the nurse?
Capillary refill of 8 seconds
bruises on arms and legs
round and tight abdomen
pitting edema in lower legs
ANS: capillary refill of 8 seconds
//After the nurse witnesses a preoperative client sign the surgical consent form, the nurse
signs the form as a witness. What are the legal implications of the nurse’s signature on the
client’s surgical consent form? (Select all that apply)
ANS: The client voluntarily grants permission for the procedure to be done
The client is competent to sign the consent without impairment of judgment
The client understands the risks and benefits associated with the procedure
//Following surgery, a male client with antisocial personality disorder frequently requests that
a specific nurse be assigned to his care and is belligerent when another nurse is assigned.
What action should the charge nurse implement?
