2026
HESI RN Exit Exam 2026
Comprehensive Success Guide:
Integrated Nursing Content Review and
High-Probability Exam Questions
Which actions of the nurse exhibit transactional leadership? Select all that apply.
1 Motivating or inspiring the employees
2 Meeting the targets within the deadline
3 Working according to organizational rules
4 Correcting the errors in a reactive manner
5 Increasing the employee commitment of an organization
Correct Answer: 2, 3, 4
Rationale:
Transactional leadership emphasizes structure, rules, and task completion. Meeting targets within
deadlines, following organizational rules, and correcting errors reactively align with this
leadership style. Motivating or inspiring employees and increasing employee commitment are
characteristics of transformational leadership, not transactional leadership.
The unit nurse manager comes to work obviously intoxicated. Which action is the staff nurse
ethically obligated to take?
1 Call the security guard.
2 Tell the nurse manager to go home.
3 Have the supervisor validate the observation.
4 Offer the nurse manager a large cup of coffee.
Correct Answer: 3 Have the supervisor validate the observation
Rationale:
The staff nurse has an ethical obligation to protect patient safety by reporting concerns through
proper channels. Having the supervisor validate the observation ensures appropriate
documentation and intervention. Security guards lack authority to manage this issue. Sending the
manager home bypasses documentation and may place the manager at risk if driving. Coffee
does not reduce intoxication.
,2026
Which aspects are considered when determining the willingness of a nursing assistant before
delegating a task? Select all that apply.
1 Ability
2 Attitude
3 Personality
4 Confidence
5 Commitment
Correct Answer: 2, 4, 5
Rationale:
Willingness relates to the delegatee’s attitude, confidence, and commitment. Ability refers to
skill and knowledge, not willingness. Personality may affect interactions but does not determine
willingness to accept delegated tasks.
Which performance appraisal method is used by nurse managers to measure the performance of
the nurse both qualitatively and quantitatively?
1 Narrative method
2 Critical incidents method
3 Graphic rating scale form
4 Behaviorally anchored rating scales
Correct Answer: 4 Behaviorally anchored rating scales
Rationale:
Behaviorally anchored rating scales combine qualitative descriptions with quantitative scoring,
allowing objective evaluation of performance. Narrative and critical incident methods rely on
descriptive documentation. Graphic rating scales measure performance numerically but lack
detailed behavioral anchors.
The healthcare team is caring for clients in an emergency department. How soon should the
clients triaged as an emergency severity index-3 (ESI-3) be seen by the physician according to
the five-level triage system?
1 Immediately
2 Within 1 hour
3 Could be delayed
4 Within 10 minutes
,2026
Correct Answer: 2 Within 1 hour
Rationale:
ESI-3 clients are stable but require prompt medical attention and should be seen within one hour.
ESI-1 clients need immediate care. ESI-2 clients require treatment within 10 minutes. ESI-4 and
ESI-5 care may be delayed.
Which question does the registered nurse recognize as related to the right of circumstance when
delegating?
1 "Is the delegation appropriate to the situation?"
2 "Is the task within the delegatee's scope of practice?"
3 "Is the prospective delegate a willing and able employee?"
4 "Is the delegator able to monitor and evaluate the client appropriately?"
Correct Answer: 1 "Is the delegation appropriate to the situation?"
Rationale:
Right circumstance considers whether the client condition and setting are appropriate for
delegation. Scope of practice relates to right task. Willingness and ability relate to right person.
Monitoring and evaluation relate to right supervision.
Which factors does the registered nurse consider in the decision-to-delegate process? Select all
that apply.
1 Evaluation
2 Nursing judgment
3 Predictability of outcomes
4 Pervasive functions of assessment
5 Complexity of the task to be performed
Correct Answer: 3, 5
Rationale:
Predictability of outcomes and task complexity determine whether delegation is safe. Evaluation,
nursing judgment, and assessment are RN responsibilities and are not factors supporting
delegation.
Under a leader, a team of followers has failed to achieve success in conducting research. What
does an effective leader do in this situation?
, 2026
1 Criticizes the team members for failure
2 Provides excuses for the negative outcome
3 Refuses to take responsibility for failure
4 Accepts failure and gains experience from it
Correct Answer: 4 Accepts failure and gains experience from it
Rationale:
Effective leaders accept responsibility for outcomes and use failure as a learning opportunity.
Criticizing, making excuses, or refusing responsibility undermines team morale and growth.
The nursing manager wants to implement transformational leadership qualities. Which actions
best describe this style of leadership? Select all that apply.
1 Providing intellectual stimulation
2 Intervening only when problems exist
3 Performing experiments with system redesign
4 Using motivator factors to inspire work performance
5 Monitoring performance and taking action to correct
Correct Answer: 1, 3, 4
Rationale:
Transformational leaders stimulate creativity, redesign systems, and inspire staff through
motivation. Intervening only when problems exist and monitoring performance for correction are
transactional leadership behaviors.
Which component of delegation is defined as the ability to perform duties in a specific role?
1 Authority
2 Supervision
3 Responsibility
4 Accountability
Correct Answer: 1 Authority
Rationale:
Authority refers to the power to perform duties in a specific role. Supervision involves oversight.
Responsibility is the obligation to complete tasks. Accountability is being answerable for
outcomes.
