- Which revision of the following sentence is most clear and correct? 'While waiting for the test results, the patient's anxiety visibly increased.'
Answer: While the patient waited for the test results, his anxiety visibly increased.
This question tests your ability to identify and correct dangling modifiers, which are common errors in medical documentation and professional writing.
The original sentence contains a dangling modifier: "While waiting for the test results" appears to modify "the patient's anxiety," but anxiety cannot wait for test results—only the patient can. This creates confusion about who or what is performing the action.
Option B correctly resolves this issue by clearly stating "While the patient waited for the test results, his anxiety visibly increased." The modifier now properly connects to "the patient," making it clear who is doing the waiting. The sentence structure is logical and unambiguous.
Option A simply rearranges the original sentence but maintains the same dangling modifier problem. The phrase "while waiting" still seems to modify "anxiety" rather than identifying who is waiting.
Option C creates an awkward construction with "anxiety for the patient" and still contains the dangling modifier issue. This phrasing is unclear and grammatically problematic.
Option D keeps the dangling modifier at the beginning with "Waiting for the test results," which again suggests that the anxiety, not the patient, is doing the waiting.
When you encounter sentences with introductory phrases beginning with words like "while," "waiting," "walking," or "considering," always check that the modifier clearly connects to the correct subject. In healthcare writing, precision is crucial—ambiguous sentences can lead to miscommunication about patient care. Always ensure that modifying phrases have a clear, logical connection to the subject performing the action.
- The new treatment protocol is designed not only to reduce recovery time but also __________ patient comfort.
Answer: to improve
This question tests parallel structure in correlative conjunctions, specifically the "not only...but also" construction. When you encounter this pairing, both elements must be grammatically equivalent.
The sentence uses "not only to reduce recovery time" — notice that "to reduce" is an infinitive phrase. For proper parallel structure, the "but also" clause must match this form exactly. Choice B) "to improve" provides the perfect parallel infinitive structure: "not only to reduce...but also to improve." This creates grammatical balance and clarity.
Choice A) "for improving" breaks parallelism by using a preposition plus gerund instead of an infinitive. While "for improving" might sound acceptable in isolation, it doesn't match the infinitive structure established by "to reduce." Choice C) "improves" is a finite verb that creates an incomplete clause — you'd need a subject to make this work grammatically. Choice D) "the improvement of" uses a noun phrase rather than an infinitive, again breaking the required parallel structure.
Remember that correlative conjunctions (not only...but also, either...or, neither...nor, both...and) always demand parallel structure. Whatever grammatical form follows the first conjunction must be mirrored after the second. On the HESI, watch for these constructions and quickly identify the grammatical pattern in the first part of the sentence — then look for the answer choice that maintains that exact same pattern in the second part.
- Exhausted after a twelve-hour shift, the patient's loud coughing was particularly jarring to the nurse.
Answer: The patient's loud coughing was particularly jarring to the nurse, who was exhausted after a twelve-hour shift.
This question tests your ability to identify and correct dangling modifiers, a common grammar error that can make healthcare writing unclear and potentially dangerous.
The key issue here is determining who or what is "exhausted after a twelve-hour shift." Logic tells us it must be the nurse, not the patient's coughing. When a descriptive phrase begins a sentence, it must clearly modify the subject that immediately follows.
Option B correctly places "the nurse" as the main subject and uses a relative clause ("who was exhausted") to clearly indicate that the nurse, not the coughing, experienced the exhaustion. This creates a logical, clear sentence structure.
Option A contains a dangling modifier because "exhausted after a twelve-hour shift" appears to modify "the patient's loud coughing," which is nonsensical. Coughing cannot work a twelve-hour shift.
Option C has the same dangling modifier problem as A. "Being exhausted" still appears to modify "the patient's loud coughing" rather than the nurse.
Option D attempts to fix the problem but creates awkward, unclear construction. The phrase "exhausted after a twelve-hour shift" is misplaced and could modify either "nurse" or "coughing," making the meaning ambiguous.
For HESI success, always check that opening descriptive phrases clearly connect to the correct subject. In healthcare communication, ambiguous writing can lead to serious misunderstandings. When you spot a sentence beginning with a descriptive phrase, immediately ask: "Who or what does this phrase actually describe?"
- Which of the following sentences should be revised to correct a dangling modifier?
Answer: As a new intern, the long hours in the emergency room were particularly challenging.
