medsurg-hesi Exam Questions and Answers
with Verified Solutions | Latest Updated 2026
An ER nurse is completing an A) A carotid bruit.
assessment on a patient that is Rationale: the carotid artery (artery to the
alert brain) is
but struggles to answer questions. narrowed in clients with a brain attack. A
When she attempts to talk, she bruit is an
slurs abnormal sound heard on auscultation
her speech and appears very resulting
frightened. What additional clinical from interference with normal blood flow.
manifestation does the nurse Usually
expect the blood pressure is hypertensive. Initially
to find if nacy's sysmptoms have flaccid
been caused by a brain attack paralysis occurs, resulting in hyporefkexic
(stroke)? deep
A. A carotid bruit tendon reflexes. Bowel sounds are not
B. A hypotensive blood pressure indicative of
C. hyperreflexic deep tendon a brain attack.
relexes.
D. Decreased bowel sounds
,Which clinical manifestation further D) Global aphasia.
supports an assessment of a left- Rationale: Global aphasia refers to
sided brain attack? difficulty
A) Visual field deficit on the left speaking, listening, and understanding, as
side. well as
B) Spatial-perceptual deficits. difficulty reading and writing. Symptoms
C) Paresthesia of the left side. vary from
D) Global aphasia. person to person. Aphasia may occur
D) Global aphasia. secondary to
any brain injury involving the left
hemisphere. Visual
field deficits, spatial-perceptual deficits,
and
paresthsia of the left side usually occur
with right-
sided brain attack.
,When preparing a patient for a B) Explain that the client will not be able to
noncontrast computed tomography move
(CT) scan STAT, what nursing her head throughout the CT scan.
intervention should the nurse Rationale: Because head motion will
implement? distort the
A) Determine if the client has any images, Nancy will have to remain still
allergies to iodine throughout
B) Explain that the client will not the procedure. Allergies to iodine is
be important if
able to move her head throughout contrast dye is being used for the CT scan.
the CT scan. Premedicating the client to decrease pain
C) Premedicate the client to prior to
decrease pain prior to having the the procedure is unnecessary because CT
procedure. scanning
D) Provide an explanation of is a noninvasive and painless procedure.
relaxation exercises prior to the Providing
procedure. an explanation of relaxation exercises prior
to the
procedure is a worthwhile intervention to
decrease
anxiety but is not of highest priority.
A neurologist prescribes a C) Right hip replacement.
magnetic The magnetic field generated by the MRI is
resonance imaging (MRI) of the so
head strong that metal-containing items are
STAT for a patient. Which data strongly
warrants immediate intervention attracted to the magnet. Because the hip
by joint is
the nurse concerning this made of metal, a lead shield must be used
diagnostic during
test? the procedure. Elevated blood pressure,
A) Elevated blood pressure. an allergy
B) Allergy to shell fish. to shell fish, and a history of atrial
C) Right hip replacement. fibrillation would
D) History of atrial fibrillation. not affect the MRI.
, A client's daughter is sitting by her B) "Your mother has had a stroke, and the
mother's bedside who was blood
recently supply to the brain has been blocked."
transferred to the Intermediate Rationale: The nurse can discuss what a
Care diagnosis
Unit. She states "I don't means. Nancy is unable to make
understand decisions, so the
what a brain attack is. The next of kin, her daughter, Gail, needs
healthcare sufficient
provider told me my mother is in information to make informed decisions.
serious condition and they are The nurse
going has the knowledge, and the responsibility,
to run several tests. I just don't to
know explain Nancy's condition to Gail. The
what is going on. What happened nurse should
to give facts first, and then address her
my mother?" What is the best feelings after
response by the nurse? the information is provided.
A) "I am sorry, but according to the
Health Insurance Portability and
Accounting Act (HIPAA), I cannot
give you any information."
B) "Your mother has had a stroke,
and the blood supply to the brain
has been blocked."
C) "How do you feel about what
the
healthcare provider said?"
