Hesi Fundamentals Practice Test 2023
An elderly client with a fractured left hip is on strict bedrest. Which nursing measure is essential to the
client's nursing care?
A. Massage any reddened areas for at least five minutes.
B. Encourage active range of motion exercises on extremities.
C. Position the client laterally, prone, and dorsally in sequence.
D. Gently lift the client when moving into a desired position. Ans- To avoid shearing forces when
repositioning, the client should be lifted gently across a surface (D). Reddened areas should not be
massaged (A) since this may increase the damage to already traumatized skin. To control pain and
muscle spasms, active range of motion (B) may be limited on the affected leg. The position described in
(C) is contraindicated for a client with a fractured left hip.
Correct Answer: D
The nurse is administering medications through a nasogastric tube (NGT) which is connected to suction.
After ensuring correct tube placement, what action should the nurse take next?
A. Clamp the tube for 20 minutes.
B. Flush the tube with water.
C. Administer the medications as prescribed.
D. Crush the tablets and dissolve in sterile water. Ans- The NGT should be flushed before, after and in
between each medication administered (B). Once all medications are administered, the NGT should be
clamped for 20 minutes (A). (C and D) may be implemented only after the tubing has been flushed.
Correct Answer: B
A client who is in hospice care complains of increasing amounts of pain. The healthcare provider
prescribes an analgesic every four hours as needed. Which action should the nurse implement?
A. Give an around-the-clock schedule for administration of analgesics.
B. Administer analgesic medication as needed when the pain is severe.
C. Provide medication to keep the client sedated and unaware of stimuli.
D. Offer a medication-free period so that the client can do daily activities. Ans- The most effective
management of pain is achieved using an around-the-clock schedule that provides analgesic medications
on a regular basis (A) and in a timely manner. Analgesics are less effective if pain persists until it is
severe, so an analgesic medication should be administered before the client's pain peaks (B). Providing
,comfort is a priority for the client who is dying, but sedation that impairs the client's ability to interact
and experience the time before life ends should be minimized (C). Offering a medication-free period
allows the serum drug level to fall, which is not an effective method to manage chronic pain (D).
Correct Answer: A
When assessing a client with wrist restraints, the nurse observes that the fingers on the right hand are
blue. What action should the nurse implement first?
A. Loosen the right wrist restraint.
B. Apply a pulse oximeter to the right hand.
C. Compare hand color bilaterally.
D. Palpate the right radial pulse. Ans- The priority nursing action is to restore circulation by loosening
the restraint (A), because blue fingers (cyanosis) indicates decreased circulation. (C and D) are also
important nursing interventions, but do not have the priority of (A). Pulse oximetry (B) measures the
saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen and is not indicated in situations where the cyanosis is related to
mechanical compression (the restraints).
Correct Answer: A
The nurse is assessing the nutritional status of several clients. Which client has the greatest nutritional
need for additional intake of protein?
A. A college-age track runner with a sprained ankle.
B. A lactating woman nursing her 3-day-old infant.
C. A school-aged child with Type 2 diabetes.
D. An elderly man being treated for a peptic ulcer. Ans- A lactating woman (B) has the greatest need for
additional protein intake. (A, C, and D) are all conditions that require protein, but do not have the
increased metabolic protein demands of lactation.
Correct Answer: B
A client is in the radiology department at 0900 when the prescription levofloxacin (Levaquin) 500 mg IV
q24h is scheduled to be administered. The client returns to the unit at 1300. What is the best
intervention for the nurse to implement?
A. Contact the healthcare provider and complete a medication variance form.
B. Administer the Levaquin at 1300 and resume the 0900 schedule in the morning.
C. Notify the charge nurse and complete an incident report to explain the missed dose.
, D. Give the missed dose at 1300 and change the schedule to administer daily at 1300. Ans- To ensure
that a therapeutic level of medication is maintained, the nurse should administer the missed dose as
soon as possible, and revise the administration schedule accordingly to prevent dangerously increasing
the level of the medication in the bloodstream (D). The nurse should document the reason for the late
dose, but (A and C) are not warranted. (B) could result in increased blood levels of the drug.
Correct Answer: D
While instructing a male client's wife in the performance of passive range-of-motion exercises to his
contracted shoulder, the nurse observes that she is holding his arm above and below the elbow. What
nursing action should the nurse implement?
A. Acknowledge that she is supporting the arm correctly.
B. Encourage her to keep the joint covered to maintain warmth.
C. Reinforce the need to grip directly under the joint for better support.
D. Instruct her to grip directly over the joint for better motion. Ans- The wife is performing the passive
ROM correctly, therefore the nurse should acknowledge this fact (A). The joint that is being exercised
should be uncovered (B) while the rest of the body should remain covered for warmth and privacy. (C
and D) do not provide adequate support to the joint while still allowing for joint movement.
Correct Answer: A
What is the most important reason for starting intravenous infusions in the upper extremities rather
than the lower extremities of adults?
A. It is more difficult to find a superficial vein in the feet and ankles.
B. A decreased flow rate could result in the formation of a thrombosis.
C. A cannulated extremity is more difficult to move when the leg or foot is used.
D. Veins are located deep in the feet and ankles, resulting in a more painful procedure. Ans- Venous
return is usually better in the upper extremities. Cannulation of the veins in the lower extremities
increases the risk of thrombus formation (B) which, if dislodged, could be life-threatening. Superficial
veins are often very easy (A) to find in the feet and legs. Handling a leg or foot with an IV (C) is probably
not any more difficult than handling an arm or hand. Even if the nurse did believe moving a cannulated
leg was more difficult, this is not the most important reason for using the upper extremities. Pain (D) is
not a consideration.
