HESI RN Med-Surg Exam | Actual 2026/2027
Exam Version | All Questions with Correct
Answers and Rationales | Professor Verified
and A+ Graded
Question 1
A patient scheduled for an elective hysterectomy tells the nurse, "I am afraid that I
will die in surgery like my mother did!" Which initial response should the nurse
provide?
A. "Tell me more about what happened to your mother."
B. "Surgical techniques have improved in recent years."
C. "You will receive medication to reduce your anxiety."
D. "You should talk to the doctor again about the surgery."
Correct Answer: A. "Tell me more about what happened to your mother."
Rationale: The nurse should first explore the patient's specific fears and concerns.
Active listening and therapeutic communication help identify underlying issues and
build trust .
Question 2
A patient arrives at the outpatient surgical center for a scheduled laparoscopy
under general anesthesia. Which information requires the nurse's intervention to
maintain patient safety?
A. The patient has never had general anesthesia.
B. The patient is planning to drive home after surgery.
C. The patient drank a sip of water 4 hours before arriving.
D. The patient's insurance does not cover outpatient surgery.
Correct Answer: B. The patient is planning to drive home after surgery.
,Rationale: Patients receiving general anesthesia must not drive for at least 24 hours due
to residual effects of anesthetic agents and sedation .
Question 3
The nurse is preparing to witness the patient signing the preoperative consent
form when the patient says, "I don't understand what the doctor said about the
surgery." Which action should the nurse take?
A. Provide a thorough explanation of the planned surgical procedure.
B. Notify the surgeon that the informed consent process is not complete.
C. Give the prescribed preoperative antibiotics and withhold sedative medications.
D. Notify the operating room nurse to give a complete explanation of the procedure.
Correct Answer: B. Notify the surgeon that the informed consent process is not
complete.
Rationale: The nurse cannot provide the explanation of the surgery; only the surgeon
can. The nurse should notify the surgeon that the informed consent is incomplete .
Question 4
Which topic should the nurse discuss preoperatively with a patient who is
scheduled for an open cholecystectomy?
A. Care for the surgical incision
B. Deep breathing and coughing
C. Oral antibiotic therapy after discharge
D. Medications to be used during surgery
Correct Answer: B. Deep breathing and coughing
Rationale: Preoperative teaching for abdominal surgery should include deep breathing
and coughing exercises to prevent postoperative atelectasis and pneumonia .
Question 5
,Which information is important to communicate to the surgeon and
anesthesiologist before a patient undergoes general anesthesia for bilateral hernia
repair?
A. The patient's history of smoking
B. The patient's family history of malignant hyperthermia
C. The patient's anxiety about the procedure
D. The patient's preference for postoperative pain management
Correct Answer: B. The patient's family history of malignant hyperthermia
Rationale: Malignant hyperthermia is a life-threatening genetic condition triggered by
certain anesthetic agents. Family history is critical to communicate .
Question 6
The operating room nurse is providing orientation to a new nurse. Which action
should the nurse describe as a routine responsibility of the scrub nurse?
A. Document all patient care accurately.
B. Label all specimens to send to the laboratory.
C. Keep both hands above the operating table level.
D. Take the patient to the post-anesthesia recovery area.
Correct Answer: C. Keep both hands above the operating table level.
Rationale: The scrub nurse must keep sterile gloved hands above the waist and within
the sterile field to maintain sterility. Hands below waist level are considered
contaminated .
Question 7
Which potential complication should the nurse monitor for in a patient who
received inhalation anesthesia?
A. Tachypnea
B. Myoclonus
, C. Hypertension
D. Laryngospasm
Correct Answer: D. Laryngospasm
Rationale: Inhalation anesthesia can irritate the airway and cause laryngospasm, a
serious complication requiring immediate intervention .
Question 8
While in the holding area, a patient reveals to the nurse that his father had a high
fever after surgery. Which action by the nurse is a priority?
A. Notify the patient that the surgery will be canceled.
B. Place a medical alert sticker on the front of the patient's chart.
C. Alert the anesthesia care provider of the family member's reaction to surgery.
D. Reassure the patient that his temperature will be monitored closely after surgery.
Correct Answer: B. Place a medical alert sticker on the front of the patient's chart.
Rationale: Family history of malignant hyperthermia requires clear identification to alert
the entire surgical team .
Question 9
A patient in surgery receives a neuromuscular blocking agent as an adjunct to
general anesthesia. While in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), which
assessment finding is most important for the nurse to report?
A. Lethargy
B. Report of nausea
C. Disorientation to time
D. Weak chest movement
Correct Answer: D. Weak chest movement
Rationale: Residual neuromuscular blockade can cause respiratory insufficiency, which
is a life-threatening complication. Weak chest movement requires immediate
intervention .