D) "I will call the healthcare
provider
so he/she can talk to you about
your
mother's serious condition."
with Verified Solutions | Latest Updated 2026
An ER nurse is completing an A) A carotid bruit.
assessment on a patient that is Rationale: the carotid artery (artery to the
alert brain) is
but struggles to answer questions. narrowed in clients with a brain attack. A
When she attempts to talk, she bruit is an
slurs abnormal sound heard on auscultation
her speech and appears very resulting
frightened. What additional clinical from interference with normal blood flow.
manifestation does the nurse Usually
expect the blood pressure is hypertensive. Initially
to find if nacy's sysmptoms have flaccid
been caused by a brain attack paralysis occurs, resulting in hyporefkexic
(stroke)? deep
A. A carotid bruit tendon reflexes. Bowel sounds are not
B. A hypotensive blood pressure indicative of
C. hyperreflexic deep tendon a brain attack.
relexes.
D. Decreased bowel sounds
,Which clinical manifestation further D) Global aphasia.
supports an assessment of a left- Rationale: Global aphasia refers to
sided brain attack? difficulty
A) Visual field deficit on the left speaking, listening, and understanding, as
side. well as
B) Spatial-perceptual deficits. difficulty reading and writing. Symptoms
C) Paresthesia of the left side. vary from
D) Global aphasia. person to person. Aphasia may occur
D) Global aphasia. secondary to
any brain injury involving the left
hemisphere. Visual
field deficits, spatial-perceptual deficits,
and
paresthsia of the left side usually occur
with right-
sided brain attack.
,When preparing a patient for a B) Explain that the client will not be able to
noncontrast computed tomography move
(CT) scan STAT, what nursing her head throughout the CT scan.
intervention should the nurse Rationale: Because head motion will
implement? distort the
A) Determine if the client has any images, Nancy will have to remain still
allergies to iodine throughout
B) Explain that the client will not the procedure. Allergies to iodine is
be important if
able to move her head throughout contrast dye is being used for the CT scan.
the CT scan. Premedicating the client to decrease pain
C) Premedicate the client to prior to
decrease pain prior to having the the procedure is unnecessary because CT
procedure. scanning
D) Provide an explanation of is a noninvasive and painless procedure.
relaxation exercises prior to the Providing
procedure. an explanation of relaxation exercises prior
to the
procedure is a worthwhile intervention to
decrease
anxiety but is not of highest priority.
A neurologist prescribes a C) Right hip replacement.
magnetic The magnetic field generated by the MRI is
resonance imaging (MRI) of the so
head strong that metal-containing items are
STAT for a patient. Which data strongly
warrants immediate intervention attracted to the magnet. Because the hip
by joint is
the nurse concerning this made of metal, a lead shield must be used
diagnostic during
test? the procedure. Elevated blood pressure,
A) Elevated blood pressure. an allergy
B) Allergy to shell fish. to shell fish, and a history of atrial
C) Right hip replacement. fibrillation would
D) History of atrial fibrillation. not affect the MRI.
, A client's daughter is sitting by her B) "Your mother has had a stroke, and the
mother's bedside who was blood
recently supply to the brain has been blocked."
transferred to the Intermediate Rationale: The nurse can discuss what a
Care diagnosis
Unit. She states "I don't means. Nancy is unable to make
understand decisions, so the
what a brain attack is. The next of kin, her daughter, Gail, needs
healthcare sufficient
provider told me my mother is in information to make informed decisions.
serious condition and they are The nurse
going has the knowledge, and the responsibility,
to run several tests. I just don't to
know explain Nancy's condition to Gail. The
what is going on. What happened nurse should
to give facts first, and then address her
my mother?" What is the best feelings after
response by the nurse? the information is provided.
A) "I am sorry, but according to the
Health Insurance Portability and
Accounting Act (HIPAA), I cannot
give you any information."
B) "Your mother has had a stroke,
and the blood supply to the brain
has been blocked."
C) "How do you feel about what
the
healthcare provider said?"
D) "I will call the healthcare
provider
so he/she can talk to you about
your
mother's serious condition."
