LPN FUNDAMENTALS HESI PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
TESTED AND APPROVED NEW MODIFIED 2026
LATEST
What action should the practical nurse (PN) take when drawing medication
from an ampule?
A. Aspirate with a filter needle and syringe.
B. Tap the bottom of the ampule lightly.
C. Snap the neck of ampule towards nurse.
D. Use an alcohol swab to open ampule. --CORRECT ANSWER--A. An
ampule is made of glass with a constricted neck that is snapped off to allow
access to the medication. Medications are easily withdrawn from the ampule by
aspirating the fluid with a filter needle and syringe. Filter needles are used when
withdrawing medication from a glass ampule to prevent glass particles from
being drawn into the syringe with the medication. Tap the top, not the bottom
(B), of the ampule lightly to allow all of the medication to drop to the bottom.
When opening the ampule, the top should be snapped away from the nurse's
face and body (C). An opened alcohol swab wrapped around the top of the
ampule may allow alcohol to leak into the ampule
The practical nurse (PN) is preparing to reconstitute a drug from powder form
for IM administration. Which step should the PN implement first?
A. Verify the drug with the medication administration record.
Page 1 of 42
,B. Mix the powder with the solution.
C. Attach the needle to the syringe.
D. Read the label to determine the amount of diluent to use. --CORRECT
ANSWER--A. The Five Rights of medication administration include the right
drug, right dose, right route, right time, and right client. The first action should
be verification of the right drug in the powder form for reconstitution.
Which action should the practical nurse (PN) implement when administering a
subcutaneous injection to a client who weighs 325 pounds?
A. Produce a bleb at the injection site.
B. Insert the needle at a 15-degree angle.
C. Select a needle with a longer shaft.
D. Rub vigorously for a faster response. --CORRECT ANSWER--C. To ensure
penetration into the deep layer of subcutaneuos adipose for a client who is
obese, the needle length should be longer than the usual needle (preferably 3/8
to 5/8 inch in length) for subcutaneous injection.
Which finding indicates to the practical nurse (PN) that an older client who is
receiving intravenous therapy is experiencing fluid overload?
A. Edema in lower extremities.
B. Crackles in the lung fields.
C. Pulse rate of 64 beats/min.
Page 2 of 42
,D. Respirations of 16 breaths/min. --CORRECT ANSWER--B. IV fluid
overload in an older client is likely to cause an increase in the workload of the
heart causing a decrease in cardiac output
The practical nurse (PN) is checking the surgical dressing for a client who
arrived on the postoperative unit an hour ago. The dressing has an increase in
the accumulation of serosanguinous drainage. What nursing action should the
PN take?
A. Reinforce the dressing with clean gauze sponges and tape.
B. Change the surgical dressing immediately to prevent infection.
C. Mark the outlined area of drainage with date, time and initials.
D. Collect a sample of the drainage for a culture and sensitivity --CORRECT
ANSWER--C. The area of bleeding on the dressing should be outlined, dated,
timed and initialed for furture comparison and evaluation
A male client who is 2 days postoperative for exploratory abdominal surgery is
ambulating in the hall with the practical nurse (PN). The client tells the PN, "I
think something in my incision just let go." Which action should the PN
implement first?
A. Notify the healthcare provider.
B. Assist the client to a supine position.
C. Instruct the client to avoid deep breathing.
D. Request an abdominal binder from a coworker. --CORRECT ANSWER--B.
The sensation of the surgical site letting go is characteristic of wound
Page 3 of 42
, dehiscence in the early postoperative period. The client should be placed into a
supine position
The practical nurse (PN) is applying a dry, sterile dressing to a client's
abdominal wound. Which allergy should the PN verify with the client?
A. Tape.
B. Antibiotic ointment.
C. Povidone-iodine.
D. Hydrogen peroxide. --CORRECT ANSWER--A. a dry, sterile dressing
includes the use of gauze and tape . Although a client may be allergic to the
other substances used in wound care, (B, C, and D) are not used for a dry, sterile
dressing.
A client with cancer who has been taking opioid analgesics for two years now
requires increased doses to obtain pain relief. The client expresses fear about
becoming addicted to these drugs. What information should the practical nurse
(PN) provide?
A. Opioid use with cancer does not cause addiction.
B. Addiction is easily reversed if it occurs during pain management.
C. Prescribed opiates for cancer pain relief improve qualify of life.
Page 4 of 42
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
TESTED AND APPROVED NEW MODIFIED 2026
LATEST
What action should the practical nurse (PN) take when drawing medication
from an ampule?