Exam Version | All Questions with Correct
Answers and Rationales | Professor Verified
and A+ Graded
Question 1
A patient scheduled for an elective hysterectomy tells the nurse, "I am afraid that I
will die in surgery like my mother did!" Which initial response should the nurse
provide?
A. "Tell me more about what happened to your mother."
B. "Surgical techniques have improved in recent years."
C. "You will receive medication to reduce your anxiety."
D. "You should talk to the doctor again about the surgery."
Correct Answer: A. "Tell me more about what happened to your mother."
Rationale: The nurse should first explore the patient's specific fears and concerns.
Active listening and therapeutic communication help identify underlying issues and
build trust .
Question 2
A patient arrives at the outpatient surgical center for a scheduled laparoscopy
under general anesthesia. Which information requires the nurse's intervention to
maintain patient safety?
A. The patient has never had general anesthesia.
B. The patient is planning to drive home after surgery.
C. The patient drank a sip of water 4 hours before arriving.
D. The patient's insurance does not cover outpatient surgery.
Correct Answer: B. The patient is planning to drive home after surgery.
,Rationale: Patients receiving general anesthesia must not drive for at least 24 hours due
to residual effects of anesthetic agents and sedation .
Question 3
The nurse is preparing to witness the patient signing the preoperative consent
form when the patient says, "I don't understand what the doctor said about the
surgery." Which action should the nurse take?
A. Provide a thorough explanation of the planned surgical procedure.
B. Notify the surgeon that the informed consent process is not complete.
C. Give the prescribed preoperative antibiotics and withhold sedative medications.
D. Notify the operating room nurse to give a complete explanation of the procedure.
Correct Answer: B. Notify the surgeon that the informed consent process is not
complete.
Rationale: The nurse cannot provide the explanation of the surgery; only the surgeon
can. The nurse should notify the surgeon that the informed consent is incomplete .
Question 4
Which topic should the nurse discuss preoperatively with a patient who is
scheduled for an open cholecystectomy?
A. Care for the surgical incision
B. Deep breathing and coughing
C. Oral antibiotic therapy after discharge
D. Medications to be used during surgery
Correct Answer: B. Deep breathing and coughing
Rationale: Preoperative teaching for abdominal surgery should include deep breathing
and coughing exercises to prevent postoperative atelectasis and pneumonia .
Question 5
,Which information is important to communicate to the surgeon and
anesthesiologist before a patient undergoes general anesthesia for bilateral hernia
repair?
A. The patient's history of smoking
B. The patient's family history of malignant hyperthermia
C. The patient's anxiety about the procedure
D. The patient's preference for postoperative pain management
Correct Answer: B. The patient's family history of malignant hyperthermia
Rationale: Malignant hyperthermia is a life-threatening genetic condition triggered by
certain anesthetic agents. Family history is critical to communicate .
Question 6
The operating room nurse is providing orientation to a new nurse. Which action
should the nurse describe as a routine responsibility of the scrub nurse?
A. Document all patient care accurately.
B. Label all specimens to send to the laboratory.
C. Keep both hands above the operating table level.
D. Take the patient to the post-anesthesia recovery area.
Correct Answer: C. Keep both hands above the operating table level.
Rationale: The scrub nurse must keep sterile gloved hands above the waist and within
the sterile field to maintain sterility. Hands below waist level are considered
contaminated .
Question 7
Which potential complication should the nurse monitor for in a patient who
received inhalation anesthesia?
A. Tachypnea
B. Myoclonus
, C. Hypertension
D. Laryngospasm
Correct Answer: D. Laryngospasm
Rationale: Inhalation anesthesia can irritate the airway and cause laryngospasm, a
serious complication requiring immediate intervention .
Question 8
While in the holding area, a patient reveals to the nurse that his father had a high
fever after surgery. Which action by the nurse is a priority?
A. Notify the patient that the surgery will be canceled.
B. Place a medical alert sticker on the front of the patient's chart.
C. Alert the anesthesia care provider of the family member's reaction to surgery.
D. Reassure the patient that his temperature will be monitored closely after surgery.
Correct Answer: B. Place a medical alert sticker on the front of the patient's chart.
Rationale: Family history of malignant hyperthermia requires clear identification to alert
the entire surgical team .
Question 9
A patient in surgery receives a neuromuscular blocking agent as an adjunct to
general anesthesia. While in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), which
assessment finding is most important for the nurse to report?
A. Lethargy
B. Report of nausea
C. Disorientation to time
D. Weak chest movement
Correct Answer: D. Weak chest movement
Rationale: Residual neuromuscular blockade can cause respiratory insufficiency, which
is a life-threatening complication. Weak chest movement requires immediate
intervention .
