CRITICAL CARE HESI PRACTICE QBANK
2026 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+
⩥ 1.A client who has active tuberculosis (TB) is admitted to the medical
unit. What action is most
important for the nurse to implement?
A. Fit the client with a respirator mask.
B. Assign the client to a negative air-flow room.
C. Don a clean gown for client care.
D. Place an isolation cart in the hallway? Answer: Assign the client to a
negative air-flow room
RATIONALE:
Active tuberculosis requires implementation of airborne precautions, so
the client should be
assigned to a negative pressure air-flow room (D). Although (A and C)
should be implemented
for clients in isolation with contact precautions, it is most important that
air flow from the room
is minimized when the client has TB. (B) should be implemented when
the client leaves the
isolation environment.
,⩥ 2.A client is receiving atenolol (Tenormin) 25 mg PO after a
myocardial infarction. The nurse
determines the client's apical pulse is 65 beats per minute. What action
should the nurse
implement
next?
A. Measure the blood pressure.
B. Reassess the apical pulse.
C. Notify the healthcare provider.
D. Administer the medication. Answer: Administer the medication
RATIONALE:
Atenolol, a beta-blocker, blocks the beta receptors of the sinoatrial node
to reduce the heart rate,
so the medication should be administered (C) because the client's apical
pulse is greater than 60.
(A, B, and D) are not indicated at this time.
⩥ 3.The nurse is assessing a client and identifies a bruit over the thyroid.
This finding is consistent
with which interpretation?
A. Hypothyroidism.
B. Thyroid cyst.
C. Thyroid cancer.
,D. Hyperthyroidism Answer: Hyperthyroidism
Rationale:Hyperthyroidism (D) is an enlargement of the thyroid gland,
often referred to as a goiter, and a
bruit may be auscultated over the goiter due to an increase in glandular
vascularity which
increases as the thyroid gland becomes hyperactive. A bruit is not
common with (A, B, and C).
⩥ A 6-year-old child is alert but quiet when brought to the emergency
center with periorbital ecchymosis and ecchymosis behind the ears. The
nurse suspects potential child abuse and continues to assess the child for
additional manifestations of a basilar skull fracture. What
assessment finding would be consistent with a basilar skull fracture?
A. Hematemesis and abdominal distention.
B. Asymmetry of the face and eye movements.
C. Rhinorrhoea or otorrhoea with Halo sign.
D. Abnormal position and movement of the arm. Answer: Rhinorrhoea
or otorrhoea with Halo sign.
RATIONALE:
Raccoon eyes (periorbital ecchymosis) and Battle's sign (ecchymosis
behind the ear over the
mastoid process) are both signs of a basilar skull fracture, so the nurse
should assess for possible
meningeal tears that manifest as a Halo sign with CSF leakage from the
ears or nose (D). (A) is
, consistent with orbital fractures. (B) occurs with wrenching traumas of
the shoulder or arm
fractures. (C) occurs with blunt abdominal injuries.
⩥ The nurse is assessing a client who complains of weight loss, racing
heart rate, and difficulty
sleeping. The nurse determines the client has moist skin with fine hair,
prominent eyes, lid
retraction, and a staring expression. These findings are consistent with
which disorder?
A. Grave's disease.
B. Multiple sclerosis.
C. Addison's disease.
D. Cushing syndrome. Answer: Grave's disease
RATIONALE:
This client is exhibiting symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism or
Grave's disease (A),
which is an autoimmune condition affecting the thyroid. (B, C, and D)
are not associated with
these symptoms.
⩥ The nurse is assessing an older client and determines that the client's
left upper eyelid droops,
2026 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+
⩥ 1.A client who has active tuberculosis (TB) is admitted to the medical
unit. What action is most
important for the nurse to implement?
A. Fit the client with a respirator mask.
B. Assign the client to a negative air-flow room.
C. Don a clean gown for client care.
D. Place an isolation cart in the hallway? Answer: Assign the client to a
negative air-flow room
RATIONALE:
Active tuberculosis requires implementation of airborne precautions, so
the client should be
assigned to a negative pressure air-flow room (D). Although (A and C)
should be implemented
for clients in isolation with contact precautions, it is most important that
air flow from the room
is minimized when the client has TB. (B) should be implemented when
the client leaves the
isolation environment.
,⩥ 2.A client is receiving atenolol (Tenormin) 25 mg PO after a
myocardial infarction. The nurse
determines the client's apical pulse is 65 beats per minute. What action
should the nurse
implement
next?
A. Measure the blood pressure.
B. Reassess the apical pulse.
C. Notify the healthcare provider.
D. Administer the medication. Answer: Administer the medication
RATIONALE:
Atenolol, a beta-blocker, blocks the beta receptors of the sinoatrial node
to reduce the heart rate,
so the medication should be administered (C) because the client's apical
pulse is greater than 60.
(A, B, and D) are not indicated at this time.
⩥ 3.The nurse is assessing a client and identifies a bruit over the thyroid.
This finding is consistent
with which interpretation?
A. Hypothyroidism.
B. Thyroid cyst.
C. Thyroid cancer.
,D. Hyperthyroidism Answer: Hyperthyroidism
Rationale:Hyperthyroidism (D) is an enlargement of the thyroid gland,
often referred to as a goiter, and a
bruit may be auscultated over the goiter due to an increase in glandular
vascularity which
increases as the thyroid gland becomes hyperactive. A bruit is not
common with (A, B, and C).
⩥ A 6-year-old child is alert but quiet when brought to the emergency
center with periorbital ecchymosis and ecchymosis behind the ears. The
nurse suspects potential child abuse and continues to assess the child for
additional manifestations of a basilar skull fracture. What
assessment finding would be consistent with a basilar skull fracture?
A. Hematemesis and abdominal distention.
B. Asymmetry of the face and eye movements.
C. Rhinorrhoea or otorrhoea with Halo sign.
D. Abnormal position and movement of the arm. Answer: Rhinorrhoea
or otorrhoea with Halo sign.
RATIONALE:
Raccoon eyes (periorbital ecchymosis) and Battle's sign (ecchymosis
behind the ear over the
mastoid process) are both signs of a basilar skull fracture, so the nurse
should assess for possible
meningeal tears that manifest as a Halo sign with CSF leakage from the
ears or nose (D). (A) is
, consistent with orbital fractures. (B) occurs with wrenching traumas of
the shoulder or arm
fractures. (C) occurs with blunt abdominal injuries.
⩥ The nurse is assessing a client who complains of weight loss, racing
heart rate, and difficulty
sleeping. The nurse determines the client has moist skin with fine hair,
prominent eyes, lid
retraction, and a staring expression. These findings are consistent with
which disorder?
A. Grave's disease.
B. Multiple sclerosis.
C. Addison's disease.
D. Cushing syndrome. Answer: Grave's disease
RATIONALE:
This client is exhibiting symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism or
Grave's disease (A),
which is an autoimmune condition affecting the thyroid. (B, C, and D)
are not associated with
these symptoms.
⩥ The nurse is assessing an older client and determines that the client's
left upper eyelid droops,