A. Aspirate with a filter needle and syringe.
B. Tap the bottom of the ampule lightly.
C. Snap the neck of ampule towards nurse.
D. Use an alcohol swab to open ampule. --CORRECT ANSWER--A. An
ampule is made of glass with a constricted neck that is snapped off to allow
access to the medication. Medications are easily withdrawn from the ampule by
aspirating the fluid with a filter needle and syringe. Filter needles are used when
withdrawing medication from a glass ampule to prevent glass particles from
being drawn into the syringe with the medication. Tap the top, not the bottom
(B), of the ampule lightly to allow all of the medication to drop to the bottom.
When opening the ampule, the top should be snapped away from the nurse's
face and body (C). An opened alcohol swab wrapped around the top of the
ampule may allow alcohol to leak into the ampule
The practical nurse (PN) is preparing to reconstitute a drug from powder form
for IM administration. Which step should the PN implement first?
A. Verify the drug with the medication administration record.
Page 1 of 42
,B. Mix the powder with the solution.
C. Attach the needle to the syringe.
D. Read the label to determine the amount of diluent to use. --CORRECT
ANSWER--A. The Five Rights of medication administration include the right
drug, right dose, right route, right time, and right client. The first action should
be verification of the right drug in the powder form for reconstitution.
Which action should the practical nurse (PN) implement when administering a
subcutaneous injection to a client who weighs 325 pounds?
A. Produce a bleb at the injection site.
B. Insert the needle at a 15-degree angle.
C. Select a needle with a longer shaft.
D. Rub vigorously for a faster response. --CORRECT ANSWER--C. To ensure
penetration into the deep layer of subcutaneuos adipose for a client who is
obese, the needle length should be longer than the usual needle (preferably 3/8
to 5/8 inch in length) for subcutaneous injection.
Which finding indicates to the practical nurse (PN) that an older client who is
receiving intravenous therapy is experiencing fluid overload?
A. Edema in lower extremities.
B. Crackles in the lung fields.
C. Pulse rate of 64 beats/min.
Page 2 of 42
,D. Respirations of 16 breaths/min. --CORRECT ANSWER--B. IV fluid
overload in an older client is likely to cause an increase in the workload of the
heart causing a decrease in cardiac output
The practical nurse (PN) is checking the surgical dressing for a client who
arrived on the postoperative unit an hour ago. The dressing has an increase in
the accumulation of serosanguinous drainage. What nursing action should the
PN take?
A. Reinforce the dressing with clean gauze sponges and tape.
B. Change the surgical dressing immediately to prevent infection.
C. Mark the outlined area of drainage with date, time and initials.
D. Collect a sample of the drainage for a culture and sensitivity --CORRECT
ANSWER--C. The area of bleeding on the dressing should be outlined, dated,
timed and initialed for furture comparison and evaluation
A male client who is 2 days postoperative for exploratory abdominal surgery is
ambulating in the hall with the practical nurse (PN). The client tells the PN, "I
think something in my incision just let go." Which action should the PN
implement first?
A. Notify the healthcare provider.
B. Assist the client to a supine position.
C. Instruct the client to avoid deep breathing.
D. Request an abdominal binder from a coworker. --CORRECT ANSWER--B.
The sensation of the surgical site letting go is characteristic of wound
Page 3 of 42
, dehiscence in the early postoperative period. The client should be placed into a
supine position
The practical nurse (PN) is applying a dry, sterile dressing to a client's
abdominal wound. Which allergy should the PN verify with the client?
A. Tape.
B. Antibiotic ointment.
C. Povidone-iodine.
D. Hydrogen peroxide. --CORRECT ANSWER--A. a dry, sterile dressing
includes the use of gauze and tape . Although a client may be allergic to the
other substances used in wound care, (B, C, and D) are not used for a dry, sterile
dressing.
A client with cancer who has been taking opioid analgesics for two years now
requires increased doses to obtain pain relief. The client expresses fear about
becoming addicted to these drugs. What information should the practical nurse
(PN) provide?
A. Opioid use with cancer does not cause addiction.
B. Addiction is easily reversed if it occurs during pain management.
C. Prescribed opiates for cancer pain relief improve qualify of life.
Page 4 of 42
