2025 HESI Critical Care Exit Exam New Latest Version

2025 HESI Critical Care Exit Exam New Latest Version Best Studying Material with 130 Questions from Actual Past Exam and 100% Correct Answers

The nurse cares for the client diagnosed with lung cancer. The family states that the client has become confused and that urinary output has decreased during the previous 24 hours. Which finding MOST concerns the nurse?

• 2+ pitting pretibial edema.
• Sodium 128 mEq/L.
• Weight gain of 2 kg in 24 hours.
• Urine specific gravity 1.008. ---------- Correct Answer ----------- 2

The home care nurse cares for a client who is diagnosed with hypertension and mild depression.The client's daughter states that her mother has been falling frequently. WWhich response by the nurse is BEST?

• "Let's get your mother a walker."
• "Do you think it's time to put your mother in a nursing home?"
• "When does your mother fall?"
• "Does your mother seem to be more confused lately?" ---------- Correct Answer ----------- 3

The nurse cares for a client with a history of type 1 diabetes mellitus who has just returned to the surgical acute-care unit after a right below-knee amputation. The client's capillary blood glucose is 480 mg/dL. The postoperative orders indicate 6 units of regular insulin subcutaneously should be administered. Which of the following is the FIRST action the nurse should take?

• Check the client records to see if insulin was given prior to surgery.
• Administer the 6 units of regular insulin subcutaneously.
• Administer the insulin when oral fluids are tolerated.
• Contact the healthcare provider. ---------- Correct Answer ----------- 2

During the admission interview, the client reports a red, itchy raised rash on the chest and lip swelling after use of aspirin and penicillin. The admission orders include bed rest, soft diet as tolerated, naproxen (Naprosyn), and cefaclor (Ceclor). Which is the BEST description of expected breath sounds heard during auscultation?

• Administer the Ceclor as ordered; do not administer the naproxen.
• Administer the naproxen as ordered; do not administer the Ceclor.
• Administer both the Ceclor and naproxen as ordered; document the client's response.
• Do not administer the Ceclor or naproxen; notify the healthcare provider. ---------- Correct

Answer ----------- 4

The nurse teaches a client about how to care for an ileostomy. Which comment, if made by the client to the nurse, indicates further teaching is needed?

• "The skin around the stoma should be cleaned with warm water and thoroughly dried."
• "The appliance should fit snugly around the ileostomy opening."
• "I should take polyethylene glycol (MiraLax) with a large glass of water." 1 / 3

• "I will continue to take a daily multi-vitamin." ---------- Correct Answer ----------- 3

The nurse cares for a client diagnosed with chronic bronchitis and peripheral vascular disease.The nurse expects to assess which of these breath sounds?

• Continuous, high-pitched musical sounds heard on expiration.
• Soft, high-pitched interrupted sounds heard on inspiration.
• Deep, low-pitched rumbling sounds are heard mainly on expiration.
• Harsh, grating sounds heard best during inspiration. ---------- Correct Answer ----------- 3

A femoral angiogram is scheduled for a client. It is MOST important for the nurse to take which action prior to the angiogram?

• Clean and shave the catheter insertion-site area.
• Locate and note the presence of peripheral pulses.
• Encourage the client to increase oral fluid intake.
• Teach coughing and deep-breathing exercises. ---------- Correct Answer ----------- 2

A child sustains a crushing chest injury in a car accident. In the emergency room, an endotracheal tube is inserted. Several hours later the nurse enters the client's room and finds the child in respiratory distress. It is MOST important for the nurse to take which action prior to the angiogram?

• Observe the color of the client's fingernail beds.
• Assess the client's blood pressure in both arms.
• Listen to the client's breath sounds.
• Assess for intercostal retractions. ---------- Correct Answer ----------- 3

The nurse cares for an elderly man diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. It is MOST important for the nurse to take which action?

• Leave the television on all day in the client's room.
• Frequently inform the client of the room and bathroom location.
• Provide the client with newspapers and magazines.
• Assign a staff member to check on the client every 15 minutes. ---------- Correct Answer -------

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The nurse is responsible for triage of injured residents of an apartment building that collapsed during a tornado. Which client should the emergency personnel see FIRST?

• A 38-year-old client with potential fracture left femur. Blood pressure 110/78, pulse

92/minute, shallow respirations at 16/minute.

• A 42-year-old client with ecchymotic areas on the left anterior and posterior chest. Blood

pressure 142/90, pulse 88/minute, shallow respirations at 20/minute.

• A 48-year-old client with severe head trauma. Blood pressure 168/52, pulse 58 per minute,

irregular respirations at 12/minute.

• A 64-year-old client complaining of left hand and wrist pain asking, "Where am I?" Blood

pressure 128/72, pulse 88/minute, respirations unlabored at 16/minute ---------- Correct Answer -

---------- 3

The nurse cares for a client diagnosed with Crohn's disease. The nurse instructs the client about 2 / 3

diet. Which menu selection indicates to the nurse that teaching is effective?

• Cheeseburger on a whole-wheat bun, french fries, and an apple.
• Tomato soup, saltines, and a slice of unfrosted angel food cake.
• Baked cod, biscuit without butter, fruit roll-up.
• Macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, 2 macaroon cookies ---------- Correct Answer ----------- 3

The nursing team consists of one RN, one LPN/LVN and two nursing assistive personnel (NAPs). Which assignment is MOST appropriate for the LPN/LVN?

• A 38-year-old client diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome receiving plasmapheresis

therapy.

• A 72-year-old client admitted yesterday with a 10-day history of oral antibiotic therapy and a

24-hour history of watery diarrhea.

• A 78-year-old client diagnosed with a thrombotic cerebrovascular accident 5 days ago.
• A 86-year-old client just admitted with malaise, a productive cough, and WBC 17,000 mm3. --

-------- Correct Answer ----------- 3

The nurse cares for a client during a 24-hour urine specimen collection. Several hours later, the client tells the nurse that she has started to menstruate. Which action by the nurse is MOST appropriate?

• Inform the health care provider that the client is menstruating.
• Send the urine collected prior to the onset of the client's menstruation to the lab.
• Insert an indwelling bladder catheter during the remainder of the collection period.
• Request a separate urine collection container from the laboratory to be used during the

remainder of the urine collection period. ---------- Correct Answer ----------- 1

The nurse cares for the client in the recovery room after a knee surgery procedure. The client has an oral airway in place. Which is the BEST indicator that the oral airway can be removed?

• The client has a forceful cough during repositioning

.2. The client tries to chew on the oral airway..

• The client tries to push the airway out with his tongue.
• The client is able to swallow. ---------- Correct Answer ----------- 2

The nurse cares for clients in the antepartum clinic. Which client should the nurse see FIRST?

• An 18-year-old multigravida client at 28 weeks gestation with a positive indirect Coombs' test.
• A 24-year-old multigravida client at 32 weeks gestation with moderate facial edema.
• A 30-year-old client at 26 weeks gestation with bilateral yellow breast exudate.
• A 43-year-old primigravida client at 18 weeks of gestation reporting an absence of fetal

movement. ---------- Correct Answer ----------- 2

The nurse instructs a client about include digoxin (Lanoxin), furosemide (Lasix), spironolactone (Aldactone), and a low-sodium diet. Which statement by the client indicates the need for further instruction?

• "I should weigh myself every morning and call the health care provider if I gain more than a

couple of pounds in a few days."

• "I should call the health care provider immediately if I start to feel nauseated or have difficulty

breathing with normal activities."

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