HESI RN Exit Exam 2026
Comprehensive Success Guide:
Integrated Nursing Content Review and
High-Probability Exam Questions
Which actions of the nurse exhibit transactional leadership? Select all that apply.
1 Motivating or inspiring the employees
2 Meeting the targets within the deadline
3 Working according to organizational rules
4 Correcting the errors in a reactive manner
5 Increasing the employee commitment of an organization
Correct Answer: 2, 3, 4
Rationale:
Transactional leadership emphasizes structure, rules, and task completion. Meeting targets within
deadlines, following organizational rules, and correcting errors reactively align with this
leadership style. Motivating or inspiring employees and increasing employee commitment are
characteristics of transformational leadership, not transactional leadership.
The unit nurse manager comes to work obviously intoxicated. Which action is the staff nurse
ethically obligated to take?
1 Call the security guard.
2 Tell the nurse manager to go home.
3 Have the supervisor validate the observation.
4 Offer the nurse manager a large cup of coffee.
Correct Answer: 3 Have the supervisor validate the observation
Rationale:
The staff nurse has an ethical obligation to protect patient safety by reporting concerns through
proper channels. Having the supervisor validate the observation ensures appropriate
documentation and intervention. Security guards lack authority to manage this issue. Sending the
manager home bypasses documentation and may place the manager at risk if driving. Coffee
does not reduce intoxication.
,2026
Which aspects are considered when determining the willingness of a nursing assistant before
delegating a task? Select all that apply.
1 Ability
2 Attitude
3 Personality
4 Confidence
5 Commitment
Correct Answer: 2, 4, 5
Rationale:
Willingness relates to the delegatee’s attitude, confidence, and commitment. Ability refers to
skill and knowledge, not willingness. Personality may affect interactions but does not determine
willingness to accept delegated tasks.
Which performance appraisal method is used by nurse managers to measure the performance of
the nurse both qualitatively and quantitatively?
1 Narrative method
2 Critical incidents method
3 Graphic rating scale form
4 Behaviorally anchored rating scales
Correct Answer: 4 Behaviorally anchored rating scales
Rationale:
Behaviorally anchored rating scales combine qualitative descriptions with quantitative scoring,
allowing objective evaluation of performance. Narrative and critical incident methods rely on
descriptive documentation. Graphic rating scales measure performance numerically but lack
detailed behavioral anchors.
The healthcare team is caring for clients in an emergency department. How soon should the
clients triaged as an emergency severity index-3 (ESI-3) be seen by the physician according to
the five-level triage system?
1 Immediately
2 Within 1 hour
3 Could be delayed
4 Within 10 minutes
,2026
Correct Answer: 2 Within 1 hour
Rationale:
ESI-3 clients are stable but require prompt medical attention and should be seen within one hour.
ESI-1 clients need immediate care. ESI-2 clients require treatment within 10 minutes. ESI-4 and
ESI-5 care may be delayed.
Which question does the registered nurse recognize as related to the right of circumstance when
delegating?
1 "Is the delegation appropriate to the situation?"
2 "Is the task within the delegatee's scope of practice?"
3 "Is the prospective delegate a willing and able employee?"
4 "Is the delegator able to monitor and evaluate the client appropriately?"
Correct Answer: 1 "Is the delegation appropriate to the situation?"
Rationale:
Right circumstance considers whether the client condition and setting are appropriate for
delegation. Scope of practice relates to right task. Willingness and ability relate to right person.
Monitoring and evaluation relate to right supervision.
Which factors does the registered nurse consider in the decision-to-delegate process? Select all
that apply.
1 Evaluation
2 Nursing judgment
3 Predictability of outcomes
4 Pervasive functions of assessment
5 Complexity of the task to be performed
Correct Answer: 3, 5
Rationale:
Predictability of outcomes and task complexity determine whether delegation is safe. Evaluation,
nursing judgment, and assessment are RN responsibilities and are not factors supporting
delegation.
Under a leader, a team of followers has failed to achieve success in conducting research. What
does an effective leader do in this situation?
, 2026
1 Criticizes the team members for failure
2 Provides excuses for the negative outcome
3 Refuses to take responsibility for failure
4 Accepts failure and gains experience from it
Correct Answer: 4 Accepts failure and gains experience from it
Rationale:
Effective leaders accept responsibility for outcomes and use failure as a learning opportunity.
Criticizing, making excuses, or refusing responsibility undermines team morale and growth.
The nursing manager wants to implement transformational leadership qualities. Which actions
best describe this style of leadership? Select all that apply.
1 Providing intellectual stimulation
2 Intervening only when problems exist
3 Performing experiments with system redesign
4 Using motivator factors to inspire work performance
5 Monitoring performance and taking action to correct
Correct Answer: 1, 3, 4
Rationale:
Transformational leaders stimulate creativity, redesign systems, and inspire staff through
motivation. Intervening only when problems exist and monitoring performance for correction are
transactional leadership behaviors.
Which component of delegation is defined as the ability to perform duties in a specific role?
1 Authority
2 Supervision
3 Responsibility
4 Accountability
Correct Answer: 1 Authority
Rationale:
Authority refers to the power to perform duties in a specific role. Supervision involves oversight.
Responsibility is the obligation to complete tasks. Accountability is being answerable for
outcomes.
