HESI Med-Surg Practice Exam Questions
and Answers 2026–2027 | Complete
Nursing Review Guide
This document contains:
❖ HESI Med-Surg practice exam
❖ HESI Med Surg questions and answers
❖ Medical Surgical Nursing HESI review
❖ HESI Med Surg study guide 2026
❖ nursing HESI practice test
❖ Med Surg HESI exam prep
1
https://www.stuvia.com/user/Registerednurse
,An adult client who is hospitalized after surgery reports sudden onset of chest pain and dyspnea. The
client appears anxious, restless, and mildly cyanotic. The nurse should further assess the client for which
condition?
Pulmonary embolism.
Heart failure.
Tuberculosis.
Bronchitis. - CORRECT ANSWERS -Pulmonary embolism.
Post-surgical clients are at an increased risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which may result in
pulmonary embolism if the clot breaks off and travels to the lungs. Signs and symptoms of pulmonary
embolism include chest pain, dyspnea, anxiety, restlessness, and - in severe cases - cyanosis.
Jarvis, Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th ed., p.493
Which information should the nurse obtain when performing an initial assessment of a client who
presents to the emergency department with a painful ankle injury? (Select all that apply.)
Quality of the pain.
Signs of inflammation.
Ankle range of motion.
Muscle strength testing.
Visible deformities of the joint. - CORRECT ANSWERS -Quality of the pain.
Signs of inflammation.
Ankle range of motion.
2
https://www.stuvia.com/user/Registerednurse
,Visible deformities of the joint.
Initial assessment of a joint injury is performed to determine the extent of the damage. The nurse's
initial assessment of a painful ankle injury should include pain quality, the presence of deformities,
evidence of inflammation, and range of motion.
Jarvis Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th ed. p. 586-8
Which description of pain is consistent with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis?
Joint pain is worse in the morning and involves symmetric joints.
Joint pain is better in the morning and worsens throughout the day.
Joint pain is consistent throughout the day and is relieved by pain medication.
Joint pain is worse during the day and involves unilateral joints. - CORRECT ANSWERS -Joint pain is
worse in the morning and involves symmetric joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes joint pain and swelling. RA is
characterized by pain that is worse when arising and involves symmetric joints.
Jarvis. (2016), Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th Ed., Chapter 22; p. 586
Which physical assessment finding should the nurse anticipate in a client with long-term
gastroesophagealreflux disease (GERD)?
Hoarseness.
Dry mouth.
Mouth ulcers.
Weight loss. - CORRECT ANSWERS -Hoarseness.
3
https://www.stuvia.com/user/Registerednurse
, Dyspepsia and regurgitation are the main symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD);
however, hoarseness is one of the most common long-term symptoms of GERD due to the irritation of
the reflux of gastric secretions.
Ignatavicius, (2016). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative care, eight edition., Ch. 49,
p. 1111.
A client presents with chronic venous insufficiency. Which assessment finding should the nurse
anticipate?
Bilateral lower leg stasis dermatitis.
Clubbing of fingers and toes.
Intermittent claudication.
Peripheral cyanosis. - CORRECT ANSWERS -Bilateral lower leg stasis dermatitis.
Clients who suffer from chroninc venous insufficiency often develop statsis dermatitis in the lower
extremities. Statis dermatitis appear as brownish-red discoloration on the lower extremities at the
ankles which can develop into stasis ulcers due to the pooling of the venous blood flow back to the
heart.
Ignatavicius, (2013). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative care, 7th ed.., Ch. 33, p.
803.
A client has been hospitalized with a femur fracture and is being treated with traction. Which action by
the nurse is the priority when caring for this client?
Assess neurovascular status.
4
https://www.stuvia.com/user/Registerednurse
and Answers 2026–2027 | Complete
Nursing Review Guide
This document contains:
❖ HESI Med-Surg practice exam
❖ HESI Med Surg questions and answers
❖ Medical Surgical Nursing HESI review
❖ HESI Med Surg study guide 2026
❖ nursing HESI practice test
❖ Med Surg HESI exam prep
1
https://www.stuvia.com/user/Registerednurse
,An adult client who is hospitalized after surgery reports sudden onset of chest pain and dyspnea. The
client appears anxious, restless, and mildly cyanotic. The nurse should further assess the client for which
condition?
Pulmonary embolism.
Heart failure.
Tuberculosis.
Bronchitis. - CORRECT ANSWERS -Pulmonary embolism.
Post-surgical clients are at an increased risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which may result in
pulmonary embolism if the clot breaks off and travels to the lungs. Signs and symptoms of pulmonary
embolism include chest pain, dyspnea, anxiety, restlessness, and - in severe cases - cyanosis.
Jarvis, Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th ed., p.493
Which information should the nurse obtain when performing an initial assessment of a client who
presents to the emergency department with a painful ankle injury? (Select all that apply.)
Quality of the pain.
Signs of inflammation.
Ankle range of motion.
Muscle strength testing.
Visible deformities of the joint. - CORRECT ANSWERS -Quality of the pain.
Signs of inflammation.
Ankle range of motion.
2
https://www.stuvia.com/user/Registerednurse
,Visible deformities of the joint.
Initial assessment of a joint injury is performed to determine the extent of the damage. The nurse's
initial assessment of a painful ankle injury should include pain quality, the presence of deformities,
evidence of inflammation, and range of motion.
Jarvis Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th ed. p. 586-8
Which description of pain is consistent with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis?
Joint pain is worse in the morning and involves symmetric joints.
Joint pain is better in the morning and worsens throughout the day.
Joint pain is consistent throughout the day and is relieved by pain medication.
Joint pain is worse during the day and involves unilateral joints. - CORRECT ANSWERS -Joint pain is
worse in the morning and involves symmetric joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes joint pain and swelling. RA is
characterized by pain that is worse when arising and involves symmetric joints.
Jarvis. (2016), Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th Ed., Chapter 22; p. 586
Which physical assessment finding should the nurse anticipate in a client with long-term
gastroesophagealreflux disease (GERD)?
Hoarseness.
Dry mouth.
Mouth ulcers.
Weight loss. - CORRECT ANSWERS -Hoarseness.
3
https://www.stuvia.com/user/Registerednurse
, Dyspepsia and regurgitation are the main symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD);
however, hoarseness is one of the most common long-term symptoms of GERD due to the irritation of
the reflux of gastric secretions.
Ignatavicius, (2016). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative care, eight edition., Ch. 49,
p. 1111.
A client presents with chronic venous insufficiency. Which assessment finding should the nurse
anticipate?
Bilateral lower leg stasis dermatitis.
Clubbing of fingers and toes.
Intermittent claudication.
Peripheral cyanosis. - CORRECT ANSWERS -Bilateral lower leg stasis dermatitis.
Clients who suffer from chroninc venous insufficiency often develop statsis dermatitis in the lower
extremities. Statis dermatitis appear as brownish-red discoloration on the lower extremities at the
ankles which can develop into stasis ulcers due to the pooling of the venous blood flow back to the
heart.
Ignatavicius, (2013). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative care, 7th ed.., Ch. 33, p.
803.
A client has been hospitalized with a femur fracture and is being treated with traction. Which action by
the nurse is the priority when caring for this client?
Assess neurovascular status.
4
https://www.stuvia.com/user/Registerednurse
