HESI Fundamentals of Nursing Test Bank LATEST -2025-2026| 200
NCLEX-Style Questions, Answers & Detailed Rationales
Question 1
A nurse is caring for an elderly client who is at high risk for falls. Which intervention is most
appropriate to reduce this client’s risk?
a. Keep the side rails of the bed raised at all times
b. Encourage the client to use the call light before ambulating
c. Place the bed in the highest position with the wheels locked
d. Apply wrist restraints when the client is restless
ANS: b
Rationale: The safest and most effective intervention is to encourage the client to use the call
light before ambulating, as this promotes patient independence while still ensuring safety. Side
rails raised at all times (a) can lead to entrapment or injury if the client attempts to climb over
them. Keeping the bed in the highest position (c) increases the risk of injury if a fall occurs.
Restraints (d) should be avoided unless absolutely necessary because they increase the risk of
injury and can cause emotional distress.
,DIF: Easy
OBJ: Apply safety precautions for clients at risk of falls
TOP: Patient Safety and Quality
MSC: Safe and Effective Care Environment – Safety and Infection Control
Question 2
A nurse is teaching a client about deep-breathing exercises following abdominal surgery. Which
instruction is most appropriate?
a. "Take shallow breaths through your nose and hold for 10 seconds."
b. "Inhale deeply through your nose, hold for 2 seconds, then exhale slowly through pursed lips."
c. "Breathe rapidly in and out through your mouth for one minute."
d. "Hold your breath for 20 seconds after inhaling to expand your lungs."
ANS: b
Rationale: Deep-breathing exercises after surgery help prevent atelectasis and pneumonia. The
correct technique involves inhaling deeply through the nose, holding briefly, and exhaling
slowly through pursed lips. Shallow breathing (a) is ineffective for lung expansion. Rapid
breathing (c) leads to hyperventilation and dizziness. Holding the breath for 20 seconds (d) is
unsafe and can increase intra-abdominal pressure.
DIF: Moderate
OBJ: Demonstrate techniques to prevent postoperative complications
TOP: Health Promotion and Maintenance
MSC: Physiological Integrity – Reduction of Risk Potential
,Question 3
A nurse prepares to administer 40 mg of furosemide IV to a client with heart failure. The
available vial is labeled 10 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
a. 2 mL
b. 3 mL
c. 4 mL
d. 5 mL
ANS: c
Rationale: To calculate: Desired dose ÷ Available dose = mL to administer. 40 mg ÷ 10 mg/mL
= 4 mL. Therefore, the correct answer is 4 mL. Options (a), (b), and (d) are incorrect because
they represent calculation errors and would lead to under- or overdosing.
DIF: Easy
OBJ: Calculate accurate medication dosages
TOP: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
MSC: Physiological Integrity – Pharmacological Therapies
Question 4
The nurse is reinforcing teaching for a client with hypertension who has been prescribed a low-
sodium diet. Which food choice indicates correct understanding?
a. Canned vegetable soup
, b. Fresh fruit salad
c. Processed deli meats
d. Packaged ramen noodles
ANS: b
Rationale: Fresh fruit salad is naturally low in sodium and supports a healthy diet. Canned soups
(a), deli meats (c), and packaged noodles (d) all contain high amounts of sodium, which can
worsen hypertension. Patient education about hidden sodium sources is essential in hypertension
management.
DIF: Easy
OBJ: Identify foods appropriate for therapeutic diets
TOP: Nutrition
MSC: Health Promotion and Maintenance – Nutrition and Oral Hydration
Question 5
A client receiving oxygen therapy via nasal cannula at 3 L/min complains of dryness in the nasal
passages. What is the most appropriate nursing action?
a. Discontinue oxygen therapy immediately
b. Apply petroleum jelly to the inside of the client’s nostrils
c. Add humidification to the oxygen delivery system
d. Switch to a non-rebreather mask
ANS: c
NCLEX-Style Questions, Answers & Detailed Rationales
Question 1
A nurse is caring for an elderly client who is at high risk for falls. Which intervention is most
appropriate to reduce this client’s risk?
a. Keep the side rails of the bed raised at all times
b. Encourage the client to use the call light before ambulating
c. Place the bed in the highest position with the wheels locked
d. Apply wrist restraints when the client is restless
ANS: b
Rationale: The safest and most effective intervention is to encourage the client to use the call
light before ambulating, as this promotes patient independence while still ensuring safety. Side
rails raised at all times (a) can lead to entrapment or injury if the client attempts to climb over
them. Keeping the bed in the highest position (c) increases the risk of injury if a fall occurs.
Restraints (d) should be avoided unless absolutely necessary because they increase the risk of
injury and can cause emotional distress.
,DIF: Easy
OBJ: Apply safety precautions for clients at risk of falls
TOP: Patient Safety and Quality
MSC: Safe and Effective Care Environment – Safety and Infection Control
Question 2
A nurse is teaching a client about deep-breathing exercises following abdominal surgery. Which
instruction is most appropriate?
a. "Take shallow breaths through your nose and hold for 10 seconds."
b. "Inhale deeply through your nose, hold for 2 seconds, then exhale slowly through pursed lips."
c. "Breathe rapidly in and out through your mouth for one minute."
d. "Hold your breath for 20 seconds after inhaling to expand your lungs."
ANS: b
Rationale: Deep-breathing exercises after surgery help prevent atelectasis and pneumonia. The
correct technique involves inhaling deeply through the nose, holding briefly, and exhaling
slowly through pursed lips. Shallow breathing (a) is ineffective for lung expansion. Rapid
breathing (c) leads to hyperventilation and dizziness. Holding the breath for 20 seconds (d) is
unsafe and can increase intra-abdominal pressure.
DIF: Moderate
OBJ: Demonstrate techniques to prevent postoperative complications
TOP: Health Promotion and Maintenance
MSC: Physiological Integrity – Reduction of Risk Potential
,Question 3
A nurse prepares to administer 40 mg of furosemide IV to a client with heart failure. The
available vial is labeled 10 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
a. 2 mL
b. 3 mL
c. 4 mL
d. 5 mL
ANS: c
Rationale: To calculate: Desired dose ÷ Available dose = mL to administer. 40 mg ÷ 10 mg/mL
= 4 mL. Therefore, the correct answer is 4 mL. Options (a), (b), and (d) are incorrect because
they represent calculation errors and would lead to under- or overdosing.
DIF: Easy
OBJ: Calculate accurate medication dosages
TOP: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
MSC: Physiological Integrity – Pharmacological Therapies
Question 4
The nurse is reinforcing teaching for a client with hypertension who has been prescribed a low-
sodium diet. Which food choice indicates correct understanding?
a. Canned vegetable soup
, b. Fresh fruit salad
c. Processed deli meats
d. Packaged ramen noodles
ANS: b
Rationale: Fresh fruit salad is naturally low in sodium and supports a healthy diet. Canned soups
(a), deli meats (c), and packaged noodles (d) all contain high amounts of sodium, which can
worsen hypertension. Patient education about hidden sodium sources is essential in hypertension
management.
DIF: Easy
OBJ: Identify foods appropriate for therapeutic diets
TOP: Nutrition
MSC: Health Promotion and Maintenance – Nutrition and Oral Hydration
Question 5
A client receiving oxygen therapy via nasal cannula at 3 L/min complains of dryness in the nasal
passages. What is the most appropriate nursing action?
a. Discontinue oxygen therapy immediately
b. Apply petroleum jelly to the inside of the client’s nostrils
c. Add humidification to the oxygen delivery system
d. Switch to a non-rebreather mask
ANS: c