Dangling modifiers occur when a descriptive phrase at the beginning of a sentence doesn't logically connect to the subject that immediately follows it. The modifier "dangles" because it's unclear what it's supposed to modify.
Choice B contains a dangling modifier: "As a new intern, the long hours in the emergency room were particularly challenging." The phrase "As a new intern" should modify a person, but the subject that follows is "the long hours," which creates an illogical connection—hours cannot be an intern. The sentence should read: "As a new intern, she found the long hours in the emergency room particularly challenging."
Let's examine why the other choices are correct. Choice A properly connects "While taking the patient's blood pressure" to "the nurse"—the nurse is performing the action. Choice C correctly links "To reduce the swelling" to "the patient," who is the one following the advice to elevate his leg. Choice D has no introductory modifier at all; "speaking in a calm voice" is properly placed next to "doctor," showing how the doctor explained the diagnosis.
The key to spotting dangling modifiers is checking whether the introductory phrase logically describes the subject immediately following the comma. If there's a mismatch—like a phrase describing a person's role attached to an inanimate object—you've found a dangling modifier.
For HESI success, always read the subject right after the comma and ask: "Can this subject logically perform or be described by the opening phrase?"
- Which sentence demonstrates correct parallel structure and proper modifier placement?
Answer: To prepare for the HESI exam, the nursing student reviewed case studies, practiced clinical skills, and attended lectures regularly.
Choice B maintains parallel structure with three past tense verbs (reviewed, practiced, attended) and correctly places the prepositional phrase 'To prepare for the HESI exam' at the beginning. Choice A breaks parallelism with 'was attending' (past continuous) among past tense verbs. Choice C disrupts flow with the misplaced modifier and mixes past tense with past continuous. Choice D breaks parallelism by mixing gerunds (reviewing, practicing) with an infinitive (to attend).
- The new cardiac monitor is more reliable, easier to operate, and ___________.
Answer: less costly than the old model
This question tests your understanding of parallel structure in writing, a concept that frequently appears on standardized exams. When listing items in a series, each element must follow the same grammatical pattern to maintain clarity and flow.
The sentence presents three characteristics of the cardiac monitor in a series: "more reliable, easier to operate, and ___________." The first two items are comparative adjectives ("more reliable" and "easier"), so the third item must also be a comparative adjective to maintain parallel structure. Option B "less costly than the old model" follows this pattern perfectly, using the comparative adjective "less costly" that mirrors the structure of the previous items.
Let's examine why the other options fail. Option A "it costs less than the old model" breaks parallel structure by introducing a complete clause with a subject and verb ("it costs"), while the previous items were simple comparative phrases. Option C "costs less than the old model" uses a verb form ("costs") rather than an adjective, disrupting the grammatical pattern. Option D "a lower cost than the old model" uses a noun phrase ("a lower cost") instead of the required comparative adjective structure.
When you encounter questions about sentence completion or grammar on the HESI, always identify the existing pattern in the sentence first. Look at how the other items in a series are structured, then choose the option that maintains that same grammatical form. This approach will help you quickly eliminate answers that break parallel structure.
- Which sentence correctly maintains parallel structure in a complex list with multiple elements?
Answer: The nursing program requires students to demonstrate clinical competency, complete research projects, pass comprehensive examinations, and maintain professional standards.
Choice C maintains parallel structure by using infinitive verbs without 'to' after the initial 'to' (demonstrate, complete, pass, maintain). Choice A breaks parallelism with the gerund 'maintaining.' Choice B inconsistently repeats 'to' before 'complete' but not other verbs. Choice D mixes infinitive verbs with noun phrases and gerunds.
- The instructor explained that documenting a patient's refusal of care is as critical as __________ the care itself.
Answer: administering
This question tests your understanding of parallel structure in English grammar, which is essential for clear professional documentation in healthcare settings.
The sentence compares two equally important actions: documenting refusal of care and providing the care itself. When making comparisons with "as...as," both elements must be in the same grammatical form to create parallel structure. Since "documenting" is a gerund (verb acting as a noun), the second element must also be a gerund.
Answer choice D) "administering" is correct because it matches the gerund form of "documenting." The complete sentence reads: "documenting a patient's refusal of care is as critical as administering the care itself." Both actions are presented as equally important nursing responsibilities using the same grammatical structure.
Answer choice A) "to administer" is incorrect because it's an infinitive, which doesn't match the gerund "documenting." Answer choice B) "the administration of" creates an awkward, wordy construction that breaks the parallel flow and sounds unnatural. Answer choice C) "when you administer" is a dependent clause that completely disrupts the comparison structure and changes the meaning from comparing two actions to comparing an action with a time condition.
