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HESI CAT EXAM SCRIPT 2026 PRACTICE
SOLUTION BUNDLED
◉ A client is receiving a continuous half strength tube feeding at 50 ml/hr. To prepare enough of the solution for eight hours, how many ml of full strength feeding will the nurse need? Answer: Answer: 200 25 ml x 8hrs = 200 ◉ The alarm of a client's pulse oximeter sounds and the nurse notes that the oxygen saturation rate is indicated at 85%. What action should the nurse take first? Answer: Check the probe position ◉ A client is known to have an irregular respiratory rate with periods of apnea lasting 10 to 15 seconds. Currently, the nurse counts 22 respiratory cycles in a 30-second interval followed by an apneic period. What intervention should the nurse implement? Answer: Reassess the respiratory rate, counting for one full minute ◉ A retiree with depression complains of feeling "lonely and having no purpose" in life.Based on Erikson's developmental theory, which questions suggest that the nurse understands the client's most important emotional need? Answer: "What about your life makes you proud?"
◉ Following a precipitous labor, a client has a continuous trickling of bright red blood from her vagina. Her uterus is firm and her vital signs are within normal limits. The nurse determines that the client's symptoms may indicate which condition? Answer: A cervical laceration ◉ In preparing assignments for the shift, which client is best for the charge nurse to assign to a practical nurse? Answer: An elderly client with Alzheimer's disease complicated by dysphagia ◉ The healthcare provider prescribes oxygen per nasal cannula at 2 L/min. Which action has the highest priority when the nurse implements this prescription? Answer: Set the flow meter ◉ 9. A nurse who is new to the pediatric unit is positioning a 6- month-old for an injection of penicillin V (Pen V) in the dorsogluteal muscle. Which action should the nurse-manager who is supervising this nurse take first? Answer: C. Instruct the nurse to select another injection site ◉ 10. After diagnosis and initial treatment of a 3-year-old child with cystic fibrosis, the nurse provides home care instructions to the mother. Which statement by the child's mother indicates that she understands home care treatment to promote pulmonary function?
childhood. What is the most likely cause of his present condition? Answer: Acute withdrawal from anticonvulsant medication ◉ A Chinese-American client who just delivered a baby states that she will not be able to take the prescribed sitz baths to help heal her episiotomy incision because this will cause an unhealthy balance of cold and hot forces. When planning nursing care, what nursing diagnosis has the highest priority? Answer: Impaired tissue integrity related to episiotomy ◉ 17. A 2-year-old with sickle cell anemia has an axillary temperature of 102 F. In planning care for this child, which nursing diagnosis has the highest priority? Answer: High risk for fluid volume deficit related to temperature elevation ◉ During the first trimester of pregnancy, a client who was treated for genital herpes with acyclovir (Zovirax) prior to this pregnancy tells the nurse that she is experiencing an episode of genital herpes. Which nursing intervention has the highest priority? Answer: Determine if the client has taken acyclovir (Zovirax) for this outbreak of genital herpes ◉ The nurse is obtaining a medication history for a client with a new prescription for paroxetine (Paxil). The client reports current use of the MAO inhibitor isocarboxazid
(Marplan). What intervention is most important for the nurse to implement? Answer: Notify the healthcare provider that the client is currently taking Marplan ◉ While performing a skin inspection on a newborn, the nurse finds a small dimple and a dark tuft of hair in the lumbosacral area of the infant's back. What is the most likely indication of this finding? Answer: External manifestation of a spinal abnormality ◉ What action should the nurse implement first when delegating nursing activities to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)? Answer: Evaluate the experience of the UAP ◉ A female resident of a long-term care facility is being admitted to the medical department. The client has a fractured hip and has methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Which room should the charge nurse assign this client? Answer: A semi-private room with a client who also has methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ◉ The nurse is preparing a client for surgery. Which finding indicates that the client is ready to proceed to the operating room
for the nurse to ask this client? Answer: "Have you ever felt like hurting yourself?" ◉ After administering the first dose of newly prescribed to four clients within a thirty minute time frame, the nurse evaluates each client for therapeutic responses or any adverse reactions. Which medication should the nurse evaluate first? Answer: HYdromorphone (Dilaudid) ◉ What is the most important symptom the nurse should monitor the client for while assisting with the insertion of a subclavian central venous catheter? Answer: Shortness of breath ◉ The nurse is developing a plan of care for a client who has a prescription for the calcium channel-blocker nifedipine (Procardia) to treat angina pectoris. What is the purpose for administration of this medication? Answer: Decrease myocardial oxygen demands ◉ While transcribing a new prescription, the nurse notes that the prescribed dosage is much lower than the recommended dosage listed in the drug reference guide. Which client data supports this dosage reduction? Answer: Increased liver enzymes ◉ The nurse notes that a postoperative adult client's respiratory rate is 10 breaths/minute. Which factor in the client's history is the most likely explanation for
