HESI RN EXIT EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
ACTUAL ANSWERS 2026
The nurse is completing the admission assessment,of a 3-
year old who is admitted with bacterial meningitis,and hydrocephalus. Which
assessment finding is eviden ce that the child is experiencing increased
intracranial pressure (ICP)?
A. Tachycardia and tachypnea
B. Sluggish and unequal pupillary responses
C. Increased head circumference and bulging fontanels
D. Blood pressure fluctuations and syncope ANS - B. Sluggish and unequal pupillary
responses
A client with acute pancreatitis is admitted with severe, piercing abdominal pain
and an elevated serum a mylase. Which additional information is the client most
likely to report to the nurse?
A. Abdominal pain decreases when lying supine
B. Pain lasts an hour,and leaves the abdomen tender
C. Right upper,quadrant pain refers to right scapula
D. Drinks alcohol until intoxicated at least twice weekly. ANS,-
A. Abdominal pain decreases when lying supine
A child newly diagnosed with sickle cell anemia (SCA) is being discharged from the
hospital. Which informa tion is most important for,the nurse to provide the
parents prior to discharge?
A. Instructions about,how much fluid the child should drink daily.
B. Signs of addiction to opioid pain medications
C. Information about,non-pharmaceutical pain relief measures
D. Referral for,social services for the child and family ANS -
A. Instructions about how much fluid the child should drink daily
,To auscultate for a carotid bruit, the nurse places the stethoscope at,what location.
(Select the location on the image with a red dot). ANS - I placed the red dot on the
base of the neck on the right side
After receiving report on an inpatient acute care unit, which client,should the nurse
assess first?
,A. The client with an obstruction of the large intestine who is experiencing,abdominal
distention
B. The client who,had surgery yesterday and is experiencing a paralytic ileus with
absent bowel sounds
C. The client with a small bowel obstruction who has a nasogastric tube that is draining
greenish fluid
D. The client with a bowel obstruction due to a volvulus,who is experiencing abdominal
rigidity ANS -
D. The client with a bowel obstruction due to a volvulus who is experiencing
abdominal rigidity
A teenager presents to the emergency department with palpitations,after,vaping
at a party. The client,is a nxious, fearful, and hyperventilating. The nurse
anticipates the client developing,which acid base imbalan ce?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis ANS - D. Respiratory alkalosis
A client with dyspnea is being admitted to the medical unit. To best prepare for,the
client's arrival, the nur se should ensure that the client's bed is in which position?
A. Supine
B. supine; feet,elevated higher,than head
C. supine; head elevated higher than feet
D. Fowlers ANS - Fowlers
The nurse is taking the blood pressure measurement of,a client with Parkinson's
disease. Which informati on in the client's admission assessment is relevant to the
nurse's plan for,taking the blood pressure readin g? (Select all the apply)
A. Frequent syncope
, B. Occasional nocturia
C. Flat affect
D. Blurred vision
E. Frequent drooling ANS - A. Frequent syncope
C. Flat affect
D. Blurred vision
ACTUAL ANSWERS 2026
The nurse is completing the admission assessment,of a 3-
year old who is admitted with bacterial meningitis,and hydrocephalus. Which
assessment finding is eviden ce that the child is experiencing increased
intracranial pressure (ICP)?
A. Tachycardia and tachypnea
B. Sluggish and unequal pupillary responses
C. Increased head circumference and bulging fontanels
D. Blood pressure fluctuations and syncope ANS - B. Sluggish and unequal pupillary
responses
A client with acute pancreatitis is admitted with severe, piercing abdominal pain
and an elevated serum a mylase. Which additional information is the client most
likely to report to the nurse?
A. Abdominal pain decreases when lying supine
B. Pain lasts an hour,and leaves the abdomen tender
C. Right upper,quadrant pain refers to right scapula
D. Drinks alcohol until intoxicated at least twice weekly. ANS,-
A. Abdominal pain decreases when lying supine
A child newly diagnosed with sickle cell anemia (SCA) is being discharged from the
hospital. Which informa tion is most important for,the nurse to provide the
parents prior to discharge?
A. Instructions about,how much fluid the child should drink daily.
B. Signs of addiction to opioid pain medications
C. Information about,non-pharmaceutical pain relief measures
D. Referral for,social services for the child and family ANS -
A. Instructions about how much fluid the child should drink daily
,To auscultate for a carotid bruit, the nurse places the stethoscope at,what location.
(Select the location on the image with a red dot). ANS - I placed the red dot on the
base of the neck on the right side
After receiving report on an inpatient acute care unit, which client,should the nurse
assess first?
,A. The client with an obstruction of the large intestine who is experiencing,abdominal
distention
B. The client who,had surgery yesterday and is experiencing a paralytic ileus with
absent bowel sounds
C. The client with a small bowel obstruction who has a nasogastric tube that is draining
greenish fluid
D. The client with a bowel obstruction due to a volvulus,who is experiencing abdominal
rigidity ANS -
D. The client with a bowel obstruction due to a volvulus who is experiencing
abdominal rigidity
A teenager presents to the emergency department with palpitations,after,vaping
at a party. The client,is a nxious, fearful, and hyperventilating. The nurse
anticipates the client developing,which acid base imbalan ce?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis ANS - D. Respiratory alkalosis
A client with dyspnea is being admitted to the medical unit. To best prepare for,the
client's arrival, the nur se should ensure that the client's bed is in which position?
A. Supine
B. supine; feet,elevated higher,than head
C. supine; head elevated higher than feet
D. Fowlers ANS - Fowlers
The nurse is taking the blood pressure measurement of,a client with Parkinson's
disease. Which informati on in the client's admission assessment is relevant to the
nurse's plan for,taking the blood pressure readin g? (Select all the apply)
A. Frequent syncope
, B. Occasional nocturia
C. Flat affect
D. Blurred vision
E. Frequent drooling ANS - A. Frequent syncope
C. Flat affect
D. Blurred vision
