Med Surg HESI Exam Test Questions with Answers Graded A+
A 20-year-old female client calls the nurse to report a lump
she found in her breast. Which response is the best for B) Most lumps are benign, but it is always best to come in
the nurse to provide? for an examination.
A) Check it again in one month, and if it is still there
schedule an appointment. (B) provides the best response because it addresses the
B) Most lumps are benign, but it is always best to come client's anxiety most ettectively and encourages prompt
in for an examination. and immediate action for a potential problem. (A) post-
C) Try not to worry too much about it, because usually, pones treatment if the lump is malignant, and does not
most lumps are benign. relieve the client's anxiety. (C and D) provide false reas-
D) If you are in your menstrual period it is not a good time surance and do not help relieve anxiety.
to check for lumps.
C) serum potassium level is 3.
The nurse should be correct in withholding a dose of
digoxin in a client with congestive heart failure without Hypokalemia (C) can precipitate digitalis toxicity in per-
specific instruction from the healthcare provider if the sons receiving digoxin which will increase the chance of
client's dangerous dysrhythmias (normal potassium level is 3.5 to
A) serum digoxin level is 1.5. 5.5 mEq/L). The therapeutic range for digoxin is 0.8 to 2
B) blood pressure is 104/68. ng/ml (toxic levels= >2 ng/ml); (A) is within this range. (B)
C) serum potassium level is 3. would not warrant the nurse withholding the digoxin. The
D) apical pulse is 68/min. nurse should withhold the digoxin if the apical pulse is
less than 60/min (D).
C) Potassium.
In assessing a client diagnosed with primary hyperaldos-
teronism, the nurse expects the laboratory test results to Clients with primary aldosteronism exhibit a profound
indicate a decreased serum level of which substance? decline in the serum levels of potassium (C) (hy-
A) Sodium. pokalemia)--hypertension is the most prominent and uni-
B) Antidiuretic hormone. versal sign. (A) is normal or elevated, depending on the
C) Potassium. amount of water reabsorbed with the sodium. (B) is de-
D) Glucose. creased with diabetes insipidus. (D) is not attected by
primary aldosteronism.
,Med Surg HESI Exam Test Questions with Answers Graded A+
C) Anticoagulation therapy.
Based on the analysis of the client's atrial fibrillation, the
nurse should prepare the client for which treatment pro-
The client is experiencing atrial fibrillation, and the nurse
tocol?
should prepare the client for anticoagulation therapy (C)
A) Diuretic therapy.
which should be prescribed before rhythm control ther-
B) Pacemaker implantation.
apies to prevent cardioembolic events which result from
C) Anticoagulation therapy.
blood pooling in the fibrillating atria. (A, B, and D) are not
D) Cardiac catheterization.
indicated.
C) Yearly mammograms should be done regardless of
previous normal x-rays.
Which information about mammograms is most impor-
The current breast screening recommendation is a yearly
tant to provide a post-menopausal female client?
mammogram after age 40 (C). Breast self-exam (A) con-
A) Breast self-examinations are not needed if annual
tinues to be a priority recommendation for all women be-
mammograms are obtained.
cause a small lump (or tumor) is often first felt by a woman
B) Radiation exposure is minimized by shielding the ab-
before a mammogram is obtained. The radiation expo-
domen with a lead-lined apron.
sure from a mammogram is low, so (B) is not normally
C) Yearly mammograms should be done regardless of
provided. The frequency of using routine and ultrasound
previous normal x-rays.
mammograms (D) in women with high-risk variables, such
D) Women at high risk should have annual routine and
as a history of breast cancer, the presence of BRC1 and
ultrasound mammograms.
BRC2 genes, or 2 first-degree relatives with breast can-
cer, should be recommended and followed closely by the
healthcare provider.
B) A 50-year-old whose mother had unilateral breast can-
cer.
In assessing cancer risk, the nurse identifies which woman
as being at greatest risk of developing breast cancer?
The most predictive risk factors for development of breast
A) A 35-year-old multipara who never breastfed.
cancer are over 40 years of age and a positive family
B) A 50-year-old whose mother had unilateral breast can-
history (occurrence in the immediate family, i.e., mother
cer.
or sister). Other risk factors include nulliparity, no history
C) A 55-year-old whose mother-in-law had bilateral breast
of breastfeeding, early menarche and late menopause.
