HESI RN MED SURG EXIT 400 COMPREHENSIVE
EXAM 2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS ALREADY PASSED
◉ A client with Graves' disease is treated with radioactive iodine
(RAI) in the
form of sodium iodide 131I. Which of the following statements by
the nurse will explain to the client how the drug works?
1. "The RAI stabilizes the thyroid hormone levels before a
thyroidectomy."
2. "The RAI reduces uptake of thyroxine and thereby improves your
condition."
3. "The RAI lowers the levels of thyroid hormones by slowing your
body's
production of them."
4. "The RAI destroys thyroid tissue so that thyroid hormones are no
longer produced.".
Answer: 4. "The RAI destroys thyroid tissue so that thyroid
hormones are no longer produced."
,Sodium iodide 131I destroys the thyroid follicular cells, and thyroid
hormones are no longer produced. RAI is commonly recommended
for clients with Graves'
disease, especially the elderly. The treatment results in a "medical
thyroidectomy." RAI is given in lieu of surgery, not before surgery.
RAI does not reduce uptake of thyroxine.
The outcome of giving RAI is the destruction of the thyroid follicular
cells. It is possible to slow the production of thyroid hormones with
RAI.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Synthesize
◉ After treatment with radioactive iodine (RAI) in the form of
sodium iodide 131I, the nurse teaches the client to:
1. Monitor for signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
2. Rest for 1 week to prevent complications of the medication.
3. Take thyroxine replacement for the remainder of the client's life.
4. Assess for hypertension and tachycardia resulting from altered
thyroid activity..
Answer: 3. Take thyroxine replacement for the remainder of the
client's life.
,The client needs to be educated about the need for lifelong thyroid
hormone replacement. Permanent hypothyroidism is the major
complication of RAI 131I treatment. Lifelong medical follow-up and
thyroid replacement are warranted. The client needs to
monitor for signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism, not
hyperthyroidism. Resting for 1 week is not necessary. Hypertension
and tachycardia are signs of hyperthyroidism, not hypothyroidism.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Synthesize
◉ A client with a large goiter is scheduled for a subtotal
thyroidectomy to treat thyrotoxicosis. Saturated solution of
potassium iodide (SSKI) is prescribed preoperatively for the client.
The expected outcome of using this drug is that it helps:
1. Slow progression of exophthalmos.
2. Reduce the vascularity of the thyroid gland.
3. Decrease the body's ability to store thyroxine.
4. Increase the body's ability to excrete thyroxine..
Answer: 2. Reduce the vascularity of the thyroid gland.
SSKI is frequently administered before a thyroidectomy because it
helps decrease the vascularity of the thyroid gland. A highly vascular
thyroid gland is very friable, a condition that presents a hazard
, during surgery. Preparation of the client for surgery includes
depleting the gland of thyroid hormone and decreasing vascularity.
SSKI does not decrease the progression of exophthalmos, and it does
not decrease the body's ability to store thyroxine or increase the
body's ability to excrete thyroxine.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Apply
◉ The nurse is administering a saturated solution of potassium
iodide (SSKI). The nurse should:
1. Pour the solution over ice chips.
2. Mix the solution with an antacid.
3. Dilute the solution with water, milk, or fruit juice and have the
client drink it with a straw.
4. Disguise the solution in a pureed fruit or vegetable..
Answer: 3. Dilute the solution with water, milk, or fruit juice and
have the client drink it with a straw.
SSKI should be diluted well in milk, water, juice, or a carbonated
beverage before administration to help disguise the strong, bitter
taste. Also, this drug is irritating
to mucosa if taken undiluted. The client should sip the diluted
preparation through a drinking straw to help prevent staining of the
EXAM 2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS ALREADY PASSED
◉ A client with Graves' disease is treated with radioactive iodine
(RAI) in the
form of sodium iodide 131I. Which of the following statements by
the nurse will explain to the client how the drug works?
1. "The RAI stabilizes the thyroid hormone levels before a
thyroidectomy."
2. "The RAI reduces uptake of thyroxine and thereby improves your
condition."
3. "The RAI lowers the levels of thyroid hormones by slowing your
body's
production of them."
4. "The RAI destroys thyroid tissue so that thyroid hormones are no
longer produced.".
Answer: 4. "The RAI destroys thyroid tissue so that thyroid
hormones are no longer produced."
,Sodium iodide 131I destroys the thyroid follicular cells, and thyroid
hormones are no longer produced. RAI is commonly recommended
for clients with Graves'
disease, especially the elderly. The treatment results in a "medical
thyroidectomy." RAI is given in lieu of surgery, not before surgery.
RAI does not reduce uptake of thyroxine.
The outcome of giving RAI is the destruction of the thyroid follicular
cells. It is possible to slow the production of thyroid hormones with
RAI.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Synthesize
◉ After treatment with radioactive iodine (RAI) in the form of
sodium iodide 131I, the nurse teaches the client to:
1. Monitor for signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
2. Rest for 1 week to prevent complications of the medication.
3. Take thyroxine replacement for the remainder of the client's life.
4. Assess for hypertension and tachycardia resulting from altered
thyroid activity..
Answer: 3. Take thyroxine replacement for the remainder of the
client's life.
,The client needs to be educated about the need for lifelong thyroid
hormone replacement. Permanent hypothyroidism is the major
complication of RAI 131I treatment. Lifelong medical follow-up and
thyroid replacement are warranted. The client needs to
monitor for signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism, not
hyperthyroidism. Resting for 1 week is not necessary. Hypertension
and tachycardia are signs of hyperthyroidism, not hypothyroidism.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Synthesize
◉ A client with a large goiter is scheduled for a subtotal
thyroidectomy to treat thyrotoxicosis. Saturated solution of
potassium iodide (SSKI) is prescribed preoperatively for the client.
The expected outcome of using this drug is that it helps:
1. Slow progression of exophthalmos.
2. Reduce the vascularity of the thyroid gland.
3. Decrease the body's ability to store thyroxine.
4. Increase the body's ability to excrete thyroxine..
Answer: 2. Reduce the vascularity of the thyroid gland.
SSKI is frequently administered before a thyroidectomy because it
helps decrease the vascularity of the thyroid gland. A highly vascular
thyroid gland is very friable, a condition that presents a hazard
, during surgery. Preparation of the client for surgery includes
depleting the gland of thyroid hormone and decreasing vascularity.
SSKI does not decrease the progression of exophthalmos, and it does
not decrease the body's ability to store thyroxine or increase the
body's ability to excrete thyroxine.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Apply
◉ The nurse is administering a saturated solution of potassium
iodide (SSKI). The nurse should:
1. Pour the solution over ice chips.
2. Mix the solution with an antacid.
3. Dilute the solution with water, milk, or fruit juice and have the
client drink it with a straw.
4. Disguise the solution in a pureed fruit or vegetable..
Answer: 3. Dilute the solution with water, milk, or fruit juice and
have the client drink it with a straw.
SSKI should be diluted well in milk, water, juice, or a carbonated
beverage before administration to help disguise the strong, bitter
taste. Also, this drug is irritating
to mucosa if taken undiluted. The client should sip the diluted
preparation through a drinking straw to help prevent staining of the