Remember that parallel structure questions frequently appear on the HESI exam because clear, consistent writing is crucial in healthcare documentation. When you see comparison words like "as...as," "both...and," or "not only...but also," immediately check that both elements use the same grammatical form—this will guide you to the correct answer quickly.
- The nurse explained the side effects of the medication to the patient in a clear and concise brochure.
Answer: The modifier 'in a clear and concise brochure' is misplaced.
This question tests your ability to identify misplaced modifiers, which are words or phrases that don't clearly modify the intended word in a sentence. When you encounter modifier questions, always ask: "What is being modified, and is the modifier in the right position?"
In this sentence, the phrase "in a clear and concise brochure" is positioned right after "patient," which makes it sound like the patient is inside the brochure rather than the explanation being contained in the brochure. The modifier should be closer to what it actually describes—the side effects or the explanation itself. A clearer version would be: "The nurse explained the side effects of the medication in a clear and concise brochure to the patient" or "Using a clear and concise brochure, the nurse explained the side effects of the medication to the patient."
Let's examine why the other options are incorrect:
A) is wrong because the sentence contains the misplaced modifier described above.
C) is incorrect because "explained" is the appropriate past tense verb for this context—there's nothing wrong with the verb tense.
D) is wrong because the subject "nurse" properly agrees with the singular verb "explained."
Study tip: When checking for misplaced modifiers, read the sentence carefully and identify what each descriptive phrase is supposed to modify. If a modifier could logically refer to multiple things in the sentence, it's probably misplaced. Always position modifiers as close as possible to the words they're meant to describe.
- To ensure accurate results, the lab technician must handle the samples carefully.
Answer: To ensure accurate results, the lab technician must handle the samples carefully.
This question tests your ability to identify proper sentence structure and avoid dangling modifiers. When you see sentences that start with phrases like "To ensure accurate results," pay close attention to what follows the comma—it must logically connect to the opening phrase.
Answer choice A is correct because it maintains proper grammatical structure. The introductory phrase "To ensure accurate results" logically modifies "the lab technician," which immediately follows the comma. This creates a clear, direct sentence where the subject (lab technician) is the one performing the action to achieve the stated purpose.
Answer choice B changes the sentence to passive voice ("samples must be handled"), which weakens the clarity and directness of the statement. While grammatically acceptable, it's less precise than the active voice construction.
Answer choice C also uses passive voice and creates a slightly awkward construction where the purpose clause precedes the main action. The sentence structure becomes unnecessarily complex compared to the straightforward active voice version.
Answer choice D transforms the sentence into a more wordy, bureaucratic-sounding statement using "is required by" instead of direct action. This construction is less clear and more cumbersome than the original.
On the HESI exam, look for sentences that maintain active voice and clear subject-verb relationships. When you see introductory phrases, make sure the subject immediately following the comma can logically perform the action or fulfill the purpose stated in that opening phrase. Choose the most direct, clear construction over passive or overly complex alternatives.
- Which revision most effectively addresses both the dangling modifier and parallel structure errors in: 'Having reviewed the lab results, dosage adjustments were made, medications were discontinued, and consulting with specialists'?
Answer: Having reviewed the lab results, the physician made dosage adjustments, discontinued medications, and consulted with specialists appropriately.
Choice A corrects the dangling modifier by providing a clear subject (the physician) and maintains parallel structure with three past tense verbs (made, discontinued, consulted). Choice B fixes the parallel structure but doesn't address the dangling modifier. Choice C maintains the dangling modifier and uses awkward noun phrases. Choice D fixes the dangling modifier but breaks parallelism with 'was consulting.'
- The hospital's new policy requires nurses to either chart patient data electronically or __________.
Answer: complete paper forms
This question tests your understanding of parallel structure in grammar, specifically when using correlative conjunctions like "either...or." When you encounter sentences with these paired conjunctions, both parts must follow the same grammatical pattern.
The sentence begins with "either chart patient data electronically," where "chart" is a verb in its base form. For parallel structure, whatever follows "or" must also be a verb in its base form. Answer C "complete paper forms" provides exactly this - the base verb "complete" that mirrors the structure of "chart."