this finding? Answer: The PCA pump containing morphine sulfate was discontinued 15 minutes before vital signs were taken ◉ The charge nurse working on a postpartum unit is making assignments for a staff consisting of a registered nurse (RN), a practical nurse (PN), and two unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which client should the charge nurse assign to the registered nurse? Answer: A primigravida who delivered an infant 6 hours ago via vaginal delivery and is now complaining of seeing spots ◉ 35. A 13-year-old client with non-union of a comminuted fracture of the tibia is admitted with osteomyelitis. The healthcare provider collects bone aspirate specimens for culture and sensitivity and applies a cast to the adolescent's lower leg. What action should the nurse implement next? Answer: Initiate parenteral antibiotic therapy ◉ A child with heart is receiving the diuretic furosemide (Lasix) and has a serum potassium level 3.0 mEq/L. Which assessment is most important for the nurse to obtain? Answer: Heart rate and cardiac rhythm ◉ It is determined that a client with breast cancer has metastasis to the liver. What is the most likely explanation for the client's risk of
◉ A client who is wheelchair bound demonstrates positive Thomas test after admission to the rehabilitation unit. The healthcare provider prescribes positioning the client prone for 30 minutes three times each day to prevent further flexion contractures. Based on this finding, what change in the client's plan of care should the nurse expect? Answer: There may be a delay in the rehabilitation process ◉ Prostaglandin E2 (Prostin E2) is prescribed for client who had a missed spontaneous abortion. Which finding should the nurse expect? An increase in Answer: Uterine contractions ◉ A client with a general anxiety disorder is pacing the hallway. The client tells the nurse,"My heart is just racing and sometimes it feels like it's fluttering. I'm feeling short of breath and dizzy." What action should the nurse implement first? Answer: Obtain the client's signs ◉ 44. A 22-year-old is involved in a motor vehicle collision and the spinal cord is severed at the second cervical spine (C-2). What is the most likely outcome of this injury? Answer: Death at the scene of the accident due to respiratory arrest ◉ A nurse plans to call the healthcare provider to report an 0600 serum potassium level of 2 mEq/L, but the charge nurse tells the nurse that the healthcare provider does not like to receive early morning calls and will make rounds later in the morning. What
action should the nurse take? Answer: Disregard the advice of the charge nurse and contact the healthcare provider immediately to report the laboratory value ◉ The nurse should carefully assess the client with which urinary problem for fluid volume deficit? Answer: Polyuria ◉ What nursing intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care for a client following a bone marrow aspiration? Answer: Use of a compression dressing for firm pressure to the site ◉ An outcome for treatment of peripheral vascular disease is, "The client will have decreased venous congestion". What client behavior would indicate to the nurse that this outcome has been met? Answer: Avoids prolonged sitting or standing ◉ When assessing a client, the nurse notices a pulsation below the umbilicus. Upon auscultation of the area, a "swishing" sound is detected. Based on these findings, what additional assessment should the nurse perform? Answer: Measure the blood pressure ◉ An alert and oriented client requiring droplet precautions is placed in a private room at the end of the hallway. Several days later, the nurse finds that the client is restless and anxious. What action should the nurse implement? Answer: Encourage family members to maintain a regular visitation schedule
◉ A client at 38-weeks gestation complains of abdominal pain. The nurse notes that her abdomen is rigid. What is the probable cause of these findings? Answer: Abruptio placenta ◉ The nurse assess the perineum of a client who is complaining of perineal pain 6 hours after a normal delivery, and finds that the client has small perineal (vulvar) hematomas. Based on this assessment finding, which treatment should the nurse implement? Answer: Apply cold packs to the perineum ◉ Family members of a client who is in hospice care discuss with the nurse their fears that their loved one's death will be painful. Which intervention should the nurse implement? Answer: Provide teaching about available pain control options that might be helpful ◉ Which nurse's behavior is a breach of client confidentiality according to the Health Insurance Portable Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations? Answer: Takes home a daily report sheet with the information of the team's client's ◉ The nurse is assessing a client following hemodialysis. What finding indicates that an expected outcome of dialysis was achieved? Answer: Decrease in BP ◉ 61. The nurse is performing a routine well-child exam on a 5-year- old. While palpating the lymph nodes, the nurse feels several 0.5 cm
