HESI RN FUNDAMENTALS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
2025 A+
1. A patient needs assistance in eliminating an anesthetic gaseous medication (nitrous
oxide). Which action will the nurse take?
a. Encourage the patient to cough and deep-breathe.
b. Suction the patient’s respiratory secretions.
c. Suggest voiding every 2 hours.
d. Increase fluid intake.
ANS: A
Gaseous and volatile medications are excreted through gas exchange (lungs). Deep breathing and
coughing will assist in clearing the medication more quickly. It is a gaseous medication and
cannot be suctioned out of the lungs. It is not excreted through the kidneys so fluids and voiding
will not help.
2. A nurse has withdrawn a narcotic from the medication dispenser and must waste a
portion of the medication. What should the nurse do?
a. Have another nurse witness the wasted medication.
b. Return the wasted medication to the medication dispenser.
c. Place the wasted portion of the medication in the sharps container. Exit the medication
room to call the health care provider to request an
d. order that matches the dosages.
ANS: A
The nurse should follow Nurse Practice Acts and safe narcotic administration guidelines by
having a nurse witness the “wasted” medication. The nurse cannot return the wasted medication
to the medication dispenser. Wasted portions of medications are not placed in sharps containers.
The nurse should not leave the narcotic unattended and call the health care provider to obtain
matching dosages; the nurse is expected to obtain the correct dose.
, 3. A nurse teaches the patient about the prescribed buccal medication. Which statement by
the patient indicates teaching by the nurse is successful?
a. “I should let the medication dissolve completely.”
b. “I will place the medication in the same location.”
c. “I can only drink water, not juice, with this medication.”
d. “I better chew my medication first for faster distribution.”
ANS: A
Buccal medications should be placed in the side of the cheek and allowed to dissolve completely.
Buccal medications act with the patient’s saliva and mucosa. The patient should not chew or
swallow the medication or take any liquids with it. The patient should rotate sides of the cheek to
avoid irritating the mucosal lining.
4. What is the nurse’s priority action to protect a patient from medication error?
a. Reading medication labels at least 3 times before administering
b. Administering as many of the medications as possible at one time Asking anxious family
members to leave the room before giving a
c. medication Checking the patient’s room number against the medication
d. administration record
ANS: A
One step to take to prevent medication errors is to read labels at least 3 times before
administering the medication. The nurse should address the family’s concerns about medications
before administering them. Do not discount their anxieties. The medication administration record
should be checked against the patient’s hospital identification band; a room number is not an
acceptable identifier. Medications should be given when scheduled, and medications with special
assessment indications should be separated. Giving medications at one time can cause the patient
to aspirate.
2025 A+
1. A patient needs assistance in eliminating an anesthetic gaseous medication (nitrous
oxide). Which action will the nurse take?
a. Encourage the patient to cough and deep-breathe.
b. Suction the patient’s respiratory secretions.
c. Suggest voiding every 2 hours.
d. Increase fluid intake.
ANS: A
Gaseous and volatile medications are excreted through gas exchange (lungs). Deep breathing and
coughing will assist in clearing the medication more quickly. It is a gaseous medication and
cannot be suctioned out of the lungs. It is not excreted through the kidneys so fluids and voiding
will not help.
2. A nurse has withdrawn a narcotic from the medication dispenser and must waste a
portion of the medication. What should the nurse do?
a. Have another nurse witness the wasted medication.
b. Return the wasted medication to the medication dispenser.
c. Place the wasted portion of the medication in the sharps container. Exit the medication
room to call the health care provider to request an
d. order that matches the dosages.
ANS: A
The nurse should follow Nurse Practice Acts and safe narcotic administration guidelines by
having a nurse witness the “wasted” medication. The nurse cannot return the wasted medication
to the medication dispenser. Wasted portions of medications are not placed in sharps containers.
The nurse should not leave the narcotic unattended and call the health care provider to obtain
matching dosages; the nurse is expected to obtain the correct dose.
, 3. A nurse teaches the patient about the prescribed buccal medication. Which statement by
the patient indicates teaching by the nurse is successful?
a. “I should let the medication dissolve completely.”
b. “I will place the medication in the same location.”
c. “I can only drink water, not juice, with this medication.”
d. “I better chew my medication first for faster distribution.”
ANS: A
Buccal medications should be placed in the side of the cheek and allowed to dissolve completely.
Buccal medications act with the patient’s saliva and mucosa. The patient should not chew or
swallow the medication or take any liquids with it. The patient should rotate sides of the cheek to
avoid irritating the mucosal lining.
4. What is the nurse’s priority action to protect a patient from medication error?
a. Reading medication labels at least 3 times before administering
b. Administering as many of the medications as possible at one time Asking anxious family
members to leave the room before giving a
c. medication Checking the patient’s room number against the medication
d. administration record
ANS: A
One step to take to prevent medication errors is to read labels at least 3 times before
administering the medication. The nurse should address the family’s concerns about medications
before administering them. Do not discount their anxieties. The medication administration record
should be checked against the patient’s hospital identification band; a room number is not an
acceptable identifier. Medications should be given when scheduled, and medications with special
assessment indications should be separated. Giving medications at one time can cause the patient
to aspirate.
