2026
HESI RN Exit Exam 2026 High-Yield
Review and Practice Series: Core Nursing
Principles and Exam-Focused Application
Which statement reflects the functional model of nursing care delivery?
A. I will focus on one nurse caring for one client
B. I will accentuate the use of team collaborations
C. I will focus on tasks and activities allotted to me
D. I will provide comprehensive and coordinated nursing service
Correct Answer: C. I will focus on tasks and activities allotted to me
Rationale: The functional nursing model emphasizes task-oriented care where nurses focus on
assigned duties. Coordinating unlicensed personnel to care for large groups also reflects this
model. The other options represent case method, team nursing, or primary nursing models.
The nurse leader observes a newly promoted staff nurse is anxious about an upcoming review
and fears negative consequences. Which source of power applies?
A. Reward power
B. Coercive power
C. Referent power
D. Connection power
Correct Answer: B. Coercive power
Rationale: Coercive power is based on fear of punishment or negative outcomes. Reward power
focuses on incentives, referent power comes from admiration, and connection power is derived
from association with influential individuals.
The nurse leader supports multidisciplinary leaders to improve collaboration for optimal client
outcomes. Which Gardner task is being applied?
A. Managing
B. Developing trust
C. Serving as a symbol
D. Achieving workable unity
,2026
Correct Answer: D. Achieving workable unity
Rationale: Achieving workable unity involves coordinating leaders and teams toward common
goals. Managing focuses on operations, developing trust emphasizes honesty, and serving as a
symbol represents organizational values.
Which responsibility differentiates a nurse manager from a nurse leader?
A. Planning the budget
B. Motivating the team
C. Resolving conflicts
D. Penalizing poor performance
Correct Answer: A. Planning the budget
Rationale: Budget planning is a managerial responsibility. Motivation is a leadership function,
conflict resolution applies to both roles, and penalizing poor performance reflects transactional
leadership behavior.
The nursing staff describes a leader whose approach reflects quantum theory. What type of work
environment does this leader create?
A. An environment that promotes hygienic factors
B. An environment that is rapidly changing and dynamic
C. An environment that provides intellectual stimulation
D. An environment that develops trust between followers and leaders
Correct Answer: B. An environment that is rapidly changing and dynamic
Rationale: Quantum theory emphasizes constant change and complexity. Hygienic factors relate
to two-factor theory, intellectual stimulation reflects transformational leadership, and trust is
central to situational-contingency theory.
Which sequence correctly represents the quality improvement process followed by a nurse
leader?
A. Select a plan → Establish outcomes → Evaluate plan
B. Identify consumer needs → Collaborate with team → Collect current data → Establish
outcomes → Select plan → Evaluate plan
C. Collect data → Identify needs → Implement plan
D. Establish outcomes → Select plan → Collect data
,2026
Correct Answer: B. Identify consumer needs → Collaborate with team → Collect current
data → Establish outcomes → Select plan → Evaluate plan
Rationale: Quality improvement begins with identifying consumer needs, followed by
collaboration, data collection, outcome establishment, plan implementation, and evaluation.
Other sequences omit or misorder critical steps.
Which statement by a student nurse reflects understanding of transactional leadership?
A. I will penalize team members for poor performance
B. I will motivate employees with an inspiring vision
C. I will encourage employees to transcend self-interests
D. I will challenge old processes with new solutions
Correct Answer: A. I will penalize team members for poor performance
Rationale: Transactional leaders focus on rewards and punishments. The remaining options
describe transformational leadership behaviors.
The nursing staff resists a proposed protocol change and prefers traditional practices. Which
group best describes this behavior?
A. Laggards
B. Rejectors
C. Early majority
D. Late majority
Correct Answer: A. Laggards
Rationale: Laggards strongly value tradition and resist change openly. Rejectors actively
sabotage change, while early and late majority groups eventually accept change.
Which task is considered a leadership development task for an executive nurse?
A. Maintaining balance
B. Having a clear vision
C. Listening to constituents
D. Maintaining a positive attitude
Correct Answer: B. Having a clear vision
Rationale: Developing and articulating a vision is central to leadership development. The other
options are leadership rules rather than development tasks.
, 2026
Which factors are critical to situational-contingency theory?
A. Environmental demands
B. Personal characteristics of followers
C. Ability of the leader to reward followers
D. Degree of trust and respect between leaders and followers
E. Task structure and problem complexity
Correct Answer: C, D, and E
Rationale: Situational-contingency theory emphasizes leader power, leader–follower
relationships, and task structure. Environmental demands and follower characteristics are
contingent variables, not core factors.
Which action demonstrates Gardner’s task of explaining?
A. Assisting families to form a vision of future well-being
B. Providing self-care to enhance caregiving ability
C. Teaching and interpreting information to ensure client functioning
D. Assisting clients in clarifying personal values
Correct Answer: C. Teaching and interpreting information to ensure client functioning
Rationale: Explaining involves teaching and interpreting information. Other options align with
envisioning goals, renewing, or affirming values.
Which behavior reflects management skills related to Gardner’s task of achieving workable
unity?
A. Assisting clients with planning and decision-making
B. Assisting multidisciplinary leaders for client care delivery
C. Assisting clients toward improved health functioning
D. Assisting staff to achieve optimal organizational functioning
Correct Answer: D. Assisting staff to achieve optimal organizational functioning
Rationale: In management roles, achieving workable unity focuses on staff coordination and
organizational effectiveness. The other options represent clinical or executive roles.
Which method best encourages quiet team members while generating many creative ideas?
