Health Education Systems Inc (HESI) A2 Exam Quiz: Whole Number Operations
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Whole Number OperationsQuestion 1 of 20

A nursing student is calculating fluid intake for a patient over 24 hours. The patient consumed: breakfast juice (180 mL), morning water (240 mL), lunch soup (320 mL), afternoon tea (150 mL), dinner beverages (275 mL), and evening water (185 mL). The patient also received IV fluids continuously at 125 mL per hour for the entire 24-hour period. What was the patient's total fluid intake in milliliters?

1,350 mL
3,000 mL
4,350 mL
4,475 mL
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Health Education Systems Inc (HESI) A2 Exam Quiz

Health Education Systems Inc (HESI) A2 Exam Quiz: Whole Number Operations

Practice Whole Number Operations in Health Education Systems Inc (HESI) A2 Exam with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Whole Number Operations, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Health Education Systems Inc (HESI) A2 Exam.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

A nursing student is calculating fluid intake for a patient over 24 hours. The patient consumed: breakfast juice (180 mL), morning water (240 mL), lunch soup (320 mL), afternoon tea (150 mL), dinner beverages (275 mL), and evening water (185 mL). The patient also received IV fluids continuously at 125 mL per hour for the entire 24-hour period. What was the patient's total fluid intake in milliliters?

  1. 1,350 mL
  2. 3,000 mL
  3. 4,350 mL (correct answer)
  4. 4,475 mL
Explanation: Calculate oral intake: 180 + 240 + 320 + 150 + 275 + 185 = 1,350 mL. Calculate IV intake: 125 mL/hour × 24 hours = 3,000 mL. Total intake: 1,350 + 3,000 = 4,350 mL. Choice A represents only oral intake. Choice B represents only IV intake. Choice D represents an error in addition (likely miscalculating one of the oral amounts).

Question 2

A hospital cafeteria prepares 420 meals for lunch. At the end of the lunch period, 148 meals remain uneaten. If each meal costs the hospital $4 to produce, what is the total cost of the uneaten meals?

  1. 592 (correct answer)
  2. 1,088
  3. 1,680
  4. 2,272
Explanation: This is a multi-step word problem that tests your ability to identify relevant information and perform basic arithmetic operations—skills essential for healthcare professionals who must calculate dosages, costs, and resource allocation. To solve this, you need to find the cost of only the uneaten meals. Start by identifying what you know: 420 total meals were prepared, 148 meals remained uneaten, and each meal costs $4 to produce. Since you only need the cost of uneaten meals, multiply the number of uneaten meals by the cost per meal: $148×4=592148 \times 4 = 592 $. Let's examine why each answer choice might appear: A) 592 - This is correct, representing the cost of the 148 uneaten meals at $4 each. B) 1,088 - This trap answer comes from calculating the cost of eaten meals instead of uneaten meals. If you subtract 148 from 420 to get 272 eaten meals, then multiply by $4, you get $1,088. C) 1,680 - This represents the total cost of all 420 meals ($$420 \times 4 = 1,680$$), which answers the wrong question entirely. D) 2,272 - This appears to be a calculation error, possibly from adding multiple incorrect steps together. Study tip: In healthcare math problems, always underline or highlight exactly what the question is asking for before you calculate. Many students miss these questions not because they can't do the math, but because they solve for the wrong quantity. Read the final sentence twice to ensure you're finding what's actually requested.

Question 3

A hospital ward uses 125 pairs of gloves per day, and the adjacent emergency room uses 350 pairs of gloves per day. How many total pairs of gloves are used by both departments over a 7-day week?

  1. 475
  2. 2,575
  3. 3,225
  4. 3,325 (correct answer)
Explanation: When you encounter multi-step word problems involving daily usage rates, break them down systematically by identifying what you know and what you need to find. Here, you know the hospital ward uses 125 pairs of gloves daily and the emergency room uses 350 pairs daily. You need the total for both departments over 7 days. First, calculate the combined daily usage: 125+350=475125 + 350 = 475 pairs per day. Then multiply by 7 days: 475×7=3,325475 \times 7 = 3,325 pairs total. Looking at the wrong answers: Choice A (475) represents only one day's combined usage—you'd get this if you forgot to multiply by 7 days. Choice B (2,575) occurs if you multiply only the emergency room's usage by 7 days (350×7=2,450350 \times 7 = 2,450) and then mistakenly add the ward's daily amount instead of weekly amount. Choice C (3,225) is close to the correct answer but represents a calculation error, possibly from incorrectly adding 125×7=875125 \times 7 = 875 and 350×7=2,450350 \times 7 = 2,450 as 875+2,350=3,225875 + 2,350 = 3,225. The correct answer is D (3,325). For HESI math problems, always organize your work clearly: identify given information, determine what you're solving for, and double-check that your final answer addresses the actual question. Many wrong answers represent partial calculations or common arithmetic mistakes, so taking time to verify your math prevents these traps.

