HESI AD HOC
Learner Ambassadors
July 26, 2021
General Tips
• Start studying early in the semester! Try to do 40 questions per day. This will add up to lots of
questions by the start of HESI.
• Find a question databank and practice questions. Focus on the rationales and not just the
specific question. Write out information from the rationale and study it. You don’t need to write
out the entire thing.
• The biggest thing is to PRACTICE. Practice answering questions. Answer and understand each
rationale! I feel like HESIs are all about knowing how they want the question answered. The best
way to get to know HESIs is to practice answering nursing questions!! Utilize nursing resources
to practice answering questions. And know rationales of why their top choice was their top
choice!
• Handwrite! For me handwriting physical flashcards for review and memorization was helpful!
Especially for things like Maslow’s, various developmental theories, lab values, etc.
More specific question tips
• Identify your own weaknesses! Are you struggling with pharmacology? How to prioritize or
delegate? Testing anxiety? Find out your personal weakness then get help specifically for that
• Client safety comes first
• Avoid answers with sure definite words like “always” “never” usually
• Use the process of elimination to get rid of incorrect answers
• Remember ABCs, Maslow’s, ADPIE
• Don’t delegate patient education or assessment (RNs need to do that)
• Least invasive intervention first
• This is NCLEX world, do not answer based on personal real-life experience!
How to break down a question
• What is the question asking? All answers might be correct or relevant to the situation, but what answers
the question asked?
• Locate the stem (which is the end of the question) and make sure that your answer matches what is
being asked. The question may be asking for the wrong answer, the next step, the best step out of the
list, or the priority intervention. The question may ask when it is appropriate to intervene, which would
be the wrong thing that someone is doing.
• Don’t second guess your answer
• Picture the scenario and patient in your mind.