Although all of the women described have one of the risk
, Med Surg HESI Exam Test Questions with Answers Graded A+
cancer. factors for developing breast cancer, (B) has the greater
D) A 20-year-old whose menarche occurred at age 9. risk over (A, C, and D).
Which reaction should the nurse identify in a client who B) Increased heart rate.
is responding to stimulation of the sympathetic nervous
system? Any stressor that is perceived as threatening to homeosta-
A) Pupil constriction. sis acts to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and
B) Increased heart rate. manifests as a flight-or-fight response, which includes an
C) Bronchial constriction. increase in heart rate (B). (A, C, and D) are responses of
D) Decreased blood pressure. the parasympathetic nervous system.
A) K.
A client receiving cholestyramine (Questran) for hyperlipi-
demia should be evaluated for what vitamin deficiency?
Clients should be monitored for an increased prothrom-
A) K.
bin time and prolonged bleeding times which would alert
B) B12.
the nurse to a vitamin K deficiency (A). These drugs reduce
C) B6.
absorption of the fat soluble (lipid) vitamins A, D, E, and K.
D) C.
(B, C, and D) are not fat soluble vitamins.
D) Digoxin (Lanoxin).
A client experiencing uncontrolled atrial fibrillation is
admitted to the telemetry unit. What initial medication Digoxin (Lanoxin) (D) is administered for uncontrolled,
should the nurse anticipate administering to the client? symptomatic atrial fibrillation resulting in a decreased car-
A) Xylocaine (Lidocaine). diac output. Digoxin slows the rate of conduction by pro-
B) Procainamide (Pronestyl). longing the refractory period of the AV node, thus slowing
C) Phenytoin (Dilantin). the ventricular response, decreasing the heart rate, and
D) Digoxin (Lanoxin). ettecting cardiac output. (A, B, and C) are not indicated in
the initial treatment of uncontrolled atrial fibrillation.
D) Perform a breast self-exam (BSE) procedure monthly.
What instruction should the nurse give a client who is Fibrocystic changes in the breast are related to excess
diagnosed with fibrocystic changes of the breast? fibrous tissue, proliferation of mammary ducts and cyst
formation that cause edema and nerve irritation. These
changes obscure typical diagnostic tests, such as mam-
A 20-year-old female client calls the nurse to report a lump
she found in her breast. Which response is the best for B) Most lumps are benign, but it is always best to come in
the nurse to provide? for an examination.
A) Check it again in one month, and if it is still there
schedule an appointment. (B) provides the best response because it addresses the
B) Most lumps are benign, but it is always best to come client's anxiety most ettectively and encourages prompt
in for an examination. and immediate action for a potential problem. (A) post-
C) Try not to worry too much about it, because usually, pones treatment if the lump is malignant, and does not
most lumps are benign. relieve the client's anxiety. (C and D) provide false reas-
D) If you are in your menstrual period it is not a good time surance and do not help relieve anxiety.
to check for lumps.
C) serum potassium level is 3.
The nurse should be correct in withholding a dose of
digoxin in a client with congestive heart failure without Hypokalemia (C) can precipitate digitalis toxicity in per-
specific instruction from the healthcare provider if the sons receiving digoxin which will increase the chance of
client's dangerous dysrhythmias (normal potassium level is 3.5 to
A) serum digoxin level is 1.5. 5.5 mEq/L). The therapeutic range for digoxin is 0.8 to 2
B) blood pressure is 104/68. ng/ml (toxic levels= >2 ng/ml); (A) is within this range. (B)
C) serum potassium level is 3. would not warrant the nurse withholding the digoxin. The
D) apical pulse is 68/min. nurse should withhold the digoxin if the apical pulse is
less than 60/min (D).
C) Potassium.
In assessing a client diagnosed with primary hyperaldos-
teronism, the nurse expects the laboratory test results to Clients with primary aldosteronism exhibit a profound
indicate a decreased serum level of which substance? decline in the serum levels of potassium (C) (hy-
A) Sodium. pokalemia)--hypertension is the most prominent and uni-
B) Antidiuretic hormone. versal sign. (A) is normal or elevated, depending on the
C) Potassium. amount of water reabsorbed with the sodium. (B) is de-
D) Glucose. creased with diabetes insipidus. (D) is not attected by
primary aldosteronism.
,Med Surg HESI Exam Test Questions with Answers Graded A+
C) Anticoagulation therapy.