Question 4

A medical records clerk files 84 patient charts in 4 hours. If the clerk maintains this same rate of work, how many charts will be filed by the end of a full 8-hour workday?

  1. 21
  2. 168 (correct answer)
  3. 176
  4. 336
Explanation: This is a rate and proportion problem that tests your ability to scale up from a partial work period to a full workday. When you encounter rate problems, identify the given rate first, then determine what the question is asking you to find. The clerk files 84 charts in 4 hours, giving us a rate of 84 charts4 hours=21 charts per hour\frac{84 \text{ charts}}{4 \text{ hours}} = 21 \text{ charts per hour}. For a full 8-hour workday, you multiply this hourly rate by 8 hours: 21×8=168 charts21 \times 8 = 168 \text{ charts}. This confirms that answer choice B (168) is correct. Let's examine why the other options are incorrect. Choice A (21) represents the hourly rate, not the total for 8 hours—this is a common error when students stop their calculation too early. Choice C (176) might result from incorrectly adding the original 4-hour total to the 8-hour total (84 + 92), or from calculation errors. Choice D (336) occurs when students mistakenly double the 8-hour total, perhaps thinking they need to account for both the original 4 hours and an additional 8 hours (168 × 2). The key strategy for rate problems is to always establish the unit rate first (amount per single time unit), then multiply by the target time period. Watch for answer choices that represent intermediate steps in your calculation—these are often included as distractors. Double-check that your final answer makes logical sense: 168 charts in 8 hours should be exactly double the 84 charts filed in 4 hours.

Question 5

A clinic's starting inventory of a specific bandage is 1,250. On Monday, 115 bandages are used. On Tuesday, twice the number of bandages from Monday are used. How many bandages remain in stock at the end of Tuesday?

  1. 905 (correct answer)
  2. 915
  3. 1,020
  4. 1,135
Explanation: This problem tests your ability to track inventory changes through sequential events, a skill essential for healthcare supply management. When you encounter multi-step word problems, identify each action in chronological order and calculate step by step. Start with the initial inventory: 1,250 bandages. On Monday, 115 bandages are used, leaving you with 1,250−115=1,1351,250 - 115 = 1,135 bandages. On Tuesday, twice Monday's usage means 2×115=2302 \times 115 = 230 bandages are used. Subtracting Tuesday's usage: 1,135−230=9051,135 - 230 = 905 bandages remain. Looking at the wrong answers: Choice B (915) likely results from miscalculating Tuesday's usage as 200 instead of 230, perhaps from rounding errors. Choice C (1,020) appears to come from subtracting only Monday's usage (115) from the original inventory, completely ignoring Tuesday's consumption. Choice D (1,135) represents the inventory after Monday only, failing to account for Tuesday's usage entirely. The correct answer is A (905), which properly accounts for both days' consumption. For inventory problems on the HESI, always work chronologically and double-check each calculation. Healthcare professionals must maintain accurate supply counts to ensure patient care isn't interrupted. Practice breaking down word problems into individual steps, and verify your final answer makes logical sense—the remaining inventory should be significantly less than the starting amount when substantial quantities are used over multiple days.

Question 6

A nurse must administer a total dose of 45 mL of a liquid medication. The medication is supplied in single-use vials that each contain 7 mL. To ensure the full dose can be administered, how many vials must the nurse open?

