HESI MEDICAL-SURGICAL
PRACTICE TEST EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
An older client is seen in the clinic for an annual physical exam. Which finding sho
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uld the practical nurse report to the healthcare provider for follow-up?
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A) Hemoglobin 9.1 grams/dl with positive occult blood in stool.
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B) Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level is low.
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C) Bowel sounds auscultated with occasional borborygmi.
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D) Abdominal tympany with negative rebound tenderness. - ANSWERS-
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A) Hemoglobin 9.1 grams/dl with positive occult blood in stool.
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An older client who is at a health fair goes to the First Aid station and reports feeli
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
ng tired after a recent screening test revealed a hemoglobin of 10.1 grams. The cli
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
ent asks the practical nurse (PN) what could he do to feel better. What information
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn v
should the PN offer?
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A) Eat food high in iron, for example red meat.
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B) Take an over-the-counter iron supplement.
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C) Practice daily stress-relieving measures.
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D) Make appointment with healthcare provider. - ANSWERS-
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D) Make appointment with healthcare provider.
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The practical nurse (PN) is caring for a client with trigeminal neuralgia associated
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with Cranial Nerve V pathology. While reinforcing the discharge teaching instructio
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
ns, the PN should include which information?
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A) Encourage a soft diet to minimize chewing.
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B) Instruct the client to thicken all oral liquids.
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C) Take deep breaths to minimize respiratory effort.
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D) Ambulate with a walker to reduce the risk of falling. - ANSWERS-
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A) Encourage a soft diet to minimize chewing.
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Which information should the practical nurse (PN) reinforce with a female client wh
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
o has a history of frequent urinary tract infections (UTI)?
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
A) Drink a glass of cranberry juice daily.
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B) Use unscented soap for a bubble bath.
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C) Void every 8 hours while awake.
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D) Empty bladder before showering. - ANSWERS-
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A) Drink a glass of cranberry juice daily.
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A male client who arrives at the clinic for an eye examination tells the practical nur
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
se (PN) that he has recently experienced blurred vision. Which finding is most imp
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
ortant for the PN to report to the healthcare provider?
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, A) Inability to identify the colors of numbers on an eye chart.
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B) Left pupil consensual response to pen light exposure in right eye.
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C) Small rapid, rhythmic, oscillating movements of eyeballs.
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D) Pupils constrict when focusing on a distant object that moves to the face. -
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ANSWERS-C) Small rapid, rhythmic, oscillating movements of eyeballs.
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A client who is one-day post-
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thyroidectomy begins to develop a stridor. Which priority action should the practical
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
nurse implement?
vn vn
A) Prepare for emergency tracheotomy at the bedside.
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B) Insert a large bore needle for IV access.
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C) Give the client oxygen per face mask.
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D) Assess the client for signs of hypocalcemia. - ANSWERS-
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A) Prepare for emergency tracheotomy at the bedside.
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A client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a serum potassium level of 7.0 mE
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
q/L. Which prescription should the practical nurse administer?
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A) Diuretics and IV fluids at keep open rate.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
B) Oral phosphate binders with meals.
vn vn vn vn vn
C) 50% dextrose and regular insulin IV.
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D) Synthetic erythropoietin subcutaneously. - ANSWERS-
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C) 50% dextrose and regular insulin IV.
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When making morning assessments, the practical nurse finds a client who is exhibi
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
ting a new finding of right-
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sided facial drooping. Which assessment is most important for the PN to implemen
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t first?
vn
A) Instruct to squeeze the eyes shut and check for complete closure.
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B) Test all four extremities for movement and strength.
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C) Ask the client to smile, frown, and puff out cheeks.
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D) Use a wisp of cotton to check for corneal reflex. - ANSWERS-
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B) Test all four extremities for movement and strength.
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The practical nurse (PN) is monitoring a client with a comminuted fracture of the le
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
ft femur. Which finding should the PN report to the healthcare provider immediately
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?
A) Rising creatine phosphokinase (CPK).
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B) Elevated white blood count (WBC).
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C) Leg pain of "10" unrelieved by opioids.
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D) Weak left pedal pulses palpated. - ANSWERS-
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C) Leg pain of "10" unrelieved by opioids.
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The practical nurse (PN) receives shift report about a client whose chest x-
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
ray reveals "free air under the right diaphragm." What action should the PN take?
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A) Maintain the client NPO.
vn vn vn vn
PRACTICE TEST EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
An older client is seen in the clinic for an annual physical exam. Which finding sho
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
uld the practical nurse report to the healthcare provider for follow-up?