Let's examine why the other options fail: Answer A "they must complete paper forms" creates faulty parallelism because it introduces a new subject and modal verb, making the sentence read awkwardly as "either chart...or they must complete." Answer B "the completion of paper forms" uses a noun phrase instead of a verb phrase, breaking the parallel structure between "chart" (verb) and "completion" (noun). Answer D "to complete paper forms" uses an infinitive form, which doesn't match the base verb "chart" that follows "either."
The correct sentence reads: "The hospital's new policy requires nurses to either chart patient data electronically or complete paper forms." Both verbs (chart, complete) are in their base form, creating smooth, parallel structure.
For HESI grammar questions, always identify the grammatical pattern established in the first part of correlative conjunctions (either...or, neither...nor, not only...but also) and ensure the second part matches exactly. This parallel structure rule appears frequently on standardized tests.
- Which sentence demonstrates the most effective correction of both modifier and parallel structure issues?
Answer: The nurse, before entering the patient's room, gathered supplies, reviewed the care plan, and checked medication orders carefully.
When you encounter questions about modifier and parallel structure, you're being tested on two key grammar concepts: ensuring modifiers clearly relate to the correct subject, and maintaining consistent grammatical forms in series.
Option D correctly addresses both issues. The phrase "before entering the patient's room" clearly modifies "the nurse" (the nurse is doing the entering), and the three verbs in the series maintain perfect parallel structure: "gathered," "reviewed," and "checked" are all past tense verbs in the same form.
Option A contains a parallel structure error. While "gathered" and "reviewed" are simple past tense verbs, "was checking" shifts to past progressive tense, breaking the pattern. The modifier placement is correct, but the inconsistent verb forms make this wrong.
Option B has both problems. The parallel structure mixes gerunds ("gathering," "reviewing") with an infinitive ("to check"), creating an awkward, inconsistent series. Additionally, the modifier placement makes it unclear who is performing these actions.
Option C demonstrates a classic modifier error called a "dangling modifier." The phrase "before entering the patient's room" appears to modify "supplies" rather than "the nurse," creating the illogical meaning that supplies are entering the room. While the passive voice maintains parallel structure, the modifier issue makes this incorrect.
Remember: modifying phrases should be placed next to what they modify, and items in a series must follow the same grammatical pattern. On the HESI, these grammar rules are essential for clear healthcare communication.
- Identify the sentence that contains a misplaced modifier requiring repositioning for clarity.
Answer: The patient reported pain in his lower back to the nurse that had been persistent for three weeks.
Choice A contains a misplaced modifier because 'that had been persistent for three weeks' appears to modify 'the nurse' rather than the pain. The modifier should be repositioned to clearly refer to the pain. Choices B, C, and D all position their modifiers to clearly refer to the appropriate nouns (pain in all cases).
- Select the sentence where the modifier is correctly placed and unambiguous in meaning.
Answer: The physician prescribed antibiotics only for patients with confirmed bacterial infections to prevent resistance.
Choice B correctly places 'only' to modify 'for patients with confirmed bacterial infections,' clearly indicating the restriction. Choice A suggests the physician did nothing but prescribe (only prescribed). Choice C could be misread as patients who have nothing but confirmed bacterial infections. Choice D suggests the sole purpose was resistance prevention, not the restriction on which patients receive antibiotics.
- Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?
Answer: The nurse brought a tray to the patient that was covered in plastic wrap.
When you encounter questions about misplaced modifiers, you're looking for descriptive phrases or clauses that are positioned too far from the words they're meant to modify, creating confusion or unintended humor.
In sentence D, the phrase "that was covered in plastic wrap" is a misplaced modifier. As written, it appears to modify "patient" (the nearest noun), suggesting the patient was covered in plastic wrap. However, the intended meaning is that the tray was covered in plastic wrap. The modifier should be repositioned: "The nurse brought a tray that was covered in plastic wrap to the patient."
Let's examine why the other options are correct. Choice A properly places the modifier "who had years of experience" immediately after "surgeon," clearly identifying who has the experience. Choice B has no modifying phrases that could be misplaced—each element relates clearly to its intended target. Choice C correctly positions all modifying elements: "to the patient" modifies where the warning was given, and "about the medication's side effects" modifies what the warning concerned.
The key strategy for spotting misplaced modifiers is to identify any descriptive phrases or clauses, then check what noun they're actually next to versus what they logically should modify. On the HESI, these questions often involve medical scenarios where precision in communication is crucial—misplaced modifiers in healthcare settings could lead to dangerous misunderstandings, making this concept particularly relevant for future healthcare professionals.
