$hash{'nodes'} = { 
    "test_one" => [ "state_one", "foo", "bar" ],
    "test_two" => [ "state_two", "phu", "bah" ]
};

foreach $nodekey ( keys %{$hash{'nodes'}} ) {
    $checkstate = $hash{'nodes'}{$nodekey}[0];
    print "state of $nodekey = $checkstate\n";
}