  1. 3
  2. 6
  3. 7 (correct answer)
  4. 8
Explanation: Medication dosage calculations require you to think about real-world constraints, not just mathematical division. When dealing with single-use vials, you must consider that once opened, each vial must be used completely and cannot be saved. To find how many vials you need, start with the basic calculation: 45 mL÷7 mL per vial=6.43 vials45 \text{ mL} ÷ 7 \text{ mL per vial} = 6.43 \text{ vials}. Since you cannot open a fraction of a vial, you must round up to the next whole number to ensure you have enough medication for the complete dose. Here's why each answer choice works or fails: Choice A (3 vials) would only provide 21 mL, which is less than half the required dose. Choice B (6 vials) gives you exactly 42 mL, leaving you 3 mL short of the full 45 mL dose. Choice C (7 vials) provides 49 mL, which exceeds the required 45 mL but ensures you can administer the complete dose. Choice D (8 vials) would work but represents unnecessary waste, as 7 vials are sufficient. The key insight is that you need 7 vials: 6 complete vials (42 mL) plus opening a 7th vial to get the remaining 3 mL needed to reach 45 mL total. Remember this pattern for HESI dosage questions: when dealing with single-use containers and your calculation yields a decimal, always round up to ensure adequate medication supply. Patient safety requires having enough medication to complete the full prescribed dose.

Question 7

A patient receives two different IV infusions. Infusion A runs at a rate of 75 mL per hour for 6 hours. Infusion B runs at a rate of 50 mL per hour for 8 hours. What is the difference in the total volume administered between Infusion A and Infusion B?

  1. 25 mL
  2. 50 mL (correct answer)
  3. 400 mL
  4. 850 mL
Explanation: IV fluid calculations are fundamental in nursing practice, requiring you to multiply infusion rates by time to determine total volumes administered. To find the difference between these infusions, you need to calculate the total volume for each, then subtract. For Infusion A: 75 mL/hour×6 hours=450 mL75 \text{ mL/hour} \times 6 \text{ hours} = 450 \text{ mL}. For Infusion B: 50 mL/hour×8 hours=400 mL50 \text{ mL/hour} \times 8 \text{ hours} = 400 \text{ mL}. The difference is 450−400=50 mL450 - 400 = 50 \text{ mL}, making B correct. Looking at the wrong answers: A) 25 mL likely comes from incorrectly subtracting the hourly rates (75 - 50 = 25) without considering the time duration—this ignores the total volumes actually administered. C) 400 mL represents the total volume of Infusion B alone, not the difference between the two infusions. D) 850 mL would result from adding both total volumes (450 + 400) rather than finding their difference. For HESI IV calculation questions, always work systematically: first calculate each total volume by multiplying rate × time, then perform the requested operation (addition, subtraction, or comparison). Double-check that you're answering what's actually being asked—whether it's individual volumes, combined totals, or differences. Watch for answer choices that represent intermediate steps in your calculation, as these are common distractors designed to catch computational errors or misunderstanding of what the question seeks.

Question 8

A physical therapy department employs 4 therapists, and each therapist can see 2 patients per hour. If the department is open for 8 hours each day, what is the total number of patient appointments for a 5-day work week?

  1. 64
  2. 160
  3. 256
  4. 320 (correct answer)
Explanation: Multi-step calculation problems like this require you to identify all the variables and work through them systematically to avoid missing any components. You need to calculate the total capacity across therapists, hours, and days. Start by finding the hourly capacity: 4 therapists × 2 patients per therapist per hour = 8 patients per hour. Next, calculate the daily capacity: 8 patients per hour × 8 hours per day = 64 patients per day. Finally, multiply by the work week: 64 patients per day × 5 days = 320 total patient appointments. Looking at the wrong answers: Choice A (64) represents only one day's worth of appointments—you'd get this if you forgot to multiply by the 5-day work week. Choice B (160) occurs if you miscalculate the hourly rate as 4 patients per hour instead of 8, then multiply correctly through the rest: 4×8×5=1604 × 8 × 5 = 160. Choice C (256) happens if you correctly calculate 4 therapists × 2 patients × 8 hours = 64, but then multiply by 4 days instead of 5, giving you 64×4=25664 × 4 = 256. For HESI math problems involving multiple variables, always write out each step clearly and double-check that you've included all given factors. The most common errors come from either stopping the calculation early or misreading one of the numerical values. Setting up the problem as "therapists × patients per therapist × hours × days" ensures you don't miss any components.

Question 9

A patient is on a diet plan that requires a total of 1,800 calories per day. The patient consumes 450 calories for breakfast, 600 calories for lunch, and a 225-calorie snack. How many calories are remaining for the patient's dinner?

