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H.E.S.I RN Exit Exam 2025: Comprehensive Practice Test with High-Yield Questions and Detailed Answer Rationales for Guaranteed NCLEX Success
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Question 1: A male client with stomach cancer returns to the unit following a total gastrectomy. He has a nasogastric tube to suction and is receiving Lactated Ringer's solution at 75 mL/hour IV. One hour after admission to the unit, the nurse notes 300 mL of blood in the suction canister, the client's heart rate is 155 beats/minute, and his blood pressure is 78/48 mmHg. In addition to reporting the finding to the surgeon. Which action should the nurse implement first? A. Administer a prescribed blood transfusion. B. Ensure the nasogastric tube is patent and draining. C. Prepare the client for an immediate return to surgery. D. Increase the infusion rate of Lactated Ringer's solution. Correct Answer: D. Increase the infusion rate of Lactated Ringer's solution.^1 Rationale: The client is exhibiting signs of hypovolemic shock (tachycardia, hypotension, significant blood loss). The immediate priority is to increase circulating blood volume. Increasing the IV infusion rate of Lactated Ringer's solution is the quickest way to achieve this while awaiting further orders, such as blood transfusion or surgical intervention. Ensuring NG tube patency (option B) is important but secondary to addressing the immediate circulatory compromise. Administering blood (option A) requires a physician's order and cross-matching. Preparing for surgery (option C) may be necessary, but stabilizing the client is the first step. Question 2: An adult male who fell 20 feet from the roof of this home has multiple injuries, including a right pneumothorax. Chest tubes were inserted in the emergency department prior to his transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU). The nurse notes that the suction control chamber is bubbling at the - 10 cm H2O mark, with fluctuation in the water seal, and over the past hour 75 ml of bright red blood is measured in the collection chamber. Which intervention should the nurse implement? A. Add sterile water to the suction control chamber.
B. Clamp the chest tube and notify the healthcare provider immediately. C. Increase the suction to - 20 cm H2O to evacuate the blood more quickly. D. Continue to monitor the drainage and document the findings. Correct Answer: A. Add sterile water to the suction control chamber. Rationale: The bubbling in the suction control chamber should be gentle and continuous at the prescribed suction level (-10 cm H2O). If the water level is below the prescribed mark, the correct amount of suction is not being applied. Adding sterile water will ensure the ordered suction is maintained. Fluctuation in the water seal is a normal finding indicating patency of the system. While 75 mL of bright red blood in one hour is a significant amount and should be reported, the immediate intervention related to the chest tube system itself is to ensure proper suction. Clamping the chest tube (option B) is contraindicated unless there is a system leak or specific physician order. Increasing suction (option C) without an order is inappropriate and could damage lung tissue. Simply monitoring (option D) is insufficient given the potentially increasing blood loss. Question 3: A client who received hemodialysis yesterday is experiencing a blood pressure of 200/100 mmHg, heart rate 110 beats/minute, and respiratory rate 36 breaths/minute. The client is manifesting shortness of breath, bilateral 2+ pedal edema, and an oxygen saturation on room air of 89%. Which action should the nurse take first? A. Administer a prescribed antihypertensive medication. B. Elevate the client's legs and apply oxygen per nasal cannula. C. Begin supplemental oxygen. D. Notify the healthcare provider of the client's vital signs and symptoms. Correct Answer: C. Begin supplemental oxygen. Rationale: The client is exhibiting signs of fluid overload (hypertension, tachycardia, shortness of breath, edema, low oxygen saturation) which is a potential complication post-hemodialysis. The first priority is to address the hypoxemia by initiating supplemental oxygen to improve oxygen saturation. While administering antihypertensives (option A), elevating legs and applying oxygen (option B), and notifying the provider (option D) are all important actions, ensuring adequate oxygenation is the immediate priority. Option B suggests applying oxygen without first assessing the need and initiating it. Question 4:
Rationale: Urine specific gravity is a direct measure of the concentration of urine and is a reliable indicator of hydration status. A high specific gravity (normal range is typically 1.005-1.030) indicates concentrated urine and dehydration. Dry mucous membranes (option A) and thirst (option B) are subjective findings and can be influenced by other factors. Skin tenting (option D) is a less reliable indicator in older adults due to decreased skin elasticity. Question 6: After an inservice about electronic health record (EHR) security and safeguarding client information, the nurse observes a colleague going home with printed copies of client information in a uniform pocket. Which action should the nurse take? A. File a detailed incident report with the specific hiring facility. B. Directly confront the colleague about the potential HIPAA violation. C. Remind the colleague about the importance of EHR security. D. Report the observation to the nurse manager or supervisor. Correct Answer: D. Report the observation to the nurse manager or supervisor. Rationale: Observing a potential HIPAA violation requires action to protect patient confidentiality. The most appropriate initial step is to report the observation to the nurse manager or supervisor, who is responsible for investigating and addressing security breaches according to facility policy. Filing an incident report directly (option A) might be the eventual outcome but should typically be initiated through the chain of command. Directly confronting the colleague (option B) could be confrontational and may not result in proper reporting and investigation. Simply reminding the colleague (option C) is insufficient to address a potential security breach. Question 7: The nurse is evaluating a tertiary prevention program for clients with cardiovascular disease implemented in a rural health clinic. Which outcome indicates the program is effective? A. The incidence of new cases of cardiovascular disease in the community has decreased. B. Clients with risk factors for cardiovascular disease have adopted healthier lifestyles. C. Clients who incurred disease complications promptly received rehabilitation. D. The mortality rate from cardiovascular disease in the community has declined. Correct Answer: C. Clients who incurred disease complications promptly received rehabilitation.