nodes in the cervical area that are round, mobile, non-tender, and non-warm to the touch. What do these findings most likely represent? Answer: An expected finding for a well child of this age ◉ A client with acute renal failure has many complications. The nurse recognizes what finding as a sign of an immediate life- threatening situation? Answer: An increased serum potassium concentration ◉ The nurse completes the Leopold maneuvers for a primipara who is admitted in active labor and determines that the fetus in the right sacral anterior (RSA) position. On which quadrants should the nurse place the external fetal heart transducer? (Click the chosen location. To change, click on the new location) Answer: Answer: Right-up quadrant ◉ The practical nurse (PN) reports the patterns of urinary frequency and volume for several clients. Which finding necessitates further assessment by the RN? Answer: Voiding 50 ml cloudy urine every hour ◉ Before administering diltiazem (Cardizem SR) the nurse notes that the client's blood pressure is 140/94. What action should the nurse take? Answer: Administer the scheduled dose of diltiazem and monitor the client's blood pressure
peritoneal dialysis treatment warrants immediate intervention? Answer: A 2,000 ml amount of dialysate was instilled, and 1,500 ml was drained ◉ A hospitalized male veteran of a foreign war refuses care from a Middle-Eastern nurse.The client tells the nurse, "I want an American to take care of me!" Which action should the charge nurse take? Answer: Reassign the client's care to another nurse ◉ The community health nurse is attempting to address the issue of child abuse in a large metropolitan area. A primary prevention program for child abuse might include which program? Answer: High school child development and parenting classes ◉ A client's right to give informed consent is based on which ethical principle? Answer: Autonomy ◉ A client who suffered a stroke and is now on a ventilator receives nutritional supplements by the feedings three times a day. The nurse checks the client for a residual volume before administering the next feeding. Which statement best describes the rationale for this nursing intervention? Answer: Retention of feeding in the stomach increases the likelihood of regurgitation and aspiration
◉ A client has a history of chronic atrial fibrillation. Which instruction should the nurse include in the teaching plan for this client? Answer: Be sure to take the prescribed daily aspirin ◉ A client's telemetry monitor indicates ventricular fibrillation (VF). What should the nurse do first? Answer: Prepare for synchronized cardioversion ◉ It is most important for the nurse to use an IV pump and/or Buretrol, an in-line volume-control device, when initiating IV therapy for a client following which surgical procedure? Answer: Craniotomy ◉ Which strategy is most important for the nurse to use when assisting a client with myasthenia gravis to devise a daily routine? Answer: Perform necessary physically demanding tasks in the morning ◉ The nursing diagnosis, "Altered nutrition: less than body requirements," is included in the plan of care for a client with hyperthyroidism. What primary etiology should the nurse identify when planning care for this client? Answer: Increased metabolic needs ◉ The nurse is triaging victims of a tornado that hit a housing area outside of town.Which client would the nurse issue a black disaster
◉ The nurse is preparing to insert a saline lock for fluid replacement ina client with a fluid volume deficit. Which assessment finding is most relevant to the nurse's approach to performing the procedure? Answer: Flattened veins ◉ The nurse reviews the results of a client's computerized tomograph scan (CT), which indicates that a cerebellar infarction is present. Based on this pathophysiological finding, what nursing diagnosis should the nurse include in the client's plan of care? Answer: Impaired walking related to loss of balance and coordination ◉ Which finding should the nurse expect a client to exhibit who is newly diagnosed with fibromyalgia? Answer: Disruption in sleep patterns ◉ A male client with a history of seizures tells the nurse that he obtained a generic form of his anticonvulsant medication through an online pharmacy, which was much less expensive than the brand name medication he has been taking. Which information about the medication is most important for the nurse to review with the client? Answer: Bioequivalency ◉ The nurse recognizes that the primary purpose of recommending a yearly digital rectal examination (DRE) for all men over the age of
40 is to help detect the early stages of which type of cancer? Answer: Prostate cancer ◉ The nurse is reviewing the medical history of a client who is scheduled for a parathyroidectomy. Which disorder in the client's history is most likely to be impacted by this surgery? Answer: Osteoporosis ◉ A female client reports that she drank ¾ of a liter of a solution to cleanse her intestines for a colonoscopy. How many ml of fluid intake should the nurse document? Answer: Answer: 750 ◉ The nurse observes that a client is receiving oxygen per nasal cannula at 1.5 L/minute as prescribed, but a humidifier is not attached to the oxygen. What action should the nurse implement? Answer: Assess the client's mucous membranes ◉ 93. A 19-year-old male client is brought to the emergency room by a group of fraternity brothers after a hazing event at the university. The client arrives with a blood alcohol level (BAL) of 3. and a Glasgow Coma Scale of 3. Which action should the nurse implement first? Answer: Initiate IV access using Lactated Ringer's solution 1000 ml with thiamine 100 mg ◉ The nurse is preparing to administer vancomycin (Vancocin) 500 mg in 200 ml of DW and based on the manufacturer's