  1. 525 (correct answer)
  2. 750
  3. 1,275
  4. 3,075
Explanation: When you encounter calorie calculation problems on the HESI exam, you're being tested on basic arithmetic skills that are essential for healthcare nutrition planning. These questions require you to track intake versus requirements systematically. To find the remaining calories for dinner, you need to subtract all consumed calories from the daily total. Start with the 1,800-calorie requirement, then subtract each meal and snack: breakfast (450 calories), lunch (600 calories), and the snack (225 calories). 1,800−450−600−225=525 calories1,800 - 450 - 600 - 225 = 525 \text{ calories} You can also add up the consumed calories first: 450+600+225=1,275450 + 600 + 225 = 1,275 calories, then subtract from the total: 1,800−1,275=5251,800 - 1,275 = 525 calories. Looking at the wrong answers: Answer B (750) likely results from forgetting to subtract the 225-calorie snack—if you only subtracted breakfast and lunch, you'd get 1,800−450−600=7501,800 - 450 - 600 = 750. Answer C (1,275) is the trap of giving the total calories already consumed instead of what remains. Answer D (3,075) comes from incorrectly adding all values together: 1,800+450+600+225=3,0751,800 + 450 + 600 + 225 = 3,075. For nutrition calculation questions, always organize your work clearly and double-check whether you're finding what's consumed versus what's remaining. Write down each step to avoid mixing up addition and subtraction operations, especially when working quickly under exam pressure.

Question 10

A shipment contains 12 boxes of catheters, and each box holds 36 catheters. The entire shipment is to be divided equally among 9 different hospital departments. How many catheters will each department receive?

  1. 4
  2. 48 (correct answer)
  3. 108
  4. 432
Explanation: Multi-step word problems on the HESI often test your ability to identify the correct sequence of operations and avoid calculation errors under time pressure. When you see problems involving distribution or division of medical supplies, break them down systematically. First, you need to find the total number of catheters in the shipment. With 12 boxes containing 36 catheters each: 12×36=43212 \times 36 = 432 total catheters. Next, divide this total equally among the 9 departments: 432÷9=48432 \div 9 = 48 catheters per department. This confirms that answer choice B (48) is correct. Let's examine why the other options are wrong. Choice A (4) represents a major calculation error—perhaps dividing 36 by 9 while forgetting about the 12 boxes entirely. Choice C (108) might result from incorrectly multiplying 12 by 9 instead of performing the proper division, or from other arithmetic mistakes in the multi-step process. Choice D (432) is the total number of catheters before division—this is a common trap for students who complete only the first step of the calculation. For HESI math problems involving medical supplies or medication distribution, always identify what you're solving for before you start calculating. Write down each step: find the total, then determine how it's distributed. Double-check that your final answer makes logical sense—48 catheters per department from a shipment of 432 is reasonable, while 4 would seem unusually small for a hospital department.

Question 11

A dietary aide needs to place 3 sausage links on each of 54 patient trays. The sausages are supplied in packages that each contain one dozen (12). What is the minimum number of packages the aide must open to have enough sausage links?

  1. 13
  2. 14 (correct answer)
  3. 18
  4. 162
Explanation: This problem tests your ability to apply basic multiplication and division concepts in a healthcare workplace scenario. When you encounter dosage or supply calculation questions, always identify what you need total, what comes in each unit, and whether you need to round up. First, calculate the total sausage links needed: 54 patient trays × 3 links per tray = 162 total links required. Next, determine how many packages this requires: 162 links ÷ 12 links per package = 13.5 packages. Since you cannot open half a package, you must round up to 14 complete packages to ensure adequate supply. Let's examine why each answer choice is right or wrong. Choice A (13) represents the result if you incorrectly round down 13.5 to 13, but 13 packages would only provide 156 links (13 × 12), leaving you 6 links short. Choice B (14) is correct because rounding up ensures sufficient supply: 14 × 12 = 168 links, which exceeds the 162 needed. Choice C (18) might result from miscalculating 54 ÷ 3 instead of 54 × 3, leading to an overestimate. Choice D (162) represents the total number of individual links needed, not the number of packages. Remember this key strategy for HESI math problems involving supplies or medications: always round up when dealing with discrete units like packages, vials, or pills. You cannot use partial containers, so err on the side of having enough rather than running short in patient care situations.

Question 12

A patient's weight is recorded as 186 pounds at the beginning of a month. During the first two weeks, the patient loses 9 pounds. During the last two weeks, the patient gains 4 pounds. What is the patient's final weight at the end of the month?