Rationale: Tertiary prevention focuses on minimizing the impact of an existing disease and preventing complications. Prompt rehabilitation for clients who have experienced cardiovascular events (complications) is a key component of tertiary prevention. Option A describes primary prevention (preventing the disease from occurring). Option B describes secondary prevention (early detection and intervention to prevent progression). Option D could be influenced by various factors, including primary and secondary prevention efforts. Question 8: The nurse is caring for a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who uses oxygen at 2 L/minute per nasal cannula continuously. The nurse observes that the client is having increased shortness of breath with respirations at 23 breaths/minute. Which action should the nurse implement first? A. Increase the oxygen flow rate to 4 L/minute per nasal cannula. B. Administer a prescribed bronchodilator medication. C. Instruct the client to perform pursed-lip breathing. D. Assess the delivery mechanism of the oxygen tank, tubing, and cannula. Correct Answer: D. Assess the delivery mechanism of the oxygen tank, tubing, and cannula.^2 Rationale: Before making any changes to the oxygen delivery or administering medications, the nurse should first ensure that the current oxygen delivery system is functioning correctly. Obstructions, leaks, or disconnections can lead to decreased oxygen delivery and increased shortness of breath. Increasing the oxygen flow rate (option A) without assessing the system could be inappropriate for a COPD patient who relies on hypoxic drive. Administering a bronchodilator (option B) and instructing on pursed-lip breathing (option C) are important interventions for COPD exacerbation but should be done after verifying the oxygen delivery. Question 9: Which statement by a client who is 24 hours post-subtotal thyroidectomy requires an immediate investigation by the nurse? A. "My throat is sore when I swallow." B. "I have to cough more since the surgery." C. "When I get out of bed quickly, I feel a little dizzy." D. "My fingers and toes are tingling." Correct Answer: D. "My fingers and toes are tingling."
C. Advice the client to maintain bedrest so that safety can be ensured. D. Assess the client's ability to transfer and determine the safest method and necessary assistance. Correct Answer: D. Assess the client's ability to transfer and determine the safest method and necessary assistance. Rationale: The nurse is responsible for ensuring patient safety and appropriate delegation of tasks. The nurse should first assess the client's mobility and weight, and then determine the safest method for transfer and the level of assistance required, which may involve more than one person or the use of assistive devices. Instructing the UAP to find another staff member (option A) is a possible solution but the nurse needs to first assess the situation. Encouraging an unsafe transfer (option B) is inappropriate. Advising the client to remain on bedrest (option C) restricts the prescribed activity without proper assessment. Question 12: A nurse determines that more than 25% of the students at a middle school are overweight. The nurse presents the information at the parent-teacher meeting. What action is most important for the nurse to include in the meeting? A. Provide statistics on the long-term health consequences of obesity. B. Discuss the importance of regular physical activity for children. C. Distribute a shopping list of suggested healthy snack items. D. Recommend specific weight-loss programs available in the community. Correct Answer: C. Distribute a shopping list of suggested healthy snack items. Rationale: While providing information on health consequences (option A) and the importance of physical activity (option B) is valuable, and recommending weight-loss programs (option D) might be appropriate later, providing concrete, actionable steps that parents can easily implement, such as healthy snack ideas, is the most important initial action. This empowers parents to make immediate positive changes in their children's diets. Question 13: After several months of chronic fatigue, morning stiffness, and joint pain, a young adult is diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, and the healthcare provider prescribes prednisone. Which education should the nurse provide the client with regard to taking prednisone? A. Discontinue the medication if side effects become bothersome.
B. Take the medication on an empty stomach for better absorption. C. If sequential doses are missed, notify the healthcare provider. D. Increase the dosage if joint pain is not adequately controlled. Correct Answer: C. If sequential doses are missed, notify the healthcare provider. Rationale: Prednisone is a corticosteroid that should not be abruptly stopped or have significant dosage adjustments without medical guidance due to potential withdrawal symptoms and adrenal insufficiency. Missing sequential doses can disrupt the therapeutic effect and potentially lead to adverse outcomes. Discontinuing without consultation (option A) and increasing the dosage without an order (option D) are dangerous. Taking prednisone with food is usually recommended to minimize gastrointestinal upset (option B is incorrect).