Based on the analysis of the client's atrial fibrillation, the
nurse should prepare the client for which treatment pro-
The client is experiencing atrial fibrillation, and the nurse
tocol?
should prepare the client for anticoagulation therapy (C)
A) Diuretic therapy.
which should be prescribed before rhythm control ther-
B) Pacemaker implantation.
apies to prevent cardioembolic events which result from
C) Anticoagulation therapy.
blood pooling in the fibrillating atria. (A, B, and D) are not
D) Cardiac catheterization.
indicated.
C) Yearly mammograms should be done regardless of
previous normal x-rays.
Which information about mammograms is most impor-
The current breast screening recommendation is a yearly
tant to provide a post-menopausal female client?
mammogram after age 40 (C). Breast self-exam (A) con-
A) Breast self-examinations are not needed if annual
tinues to be a priority recommendation for all women be-
mammograms are obtained.
cause a small lump (or tumor) is often first felt by a woman
B) Radiation exposure is minimized by shielding the ab-
before a mammogram is obtained. The radiation expo-
domen with a lead-lined apron.
sure from a mammogram is low, so (B) is not normally
C) Yearly mammograms should be done regardless of
provided. The frequency of using routine and ultrasound
previous normal x-rays.
mammograms (D) in women with high-risk variables, such
D) Women at high risk should have annual routine and
as a history of breast cancer, the presence of BRC1 and
ultrasound mammograms.
BRC2 genes, or 2 first-degree relatives with breast can-
cer, should be recommended and followed closely by the
healthcare provider.
B) A 50-year-old whose mother had unilateral breast can-
cer.
In assessing cancer risk, the nurse identifies which woman
as being at greatest risk of developing breast cancer?
The most predictive risk factors for development of breast
A) A 35-year-old multipara who never breastfed.
cancer are over 40 years of age and a positive family
B) A 50-year-old whose mother had unilateral breast can-
history (occurrence in the immediate family, i.e., mother
cer.
or sister). Other risk factors include nulliparity, no history
C) A 55-year-old whose mother-in-law had bilateral breast
of breastfeeding, early menarche and late menopause.
Although all of the women described have one of the risk
, Med Surg HESI Exam Test Questions with Answers Graded A+
cancer. factors for developing breast cancer, (B) has the greater
D) A 20-year-old whose menarche occurred at age 9. risk over (A, C, and D).
Which reaction should the nurse identify in a client who B) Increased heart rate.
is responding to stimulation of the sympathetic nervous
system? Any stressor that is perceived as threatening to homeosta-
A) Pupil constriction. sis acts to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and
B) Increased heart rate. manifests as a flight-or-fight response, which includes an
C) Bronchial constriction. increase in heart rate (B). (A, C, and D) are responses of
D) Decreased blood pressure. the parasympathetic nervous system.
A) K.
A client receiving cholestyramine (Questran) for hyperlipi-
demia should be evaluated for what vitamin deficiency?
Clients should be monitored for an increased prothrom-
A) K.
bin time and prolonged bleeding times which would alert
B) B12.
the nurse to a vitamin K deficiency (A). These drugs reduce
C) B6.
absorption of the fat soluble (lipid) vitamins A, D, E, and K.
D) C.
(B, C, and D) are not fat soluble vitamins.
D) Digoxin (Lanoxin).
A client experiencing uncontrolled atrial fibrillation is
admitted to the telemetry unit. What initial medication Digoxin (Lanoxin) (D) is administered for uncontrolled,
should the nurse anticipate administering to the client? symptomatic atrial fibrillation resulting in a decreased car-
A) Xylocaine (Lidocaine). diac output. Digoxin slows the rate of conduction by pro-
B) Procainamide (Pronestyl). longing the refractory period of the AV node, thus slowing
C) Phenytoin (Dilantin). the ventricular response, decreasing the heart rate, and
D) Digoxin (Lanoxin). ettecting cardiac output. (A, B, and C) are not indicated in
the initial treatment of uncontrolled atrial fibrillation.
D) Perform a breast self-exam (BSE) procedure monthly.
What instruction should the nurse give a client who is Fibrocystic changes in the breast are related to excess
diagnosed with fibrocystic changes of the breast? fibrous tissue, proliferation of mammary ducts and cyst
formation that cause edema and nerve irritation. These
changes obscure typical diagnostic tests, such as mam-
