2026 UPDATED HESI PN MEDICAL SURGICAL
NGN NEWEST 2026 VERSION 3 COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing muscle spasms and has a new prescription for an
aquathermia pad. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
a) Use safety pins to secure the pad in place.
b) Fill the pad with sterile water.
c) Apply the pad for 45 min at a time.
d) Cover the pad prior to use. D. Cover the pad prior to use.
Rationale:
Covering the pad before use prevents it from any damage prior to usage. Aquathermia pad uses distilled
water. It should be place in the body part for 30 minutes. Using it 40 minutes or more could lead to
burn. Do not put pin to secure the pad in place for it can cause burn and injury.
A nurse is caring for an older adult client who has stomatitis due to poorly fitting dentures. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
a) Rinse the client's mouth twice daily with an
alcohol-based mouthwash.
b) Increase the client's fluid intake to 2,000 mL
daily.
1
,c) Offer the client hot beverages to drink.
d) Provide the client with a high-protein diet. D. Provide the client with a high-protein diet.
Rational:
high-protein diet can help healing. The nurse should also encourage the client to rinse their mouth with
a non-alcohol-based mouthwash or warm salt water. Offering hot beverages to drink is not
recommended as it can irritate the oral mucosa.
A nurse is caring for a client who is in skin traction. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take?
a) Loosen the ropes of the pulleys when
repositioning the client in bed.
b) Inspect the client's skin every 12 hr for signs
of breakdown.
c) Ensure the weights hang freely from the
client's bed.
d) Maintain 6.8 kg (15 lb) of weight for the
client's skin traction. C. Ensure the weights hang freely from the client's bed.
Rationale:
Nursing responsibility for a patient having skin traction is to make sure that the traction weight bag is
hanging freely and not rested on the bed or the floor to ensure proper traction and preventing
misalignment.
2
,A nurse is collecting data from an older adult client. Which of the following findings should indicate to
the nurse that the client has a bladder infection?
a) WBC count 9,000/mm3
b) Changed mental status
c) Temperature 37.3C (99.1F)
d) Diminished reflexes B. Changed mental status.
Rationale:
Untreated bladder infection or UTI among older adults can make the infection cause a drop in there
blood pressure which could result in dizziness, fatigue and muscle weakness. WBC count given in the
choices is within normal range. 37.3C temperature can still be considered normal.
A nurse is caring for a client who is 2 days postoperative following abdominal surgery. The nurse
auscultates hypoactive bowel sounds, and the client reports cramping abdominal pain. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take first?
a) Administer a glycerin suppository.
b) Ambulate the client in the hallway.
c) Offer an analgesic medication.
d) Request the client to be NPO.B. Ambulate the client in the hallway
Rationale:
Cramping and hypoactive bowel sound is common post operative for patient having abdominal surgery
that can last until 5 days. This can be due to the gas introduced in the abdomen during surgery. Walking
can encourage peristaltic bowel movement relieving gas and constipation.
3
, A nurse is caring for a client who has an indwelling urinary catheter. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take?
a) Empty urine from the drainage bag every 12 hrs.
b) Secure the catheter tubing to the client's thigh.
c) Apply topical antimicrobial ointment to the
client's urinary meatus following catheter care.
d) Use clean technique to collect urine specimens from the drainage system. B. Secure the catheter
tubing to the client's thigh.
Rationale:
When caring for a client with an indwelling urinary catheter, the nurse should take the following actions:
A nurse is caring for a client who is 8 hr postoperative following a left hip arthroplasty. Which of the
following laboratory values indicates the nurse should notify the provider?
a) BUN 18 mg/dL
b) Potassium 2.6 mEq/L
c) Blood glucose 98 mg/dL
d) Hemoglobin 8.6 g/dL D. Hemoglobin 8.6 g/dL
Rationale:
(Range of Hgb: Male - 14 to 18 Female - 12 to 16
- trick to remember 2-4-6-8)
4
NGN NEWEST 2026 VERSION 3 COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing muscle spasms and has a new prescription for an
aquathermia pad. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
a) Use safety pins to secure the pad in place.
b) Fill the pad with sterile water.
c) Apply the pad for 45 min at a time.
d) Cover the pad prior to use. D. Cover the pad prior to use.
