HESI RN Exit Exam
1. A male client with stomach cancer returns to the unit following a total gastrectomy. He has a
nasogastric tube to suction and is receiving Lactated Ringer's solution at 75 mL/hour IV. One hour after
admission to the unit, the nurse notes 300 mL of blood in the suction canister, the client's heart rate is
155 beats/minute, and his blood pressure is 78/48 mmHg. In addition to reporting the finding to the
surgeon. Which action should the nurse implement first?
d. Increase the infusion rate of Lactated Ringer's solution.
2. an adult male who fell 20 feet from the roof of this home has multiple injuries, including a right
pneumothorax. Chest tubes were inserted in the emergency department prior to his transfer to the
intensive care unit (ICU). the nurse notes that the suction control chamber is bubbling at the
- 10 cm H2O mark, with fluctuation in the water seal, and over the past hour 75 ml of bright red blood is
measured in the collection chamber. Which intervention should the nurse implement?
a. Add sterile water to the suction control chamber.
3. A client who received hemodialysis yesterday is experiencing a blood pressure of 200/100 mmHg,
heart rate 110 beats/minute, and respiratory rate 36 breaths/minute. The client is manifesting shortness
of breath, bilateral 2+ pedal edema, and an oxygen saturation on room air of 89%. Which action should
the nurse take first?
c. Begin supplemental oxygen.
4. A client with Addison's crisis is admitted for treatment with adrenal cortical supplementation. Based
on the client's admitting diagnosis, which findings require immediate action by the nurse? (Select all
that apply)
Headache and tremors
,Irregular heart rate
pallor and diaphoresis
5. An older client is admitted with fluid volume deficit and dehydration. Which assessment finding is the
best indicator of hydration that the nurse should report to the healthcare provider?
d. Skin tenting occurs when the client's forearm is pinched.
6. After an inservice about electronic health record (EHR) security and safeguarding client information,
the nurse observes a colleague going home with printed copies of client information in a uniform pocket.
Which action should the nurse take?
a. File a detailed incident report with the specific hiring facility.
7. The nurse is evaluating a tertiary prevention program for clients with cardiovascular disease
implemented in a rural health clinic. Which outcome indicate the program is effective?
c. Clients who incurred disease complications promptly received rehabilitation.
8. The nurse is caring for a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who uses oxygen at
2 L/minute per nasal cannula continuously. The nurse observes that the client is having increased
shortness of breath with respirations at 23 breaths/minute. Which action should the nurse implement
first?
d. Assess the delivery mechanism of the oxygen tank, tubing, and cannula.
9. Which statement by a client who is 24 hours post-subtotal thyroidectomy requires an immediate
investigation by the nurse?
,When I get out of bed quickly, I feel a little dizzy."
10. An older adult male who is in his early 70's is admitted to the emergency department because of a
COPD exacerbation. This client is struggling to breathe and the healthcare team is preparing for
endotracheal intubation. The spouse's wife, who is 30 years younger than the client, asks the nurse to
stop the procedure and provide the nurse a copy of the client's living will. Which action should the nurse
take?
b. Notify the healthcare provider of the client's wishes.
11. An unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) is assigned to provide personal care for a client whose
prescribed activity is bedrest with bedside commode use. The UAP reports to the nurse that the client is
so obese that the UAP feels unable to safely assist the client in transferring from the bed to the bedside
commode. How should the nurse respond?
c. Advice the client to maintain bedrest so that safety can be ensured.
12. A nurse determines that more than 25% of the students at a middle school are overweight. The
nurse presents the information at the parent-teacher meeting. What action is most important for the
nurse to include in the meeting?
c. Distribute a shopping list of suggested healthy snack items.
13. After several months of chronic fatigue, morning stiffness, and join pain, a young adult is diagnosed
with rheumatoid arthritis, and the healthcare provider prescribes prednisone. Which education should
the nurse provide the client with regard to taking prednisone?
c. If sequential doses are missed, notify the healthcare provider.
, 14. The psychiatric nurse is caring for clients on an adolescent unit. Which client requires the nurse's
immediate attention?
c. An 18-year-old client with antisocial behavior who is being yelled at by other clients
15. The nurse caring for a child with mononucleosis can expect the child to exhibit which symptoms?
b. Ear pain and fever.
16. A client arrives for an annual physical exam and complains of having calf pain. The client's health
history reveals peripheral atrial disease. Which question should the nurse ask the client about expected
finding related to chronic arterial symptoms?
b. Does the calf pain occur when walking short distances?
17. The nurse is preparing to send a client to the cardiac catheterization lab for an angioplasty. Which
client report is most important for them to explore further prior to the start of the procedure?
d. Experience facial swelling after eating crab.
18. The nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child with eczema. The child's skin is dry and scaly, and the
mother reports that the child frequently scratches the lesions on the skin to the point of causing
bleeding. Which guideline is indicated for care of this child?
b. Apply baby lotion to the skin twice daily.
19. A new mother on the postpartum unit runs out of the room screaming that her newborn infant's crib
is empty and the baby is missing. What action should the nurse take first?