  1. 173
  2. 181 (correct answer)
  3. 191
  4. 199
Explanation: Weight change problems test your ability to track sequential mathematical operations and apply them systematically. When you encounter questions involving gains and losses over time, work through each change step-by-step from the starting point. Starting with the patient's initial weight of 186 pounds, you need to apply each change in chronological order. During the first two weeks, the patient loses 9 pounds: 186−9=177186 - 9 = 177 pounds. During the last two weeks, the patient gains 4 pounds: 177+4=181177 + 4 = 181 pounds. The final weight is 181 pounds. Looking at the wrong answers: Choice A (173) represents only subtracting both numbers from the original weight (186 - 9 - 4 = 173), treating the gain as another loss. Choice C (191) adds both numbers to the original weight (186 + 9 + 4 = 199), then subtracts 8, suggesting confusion about the direction of changes. Choice D (199) simply adds both numbers to the starting weight (186 + 9 + 4 = 199), completely ignoring that one change is a loss and one is a gain. For sequential change problems on the HESI, always identify the starting value, then apply each change in order, paying careful attention to whether each change increases or decreases the value. Draw a simple timeline if needed: Start → Change 1 → Change 2 → Final result. This prevents the common error of applying all changes in the same direction.

Question 13

A supply closet contains 500 sterile wraps at the beginning of the day. A surgical department requests 8 packs of wraps, and each pack contains 15 wraps. After this request is filled, how many sterile wraps remain in the closet?

  1. 380 (correct answer)
  2. 477
  3. 485
  4. 492
Explanation: This question tests your ability to perform multi-step calculations involving inventory management, a common scenario in healthcare settings where tracking supplies is critical for patient care and cost control. To solve this problem, you need to calculate the total number of wraps requested, then subtract from the starting inventory. The surgical department requests 8 packs, with each pack containing 15 wraps. So the total wraps needed is: 8×15=1208 \times 15 = 120 wraps. Starting with 500 sterile wraps and removing 120 wraps leaves: 500−120=380500 - 120 = 380 wraps remaining. Looking at the incorrect answers: Answer B (477) represents a calculation error where someone might have subtracted only the number of packs (8) instead of the total wraps: 500−8=492500 - 8 = 492, then made another error. Answer C (485) appears to result from subtracting 15 (the wraps per pack) instead of calculating the total: 500−15=485500 - 15 = 485. Answer D (492) comes from subtracting only the number of packs requested: 500−8=492500 - 8 = 492, completely ignoring that each pack contains multiple wraps. The key strategy for multi-step word problems is to identify all given information, determine what calculation steps are needed, and perform them in the correct order. Always double-check that you're using the right numbers—here, you need both the number of packs AND the wraps per pack to find the total quantity being removed from inventory.

Question 14

A community health fair has a budget of $5,000. The venue rental costs $1,200, educational materials cost $875, and refreshments cost $450. After these primary expenses are paid, how much of the budget is left for other activities?

  1. 2,475 (correct answer)
  2. 2,525
  3. 2,575
  4. 3,800
Explanation: Budget management questions test your ability to track expenses and calculate remaining funds accurately. When you see a community health scenario with multiple costs, you need to systematically subtract each expense from the total budget. Start with the total budget of $5,000 and subtract each primary expense:
  • Venue rental: $1,200
  • Educational materials: $875
  • Refreshments: $450
Calculate the total expenses: $1,200+875+450=2,5251,200 + 875 + 450 = 2,525 $ Then subtract from the budget: 5,000 - 2,525 = 2,475 This confirms that $2,475 remains for other activities, making A correct. Looking at the wrong answers: B (2,525)isactuallythetotalamountspentonprimaryexpenses,notwhat′sleftover—thisisacommontrapwherestudentsconfusewhatwasspentwithwhatremains.C(2,525) is actually the total amount spent on primary expenses, not what's left over—this is a common trap where students confuse what was spent with what remains. C (2,575) likely results from a calculation error, perhaps adding 100somewhereincorrectly.D(100 somewhere incorrectly. D (3,800) suggests only subtracting one major expense (probably the $1,200 venue cost) while ignoring the materials and refreshments. For HESI budget questions, always write down each expense clearly, add them together first, then subtract the total from the original budget. Double-check that you're answering what the question asks—remaining funds versus spent funds are easy to mix up under test pressure. Practice identifying whether the question wants the amount spent or amount remaining.

Question 15

A pharmacy receives a bulk shipment of 1,500 tablets. A pharmacist needs to prepare individual packages for 45 patients, ensuring each patient receives an equal number of tablets from this shipment. After the maximum number of equal packages are made, how many tablets will be left over?