Rationale:
Covering the pad before use prevents it from any damage prior to usage. Aquathermia pad uses distilled
water. It should be place in the body part for 30 minutes. Using it 40 minutes or more could lead to
burn. Do not put pin to secure the pad in place for it can cause burn and injury.
A nurse is caring for an older adult client who has stomatitis due to poorly fitting dentures. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
a) Rinse the client's mouth twice daily with an
alcohol-based mouthwash.
b) Increase the client's fluid intake to 2,000 mL
daily.
1
,c) Offer the client hot beverages to drink.
d) Provide the client with a high-protein diet. D. Provide the client with a high-protein diet.
Rational:
high-protein diet can help healing. The nurse should also encourage the client to rinse their mouth with
a non-alcohol-based mouthwash or warm salt water. Offering hot beverages to drink is not
recommended as it can irritate the oral mucosa.
A nurse is caring for a client who is in skin traction. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take?
a) Loosen the ropes of the pulleys when
repositioning the client in bed.
b) Inspect the client's skin every 12 hr for signs
of breakdown.
c) Ensure the weights hang freely from the
client's bed.
d) Maintain 6.8 kg (15 lb) of weight for the
client's skin traction. C. Ensure the weights hang freely from the client's bed.
Rationale:
Nursing responsibility for a patient having skin traction is to make sure that the traction weight bag is
hanging freely and not rested on the bed or the floor to ensure proper traction and preventing
misalignment.
2
,A nurse is collecting data from an older adult client. Which of the following findings should indicate to
the nurse that the client has a bladder infection?
a) WBC count 9,000/mm3
b) Changed mental status
c) Temperature 37.3C (99.1F)
d) Diminished reflexes B. Changed mental status.
Rationale:
Untreated bladder infection or UTI among older adults can make the infection cause a drop in there
blood pressure which could result in dizziness, fatigue and muscle weakness. WBC count given in the
choices is within normal range. 37.3C temperature can still be considered normal.
A nurse is caring for a client who is 2 days postoperative following abdominal surgery. The nurse
auscultates hypoactive bowel sounds, and the client reports cramping abdominal pain. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take first?
a) Administer a glycerin suppository.
b) Ambulate the client in the hallway.
c) Offer an analgesic medication.
d) Request the client to be NPO.B. Ambulate the client in the hallway
Rationale:
Cramping and hypoactive bowel sound is common post operative for patient having abdominal surgery
that can last until 5 days. This can be due to the gas introduced in the abdomen during surgery. Walking
can encourage peristaltic bowel movement relieving gas and constipation.
3
, A nurse is caring for a client who has an indwelling urinary catheter. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take?
a) Empty urine from the drainage bag every 12 hrs.
b) Secure the catheter tubing to the client's thigh.
c) Apply topical antimicrobial ointment to the
client's urinary meatus following catheter care.
d) Use clean technique to collect urine specimens from the drainage system. B. Secure the catheter
tubing to the client's thigh.
Rationale:
When caring for a client with an indwelling urinary catheter, the nurse should take the following actions:
A nurse is caring for a client who is 8 hr postoperative following a left hip arthroplasty. Which of the
following laboratory values indicates the nurse should notify the provider?
a) BUN 18 mg/dL
b) Potassium 2.6 mEq/L
c) Blood glucose 98 mg/dL
d) Hemoglobin 8.6 g/dL D. Hemoglobin 8.6 g/dL
Rationale:
(Range of Hgb: Male - 14 to 18 Female - 12 to 16
- trick to remember 2-4-6-8)
4