A. Delphi technique
HESI RN Exit Exam 2026 High-Yield
Review and Practice Series: Core Nursing
Principles and Exam-Focused Application
Which statement reflects the functional model of nursing care delivery?
A. I will focus on one nurse caring for one client
B. I will accentuate the use of team collaborations
C. I will focus on tasks and activities allotted to me
D. I will provide comprehensive and coordinated nursing service
Correct Answer: C. I will focus on tasks and activities allotted to me
Rationale: The functional nursing model emphasizes task-oriented care where nurses focus on
assigned duties. Coordinating unlicensed personnel to care for large groups also reflects this
model. The other options represent case method, team nursing, or primary nursing models.
The nurse leader observes a newly promoted staff nurse is anxious about an upcoming review
and fears negative consequences. Which source of power applies?
A. Reward power
B. Coercive power
C. Referent power
D. Connection power
Correct Answer: B. Coercive power
Rationale: Coercive power is based on fear of punishment or negative outcomes. Reward power
focuses on incentives, referent power comes from admiration, and connection power is derived
from association with influential individuals.
The nurse leader supports multidisciplinary leaders to improve collaboration for optimal client
outcomes. Which Gardner task is being applied?
A. Managing
B. Developing trust
C. Serving as a symbol
D. Achieving workable unity
,2026
Correct Answer: D. Achieving workable unity
Rationale: Achieving workable unity involves coordinating leaders and teams toward common
goals. Managing focuses on operations, developing trust emphasizes honesty, and serving as a
symbol represents organizational values.
Which responsibility differentiates a nurse manager from a nurse leader?
A. Planning the budget
B. Motivating the team
C. Resolving conflicts
D. Penalizing poor performance
Correct Answer: A. Planning the budget
Rationale: Budget planning is a managerial responsibility. Motivation is a leadership function,
conflict resolution applies to both roles, and penalizing poor performance reflects transactional
leadership behavior.
The nursing staff describes a leader whose approach reflects quantum theory. What type of work
environment does this leader create?
A. An environment that promotes hygienic factors
B. An environment that is rapidly changing and dynamic
C. An environment that provides intellectual stimulation
D. An environment that develops trust between followers and leaders
Correct Answer: B. An environment that is rapidly changing and dynamic
Rationale: Quantum theory emphasizes constant change and complexity. Hygienic factors relate
to two-factor theory, intellectual stimulation reflects transformational leadership, and trust is
central to situational-contingency theory.
Which sequence correctly represents the quality improvement process followed by a nurse
leader?
A. Select a plan → Establish outcomes → Evaluate plan
B. Identify consumer needs → Collaborate with team → Collect current data → Establish
outcomes → Select plan → Evaluate plan
C. Collect data → Identify needs → Implement plan
D. Establish outcomes → Select plan → Collect data
,2026
Correct Answer: B. Identify consumer needs → Collaborate with team → Collect current
data → Establish outcomes → Select plan → Evaluate plan
Rationale: Quality improvement begins with identifying consumer needs, followed by
collaboration, data collection, outcome establishment, plan implementation, and evaluation.
Other sequences omit or misorder critical steps.
Which statement by a student nurse reflects understanding of transactional leadership?
A. I will penalize team members for poor performance
B. I will motivate employees with an inspiring vision
C. I will encourage employees to transcend self-interests
D. I will challenge old processes with new solutions
Correct Answer: A. I will penalize team members for poor performance
Rationale: Transactional leaders focus on rewards and punishments. The remaining options
describe transformational leadership behaviors.
The nursing staff resists a proposed protocol change and prefers traditional practices. Which
group best describes this behavior?
A. Laggards
B. Rejectors
C. Early majority
D. Late majority
Correct Answer: A. Laggards
Rationale: Laggards strongly value tradition and resist change openly. Rejectors actively
sabotage change, while early and late majority groups eventually accept change.
Which task is considered a leadership development task for an executive nurse?
A. Maintaining balance
B. Having a clear vision
C. Listening to constituents
D. Maintaining a positive attitude
Correct Answer: B. Having a clear vision
Rationale: Developing and articulating a vision is central to leadership development. The other
options are leadership rules rather than development tasks.
, 2026
Which factors are critical to situational-contingency theory?
A. Environmental demands
B. Personal characteristics of followers
C. Ability of the leader to reward followers
D. Degree of trust and respect between leaders and followers
E. Task structure and problem complexity
Correct Answer: C, D, and E
Rationale: Situational-contingency theory emphasizes leader power, leader–follower
relationships, and task structure. Environmental demands and follower characteristics are
contingent variables, not core factors.
Which action demonstrates Gardner’s task of explaining?
A. Assisting families to form a vision of future well-being
B. Providing self-care to enhance caregiving ability
C. Teaching and interpreting information to ensure client functioning
D. Assisting clients in clarifying personal values
Correct Answer: C. Teaching and interpreting information to ensure client functioning
Rationale: Explaining involves teaching and interpreting information. Other options align with
envisioning goals, renewing, or affirming values.
Which behavior reflects management skills related to Gardner’s task of achieving workable
unity?
A. Assisting clients with planning and decision-making
B. Assisting multidisciplinary leaders for client care delivery
C. Assisting clients toward improved health functioning
D. Assisting staff to achieve optimal organizational functioning
Correct Answer: D. Assisting staff to achieve optimal organizational functioning
Rationale: In management roles, achieving workable unity focuses on staff coordination and
organizational effectiveness. The other options represent clinical or executive roles.
Which method best encourages quiet team members while generating many creative ideas?
A. Delphi technique