  1. 0
  2. 15 (correct answer)
  3. 33
  4. 45
Explanation: When you encounter division problems involving equal distribution with remainders, you're working with the concept of division and modular arithmetic. The key is to determine how many items are left after creating the maximum number of equal groups. To solve this, you need to divide the total number of tablets by the number of patients: 1,500÷451,500 \div 45. Performing this division: 1,500÷45=33.333...1,500 \div 45 = 33.333... Since you can't give a fraction of a tablet to each patient, you can only make 33 complete, equal packages. Each patient gets 33 tablets, using 33×45=1,48533 \times 45 = 1,485 tablets total. The remainder is 1,500−1,485=151,500 - 1,485 = 15 tablets. Looking at the wrong answers: Choice A (0) would only be correct if 1,500 were perfectly divisible by 45, but since 1,500 ÷ 45 doesn't yield a whole number, there must be a remainder. Choice C (33) represents the number of tablets each patient receives, not the leftover amount—this is a common trap where students confuse the quotient with the remainder. Choice D (45) might tempt you if you mistakenly think about the number of patients, but this has no mathematical relationship to the remainder calculation. The correct answer is B (15 tablets remaining). For HESI math problems involving distribution, always distinguish between the quotient (items per group) and the remainder (items left over). Set up the division clearly, find the whole number quotient, multiply back to find what's used, then subtract from the original total to find the remainder.

Question 16

Last month, a hospital's emergency room treated 1,748 patients. This month, the same department treated 2,013 patients. What was the increase in the number of patients treated from last month to this month?

  1. 255
  2. 265 (correct answer)
  3. 1,748
  4. 3,761
Explanation: When you encounter a problem asking for an "increase" between two values, you're being tested on basic subtraction and your understanding of what mathematical operations correspond to different real-world scenarios. An increase means finding the difference between the larger amount and the smaller amount. To find the increase in patients treated, you subtract the original number from the new number: 2,013−1,748=2652,013 - 1,748 = 265. This tells you that 265 more patients were treated this month compared to last month. Let's examine why the other options are incorrect. Choice A (255) represents a common calculation error—you might get this if you make an arithmetic mistake during subtraction or misalign digits when working by hand. Choice C (1,748) is simply the original number of patients from last month, which would be the answer if the question asked "How many patients were treated last month?" but doesn't address the increase. Choice D (3,761) is what you'd get if you added the two months together (1,748+2,013=3,7611,748 + 2,013 = 3,761), which would answer "What's the total number of patients treated across both months?" but again, not the increase. For HESI math questions involving change or difference, always identify what operation the question is actually asking for. Words like "increase," "decrease," "difference," or "change" typically require subtraction, while "total," "combined," or "altogether" usually indicate addition. Read carefully to avoid selecting a number that answers a different question than what's being asked.

Question 17

A hospital unit starts the day with 4 cases of IV start kits, with each case containing 24 kits. If 13 kits are used in the morning and 28 kits are used in the afternoon, how many kits remain at the end of the day?

  1. 41
  2. 55 (correct answer)
  3. 81
  4. 96
Explanation: This question tests your ability to track inventory through multiple transactions - a crucial skill for healthcare professionals who must monitor medical supplies accurately. Start by calculating the total initial inventory: 4 cases × 24 kits per case = 96 total kits available at the beginning of the day. Next, determine total usage throughout the day: 13 kits used in the morning + 28 kits used in the afternoon = 41 total kits used. Finally, subtract total usage from initial inventory: 96 - 41 = 55 kits remaining at the end of the day. Looking at the incorrect answers: Choice A (41) represents the total number of kits used during the day, not the remaining inventory - this is a common trap where students confuse what was consumed with what remains. Choice C (81) appears to result from incorrectly subtracting only the morning usage (96 - 13 = 83) or making an arithmetic error. Choice D (96) is the starting inventory, suggesting the student forgot to account for any usage at all. The correct answer is B (55). When approaching inventory problems on the HESI, always follow this systematic approach: calculate total starting amount, determine total consumption or usage, then subtract to find what remains. Double-check your arithmetic and ensure you're answering what the question actually asks for - remaining supplies versus used supplies are easily confused under time pressure.