1. A male client with stomach cancer returns to the unit following a total gastrectomy. He has a
nasogastric tube to suction and is receiving Lactated Ringer's solution at 75 mL/hour IV. One hour after
admission to the unit, the nurse notes 300 mL of blood in the suction canister, the client's heart rate is
155 beats/minute, and his blood pressure is 78/48 mmHg. In addition to reporting the finding to the
surgeon. Which action should the nurse implement first?
d. Increase the infusion rate of Lactated Ringer's solution.
2. an adult male who fell 20 feet from the roof of this home has multiple injuries, including a right
pneumothorax. Chest tubes were inserted in the emergency department prior to his transfer to the
intensive care unit (ICU). the nurse notes that the suction control chamber is bubbling at the
- 10 cm H2O mark, with fluctuation in the water seal, and over the past hour 75 ml of bright red blood is
measured in the collection chamber. Which intervention should the nurse implement?
a. Add sterile water to the suction control chamber.
3. A client who received hemodialysis yesterday is experiencing a blood pressure of 200/100 mmHg,
heart rate 110 beats/minute, and respiratory rate 36 breaths/minute. The client is manifesting shortness
of breath, bilateral 2+ pedal edema, and an oxygen saturation on room air of 89%. Which action should
the nurse take first?
c. Begin supplemental oxygen.
4. A client with Addison's crisis is admitted for treatment with adrenal cortical supplementation. Based
on the client's admitting diagnosis, which findings require immediate action by the nurse? (Select all
that apply)
Headache and tremors
,Irregular heart rate
pallor and diaphoresis
5. An older client is admitted with fluid volume deficit and dehydration. Which assessment finding is the
best indicator of hydration that the nurse should report to the healthcare provider?
d. Skin tenting occurs when the client's forearm is pinched.
6. After an inservice about electronic health record (EHR) security and safeguarding client information,
the nurse observes a colleague going home with printed copies of client information in a uniform pocket.
Which action should the nurse take?
a. File a detailed incident report with the specific hiring facility.
7. The nurse is evaluating a tertiary prevention program for clients with cardiovascular disease
implemented in a rural health clinic. Which outcome indicate the program is effective?
c. Clients who incurred disease complications promptly received rehabilitation.
8. The nurse is caring for a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who uses oxygen at
2 L/minute per nasal cannula continuously. The nurse observes that the client is having increased
shortness of breath with respirations at 23 breaths/minute. Which action should the nurse implement
first?
d. Assess the delivery mechanism of the oxygen tank, tubing, and cannula.
9. Which statement by a client who is 24 hours post-subtotal thyroidectomy requires an immediate
investigation by the nurse?
,When I get out of bed quickly, I feel a little dizzy."
10. An older adult male who is in his early 70's is admitted to the emergency department because of a
COPD exacerbation. This client is struggling to breathe and the healthcare team is preparing for
endotracheal intubation. The spouse's wife, who is 30 years younger than the client, asks the nurse to
stop the procedure and provide the nurse a copy of the client's living will. Which action should the nurse
take?
b. Notify the healthcare provider of the client's wishes.
11. An unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) is assigned to provide personal care for a client whose
prescribed activity is bedrest with bedside commode use. The UAP reports to the nurse that the client is
so obese that the UAP feels unable to safely assist the client in transferring from the bed to the bedside
commode. How should the nurse respond?
c. Advice the client to maintain bedrest so that safety can be ensured.
12. A nurse determines that more than 25% of the students at a middle school are overweight. The
nurse presents the information at the parent-teacher meeting. What action is most important for the
nurse to include in the meeting?
c. Distribute a shopping list of suggested healthy snack items.
13. After several months of chronic fatigue, morning stiffness, and join pain, a young adult is diagnosed
with rheumatoid arthritis, and the healthcare provider prescribes prednisone. Which education should
the nurse provide the client with regard to taking prednisone?
c. If sequential doses are missed, notify the healthcare provider.
, 14. The psychiatric nurse is caring for clients on an adolescent unit. Which client requires the nurse's
immediate attention?
c. An 18-year-old client with antisocial behavior who is being yelled at by other clients
15. The nurse caring for a child with mononucleosis can expect the child to exhibit which symptoms?
b. Ear pain and fever.
16. A client arrives for an annual physical exam and complains of having calf pain. The client's health
history reveals peripheral atrial disease. Which question should the nurse ask the client about expected
finding related to chronic arterial symptoms?
b. Does the calf pain occur when walking short distances?
17. The nurse is preparing to send a client to the cardiac catheterization lab for an angioplasty. Which
client report is most important for them to explore further prior to the start of the procedure?
d. Experience facial swelling after eating crab.
18. The nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child with eczema. The child's skin is dry and scaly, and the
mother reports that the child frequently scratches the lesions on the skin to the point of causing
bleeding. Which guideline is indicated for care of this child?
b. Apply baby lotion to the skin twice daily.
19. A new mother on the postpartum unit runs out of the room screaming that her newborn infant's crib
is empty and the baby is missing. What action should the nurse take first?