- The researcher found that getting regular exercise was more beneficial for mood than _________ a restrictive diet.
Answer: following
This question tests parallel structure in comparative sentences. When you're comparing two actions or activities using "more...than," both elements being compared must be in the same grammatical form.
The sentence compares "getting regular exercise" (a gerund phrase) with another activity. Since "getting" is a gerund (an -ing verb form acting as a noun), the second part of the comparison must also use a gerund to maintain parallel structure. Choice C "following" creates this balance: "getting regular exercise was more beneficial...than following a restrictive diet." Both "getting" and "following" are gerunds, making the sentence grammatically parallel and smooth to read.
Choice A "to follow" uses an infinitive form, which breaks the parallel structure with the gerund "getting." This mismatch creates an awkward, unbalanced sentence. Choice B "the following of" is unnecessarily wordy and creates an awkward noun phrase that doesn't flow naturally with the comparison. Choice D "if you follow" introduces a conditional clause with a different subject ("you"), which completely disrupts the parallel structure and changes the meaning of the comparison.
When you encounter comparison questions on the HESI, look for parallel structure. The elements being compared should match in grammatical form—if one uses a gerund, the other should too; if one uses an infinitive, match it with another infinitive. This pattern appears frequently in academic writing assessments.
- Which sentence is written most clearly and correctly?
Answer: With a steady hand, the nurse gave an injection to the anxious child.
This question tests your understanding of modifier placement and sentence clarity. When phrases like "with a steady hand" appear in a sentence, their position determines what they're describing, which can create confusion or unintended meanings.
Option B is correct because it places "with a steady hand" at the beginning of the sentence, making it immediately clear that this phrase describes how the nurse performed the action. This introductory prepositional phrase eliminates any ambiguity about what the steady hand refers to.
Option A creates a misplaced modifier problem. The phrase "with a steady hand" appears at the end, making it unclear whether it describes the nurse's technique or somehow relates to the anxious child. This positioning suggests the child has a steady hand, which doesn't make logical sense in this context.
Option C, while grammatically acceptable, creates unnecessary wordiness and slightly awkward phrasing. The modifier "with a steady hand" interrupts the natural flow between the subject and its action.
Option D suffers from the same misplaced modifier issue as option A. When "with a steady hand" follows "injection," it could be interpreted as describing the injection itself rather than how the nurse administered it, creating confusion about the intended meaning.
For HESI writing questions, remember that clarity trumps complexity. Look for sentences where modifying phrases are positioned to eliminate ambiguity. Introductory phrases often provide the clearest structure, while modifiers at the end of sentences frequently create confusion about what they're actually describing.
- Which of the following sentences correctly places the modifier 'only' to convey that the patient's sole symptom was a fever?
Answer: The patient told the triage nurse only that he had a fever.
This question tests your understanding of modifier placement, which is crucial for clear medical communication. The word "only" is a limiting modifier that must be placed directly before the word or phrase it modifies to convey the intended meaning.
To express that fever was the patient's sole symptom, "only" must modify "that he had a fever." Option C achieves this by placing "only" immediately before the clause describing the symptom: "The patient told the triage nurse only that he had a fever." This structure clearly indicates that fever was the single symptom reported.
Option A incorrectly suggests the patient's only action was telling the nurse about his fever, implying he did nothing else at all. Option B indicates the patient spoke exclusively to the triage nurse and no one else about his fever, but doesn't limit the symptom itself. Option D suggests that among all possible people, only the patient (not a family member or friend) told the nurse about the fever.
Each incorrect placement of "only" creates a different meaning than intended. In medical settings, such ambiguity could lead to miscommunication about patient symptoms, treatment instructions, or care protocols.
Remember this rule: place "only" directly before what you want to limit or restrict. When you encounter modifier questions on the HESI, read each option carefully and identify what word or phrase the modifier is actually modifying based on its position, then check if that matches the intended meaning.
- Identify the sentence that contains the most subtle but significant parallel structure violation that affects professional writing standards.
Answer: The hospital's new policy emphasizes patient safety, staff efficiency, and that communication must be improved among departments.
Choice A violates parallel structure by mixing noun phrases (patient safety, staff efficiency) with a noun clause (that communication must be improved). This creates an awkward shift in structure. Choices B and D maintain parallel structure with noun phrases, though D is slightly wordy. Choice C has a minor structural variation but maintains acceptable parallelism with noun phrases.