Question 18

Over a 12-hour shift, a patient's fluid intake is recorded as follows: 240 mL at 8 am, 180 mL at 12 pm, and 300 mL at 6 pm. What was the patient's average hourly fluid intake during the 12-hour shift?

  1. 60 (correct answer)
  2. 180
  3. 240
  4. 720
Explanation: When calculating average rates over time, you need to focus on the total amount and the total time period, not just the individual measurements. To find the average hourly fluid intake, you need two pieces of information: the total fluid consumed and the total time period. The patient consumed 240 mL + 180 mL + 300 mL = 720 mL over a 12-hour shift. Average hourly intake equals total intake divided by total hours: 720 mL12 hours=60 mL/hour\frac{720 \text{ mL}}{12 \text{ hours}} = 60 \text{ mL/hour} Looking at the wrong answers reveals common calculation errors. Answer D (720) represents the total fluid intake for the entire shift, not the hourly average - this is what you get if you forget to divide by the time period. Answer C (240) is simply the first recorded intake amount, showing a failure to calculate anything at all. Answer B (180) appears to be an attempt to find the mean of the three recorded values (240 + 180 + 300 ÷ 3 = 240, though even this calculation is wrong), but this approach ignores the fact that you're looking for a rate per hour, not an average of the individual measurements. The key insight is that averaging rates requires you to consider the denominator (time) consistently. You're not averaging the three intake amounts; you're finding how much fluid was consumed per unit of time across the entire period. Study tip: For any "average rate" question on the HESI, always identify the total amount and total time first, then divide. Don't get distracted by trying to average the individual data points.

Question 19

A medical courier drives a 28-mile route to deliver samples 3 times a day. If the courier works 5 days a week, what is the total number of miles driven in one week?

  1. 84
  2. 140
  3. 420 (correct answer)
  4. 448
Explanation: Multi-step word problems like this test your ability to identify all the given information and organize it systematically. When you see a problem with multiple variables (distance, frequency, and time period), list out each piece of data before calculating. Here's what we know: the courier drives a 28-mile route, completes this route 3 times per day, and works 5 days per week. To find the total weekly mileage, you need to multiply all three values together: 28 miles×3 trips per day×5 days per week=420 miles28 \text{ miles} \times 3 \text{ trips per day} \times 5 \text{ days per week} = 420 \text{ miles}. Let's examine why the other answers represent common calculation errors. Answer A (84) only accounts for one day's driving: 28×3=8428 \times 3 = 84. This student correctly calculated daily mileage but forgot to multiply by the 5 working days. Answer B (140) represents a different mistake: 28×5=14028 \times 5 = 140. This student multiplied the route distance by the number of days but missed the fact that the courier makes 3 trips daily. Answer D (448) likely comes from adding an extra step or miscounting one of the variables, perhaps calculating 28×4×4=44828 \times 4 \times 4 = 448. The correct answer is C (420). For multi-step problems on the HESI, always write down each given value and think through what the question is ultimately asking. Work systematically through one operation at a time rather than trying to do everything in your head, which helps you avoid missing steps or variables.

Question 20

A patient's heart rate is measured at 85 beats per minute. At this rate, how many times will the patient's heart beat in 2 hours?

  1. 170
  2. 5,100
  3. 10,200 (correct answer)
  4. 12,240
Explanation: This question tests your ability to perform unit conversions and multiplication in a healthcare context - skills you'll use regularly when calculating medication dosages, fluid rates, and monitoring parameters. To solve this, you need to convert the heart rate from beats per minute to beats per 2 hours. Start with what you know: 85 beats per minute. First, calculate beats per hour by multiplying by 60 minutes: 85×60=5,10085 \times 60 = 5,100 beats per hour. Then, for 2 hours, multiply by 2: 5,100×2=10,2005,100 \times 2 = 10,200 beats in 2 hours. Looking at the wrong answers: Choice A (170) represents a common error where students only multiply the heart rate by 2, forgetting to convert from minutes to hours first. Choice B (5,100) is the number of beats in just 1 hour - you've done half the calculation but stopped too early. Choice D (12,240) suggests an error in the conversion process, possibly multiplying by 72 instead of 60 when converting minutes to hours. The correct answer is C (10,200). Study tip: For any time-based calculation in healthcare, always identify your starting unit and target unit first. Write them down if needed. Heart rate problems frequently appear on the HESI, and the key is methodical unit conversion: minutes → hours → total time period. Practice these step-by-step conversions since you'll encounter similar logic with IV drip rates and medication scheduling.