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
A) Hemoglobin 9.1 grams/dl with positive occult blood in stool.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
B) Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level is low.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
C) Bowel sounds auscultated with occasional borborygmi.
vn vn vn vn vn vn
D) Abdominal tympany with negative rebound tenderness. - ANSWERS-
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
A) Hemoglobin 9.1 grams/dl with positive occult blood in stool.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
An older client who is at a health fair goes to the First Aid station and reports feeli
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
ng tired after a recent screening test revealed a hemoglobin of 10.1 grams. The cli
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
ent asks the practical nurse (PN) what could he do to feel better. What information
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn v
should the PN offer?
n vn vn vn
A) Eat food high in iron, for example red meat.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
B) Take an over-the-counter iron supplement.
vn vn vn vn vn
C) Practice daily stress-relieving measures.
vn vn vn vn
D) Make appointment with healthcare provider. - ANSWERS-
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
D) Make appointment with healthcare provider.
vn vn vn vn vn
The practical nurse (PN) is caring for a client with trigeminal neuralgia associated
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
with Cranial Nerve V pathology. While reinforcing the discharge teaching instructio
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
ns, the PN should include which information?
vn vn vn vn vn vn
A) Encourage a soft diet to minimize chewing.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
B) Instruct the client to thicken all oral liquids.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
C) Take deep breaths to minimize respiratory effort.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
D) Ambulate with a walker to reduce the risk of falling. - ANSWERS-
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
A) Encourage a soft diet to minimize chewing.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
Which information should the practical nurse (PN) reinforce with a female client wh
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
o has a history of frequent urinary tract infections (UTI)?
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
A) Drink a glass of cranberry juice daily.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
B) Use unscented soap for a bubble bath.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
C) Void every 8 hours while awake.
vn vn vn vn vn vn
D) Empty bladder before showering. - ANSWERS-
vn vn vn vn vn vn
A) Drink a glass of cranberry juice daily.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
A male client who arrives at the clinic for an eye examination tells the practical nur
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
se (PN) that he has recently experienced blurred vision. Which finding is most imp
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
ortant for the PN to report to the healthcare provider?
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
, A) Inability to identify the colors of numbers on an eye chart.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
B) Left pupil consensual response to pen light exposure in right eye.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
C) Small rapid, rhythmic, oscillating movements of eyeballs.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
D) Pupils constrict when focusing on a distant object that moves to the face. -
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
ANSWERS-C) Small rapid, rhythmic, oscillating movements of eyeballs.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
A client who is one-day post-
vn vn vn vn vn
thyroidectomy begins to develop a stridor. Which priority action should the practical
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
nurse implement?
vn vn
A) Prepare for emergency tracheotomy at the bedside.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
B) Insert a large bore needle for IV access.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
C) Give the client oxygen per face mask.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
D) Assess the client for signs of hypocalcemia. - ANSWERS-
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
A) Prepare for emergency tracheotomy at the bedside.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
A client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a serum potassium level of 7.0 mE
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
q/L. Which prescription should the practical nurse administer?
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
A) Diuretics and IV fluids at keep open rate.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
B) Oral phosphate binders with meals.
vn vn vn vn vn
C) 50% dextrose and regular insulin IV.
vn vn vn vn vn vn
D) Synthetic erythropoietin subcutaneously. - ANSWERS-
vn vn vn vn vn
C) 50% dextrose and regular insulin IV.
vn vn vn vn vn vn
When making morning assessments, the practical nurse finds a client who is exhibi
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
ting a new finding of right-
vn vn vn vn vn
sided facial drooping. Which assessment is most important for the PN to implemen
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
t first?
vn
A) Instruct to squeeze the eyes shut and check for complete closure.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
B) Test all four extremities for movement and strength.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
C) Ask the client to smile, frown, and puff out cheeks.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
D) Use a wisp of cotton to check for corneal reflex. - ANSWERS-
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
B) Test all four extremities for movement and strength.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
The practical nurse (PN) is monitoring a client with a comminuted fracture of the le
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
ft femur. Which finding should the PN report to the healthcare provider immediately
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
?
A) Rising creatine phosphokinase (CPK).
vn vn vn vn
B) Elevated white blood count (WBC).
vn vn vn vn vn
C) Leg pain of "10" unrelieved by opioids.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
D) Weak left pedal pulses palpated. - ANSWERS-
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
C) Leg pain of "10" unrelieved by opioids.
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
The practical nurse (PN) receives shift report about a client whose chest x-
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
ray reveals "free air under the right diaphragm." What action should the PN take?
vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn vn
A) Maintain the client NPO.
vn vn vn vn