Correct Answer: B
An elderly client with a fractured left hip is on strict bedrest. Which nursing measure is essential to the
client's nursing care?
A. Massage any reddened areas for at least five minutes.
B. Encourage active range of motion exercises on extremities.
C. Position the client laterally, prone, and dorsally in sequence.
D. Gently lift the client when moving into a desired position. Ans- To avoid shearing forces when
repositioning, the client should be lifted gently across a surface (D). Reddened areas should not be
massaged (A) since this may increase the damage to already traumatized skin. To control pain and
muscle spasms, active range of motion (B) may be limited on the affected leg. The position described in
(C) is contraindicated for a client with a fractured left hip.
Correct Answer: D
The nurse is administering medications through a nasogastric tube (NGT) which is connected to suction.
After ensuring correct tube placement, what action should the nurse take next?
A. Clamp the tube for 20 minutes.
B. Flush the tube with water.
C. Administer the medications as prescribed.
D. Crush the tablets and dissolve in sterile water. Ans- The NGT should be flushed before, after and in
between each medication administered (B). Once all medications are administered, the NGT should be
clamped for 20 minutes (A). (C and D) may be implemented only after the tubing has been flushed.
Correct Answer: B
A client who is in hospice care complains of increasing amounts of pain. The healthcare provider
prescribes an analgesic every four hours as needed. Which action should the nurse implement?
A. Give an around-the-clock schedule for administration of analgesics.
B. Administer analgesic medication as needed when the pain is severe.
C. Provide medication to keep the client sedated and unaware of stimuli.
D. Offer a medication-free period so that the client can do daily activities. Ans- The most effective
management of pain is achieved using an around-the-clock schedule that provides analgesic medications
on a regular basis (A) and in a timely manner. Analgesics are less effective if pain persists until it is
severe, so an analgesic medication should be administered before the client's pain peaks (B). Providing
,comfort is a priority for the client who is dying, but sedation that impairs the client's ability to interact
and experience the time before life ends should be minimized (C). Offering a medication-free period
allows the serum drug level to fall, which is not an effective method to manage chronic pain (D).
Correct Answer: A
When assessing a client with wrist restraints, the nurse observes that the fingers on the right hand are
blue. What action should the nurse implement first?
A. Loosen the right wrist restraint.
B. Apply a pulse oximeter to the right hand.
C. Compare hand color bilaterally.
D. Palpate the right radial pulse. Ans- The priority nursing action is to restore circulation by loosening
the restraint (A), because blue fingers (cyanosis) indicates decreased circulation. (C and D) are also
important nursing interventions, but do not have the priority of (A). Pulse oximetry (B) measures the
saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen and is not indicated in situations where the cyanosis is related to
mechanical compression (the restraints).
Correct Answer: A
The nurse is assessing the nutritional status of several clients. Which client has the greatest nutritional
need for additional intake of protein?
A. A college-age track runner with a sprained ankle.
B. A lactating woman nursing her 3-day-old infant.
C. A school-aged child with Type 2 diabetes.
D. An elderly man being treated for a peptic ulcer. Ans- A lactating woman (B) has the greatest need for
additional protein intake. (A, C, and D) are all conditions that require protein, but do not have the
increased metabolic protein demands of lactation.
Correct Answer: B
A client is in the radiology department at 0900 when the prescription levofloxacin (Levaquin) 500 mg IV
q24h is scheduled to be administered. The client returns to the unit at 1300. What is the best
intervention for the nurse to implement?
A. Contact the healthcare provider and complete a medication variance form.
B. Administer the Levaquin at 1300 and resume the 0900 schedule in the morning.
C. Notify the charge nurse and complete an incident report to explain the missed dose.
, D. Give the missed dose at 1300 and change the schedule to administer daily at 1300. Ans- To ensure
that a therapeutic level of medication is maintained, the nurse should administer the missed dose as
soon as possible, and revise the administration schedule accordingly to prevent dangerously increasing
the level of the medication in the bloodstream (D). The nurse should document the reason for the late
dose, but (A and C) are not warranted. (B) could result in increased blood levels of the drug.
Correct Answer: D
While instructing a male client's wife in the performance of passive range-of-motion exercises to his
contracted shoulder, the nurse observes that she is holding his arm above and below the elbow. What
nursing action should the nurse implement?
A. Acknowledge that she is supporting the arm correctly.
B. Encourage her to keep the joint covered to maintain warmth.
C. Reinforce the need to grip directly under the joint for better support.
D. Instruct her to grip directly over the joint for better motion. Ans- The wife is performing the passive
ROM correctly, therefore the nurse should acknowledge this fact (A). The joint that is being exercised
should be uncovered (B) while the rest of the body should remain covered for warmth and privacy. (C
and D) do not provide adequate support to the joint while still allowing for joint movement.
Correct Answer: A
What is the most important reason for starting intravenous infusions in the upper extremities rather
than the lower extremities of adults?
A. It is more difficult to find a superficial vein in the feet and ankles.
B. A decreased flow rate could result in the formation of a thrombosis.
C. A cannulated extremity is more difficult to move when the leg or foot is used.
D. Veins are located deep in the feet and ankles, resulting in a more painful procedure. Ans- Venous
return is usually better in the upper extremities. Cannulation of the veins in the lower extremities
increases the risk of thrombus formation (B) which, if dislodged, could be life-threatening. Superficial
veins are often very easy (A) to find in the feet and legs. Handling a leg or foot with an IV (C) is probably
not any more difficult than handling an arm or hand. Even if the nurse did believe moving a cannulated
leg was more difficult, this is not the most important reason for using the upper extremities. Pain (D) is
not a consideration.
Correct Answer: B
