HESI COMPASS MODULE EXAM 5 STUDY
GUIDE 2026 MEDICAL SURGICAL
COMPLEX CASE MANAGEMENT
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ A nurse enters a client's room to administer a medication that has
been prescribed by the physician. The client asks the nurse about
the medication. Which response by the nurse is appropriate?
"You need to discuss this medication with your physician."
"It's to help get rid of the swelling in your feet."
"I know that it's for fluid buildup, and I think you've taken it before."
"It's called furosemide, and it will promote urination and rid your
body of the excess fluid. It can cause an alteration in electrolyte
levels, so we'll need to increase the potassium in y
Answer: "It's called furosemide (Lasix), and it will promote
urination and rid your body of the excess fluid. It can cause an
alteration in electrolyte levels, so we'll need to increase the
potassium in your diet."
◉ ** A nursing student is assigned to care for a client who requires a
total bed bath. When the student explains to the client that she is
going to gather supplies to administer the bath, the client states, "I
,don't want a bath. I've been up all night, and I'm clean enough." The
student reports the client's refusal to the nurse in charge. Which
action by the nurse in charge is appropriate?
Telling the nursing student to persuade the client to have a bath so
that the evening shift staff will not have to do it
Telling the nursing student to allow the client to rest
Telling the client that the primary health care provider will be
informed of the refusal of care
Telling the nursing student to give the client the bath anyway
Answer: Telling the nursing student to allow the client to rest
◉ A client with cancer is transported to the radiology department
for a bone scan to determine whether the cancer has metastasized to
bone. While the client is in the radiology department, the client's
wife arrives for a visit and asks what test is being performed on the
client. What should the nurse tell the wife?
She will have to discuss the prescribed test with the client.
A bone scan is being performed.
The radiology department is not clear as to which test has been
prescribed.
She can read the client's medical record to determine what the
primary health care provider prescribed.
,Answer: She will have to discuss the prescribed test with the client.
◉ A married couple is attending a hospital program about in vitro
fertilization. During the program, a crew from a local television
station arrives to film the proceedings because the station is
publicizing a series on hospital services. The nurse conducting the
program should:
Ask the television crew to interview the individuals attending the
program individually
Explain to the television crew that videotaping is not allowed
Allow the television crew to videotape the program as long as they
do not publicize that the program is about in vitro fertilization
Allow the television crew to videotape the program
Answer: Explain to the television crew that videotaping is not
allowed
◉ A nurse is taking a morning break with the unit secretary in the
nurses' lounge. The unit secretary says to the nurse, "I read in Mr.
Gage's medical record that he has gonorrhea." How should the nurse
respond to the secretary?
"Oh, really? I didn't see that!"
"Yes, he does, but be sure not to discuss this with anyone else."
, "Yes, that's why we've imposed contact precautions."
"We can't discuss a client's medical condition."
Answer: "We can't discuss a client's medical condition."
◉ ** A nurse on the night shift is making client rounds. When the
nurse checks a client who is 97 years old and has successfully been
treated for heart failure, he notes that the client is not breathing. If
the client does not have a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order, the nurse
should:
Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
Call the client's primary health care provider
Contact the nursing supervisor for directions
Contact the client's next-of-kin
Answer: Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
◉ A physician informs a nurse that the husband of an unconscious
client with terminal cancer will not grant permission for a do-not-
resuscitate (DNR) order. The physician tells the nurse to perform a
"slow code" and let the client "rest in peace" if she stops breathing.
How should the nurse respond?
Telling the primary health care provider that the client would
probably want to die in peace
GUIDE 2026 MEDICAL SURGICAL
COMPLEX CASE MANAGEMENT
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ A nurse enters a client's room to administer a medication that has
been prescribed by the physician. The client asks the nurse about
the medication. Which response by the nurse is appropriate?
"You need to discuss this medication with your physician."
"It's to help get rid of the swelling in your feet."
"I know that it's for fluid buildup, and I think you've taken it before."
"It's called furosemide, and it will promote urination and rid your
body of the excess fluid. It can cause an alteration in electrolyte
levels, so we'll need to increase the potassium in y
Answer: "It's called furosemide (Lasix), and it will promote
urination and rid your body of the excess fluid. It can cause an
alteration in electrolyte levels, so we'll need to increase the
potassium in your diet."
◉ ** A nursing student is assigned to care for a client who requires a
total bed bath. When the student explains to the client that she is
going to gather supplies to administer the bath, the client states, "I
,don't want a bath. I've been up all night, and I'm clean enough." The
student reports the client's refusal to the nurse in charge. Which
action by the nurse in charge is appropriate?
Telling the nursing student to persuade the client to have a bath so
that the evening shift staff will not have to do it
Telling the nursing student to allow the client to rest
Telling the client that the primary health care provider will be
informed of the refusal of care
Telling the nursing student to give the client the bath anyway
Answer: Telling the nursing student to allow the client to rest
◉ A client with cancer is transported to the radiology department
for a bone scan to determine whether the cancer has metastasized to
bone. While the client is in the radiology department, the client's
wife arrives for a visit and asks what test is being performed on the
client. What should the nurse tell the wife?
She will have to discuss the prescribed test with the client.
A bone scan is being performed.
The radiology department is not clear as to which test has been
prescribed.
She can read the client's medical record to determine what the
primary health care provider prescribed.
,Answer: She will have to discuss the prescribed test with the client.
◉ A married couple is attending a hospital program about in vitro
fertilization. During the program, a crew from a local television
station arrives to film the proceedings because the station is
publicizing a series on hospital services. The nurse conducting the
program should:
Ask the television crew to interview the individuals attending the
program individually
Explain to the television crew that videotaping is not allowed
Allow the television crew to videotape the program as long as they
do not publicize that the program is about in vitro fertilization
Allow the television crew to videotape the program
Answer: Explain to the television crew that videotaping is not
allowed
◉ A nurse is taking a morning break with the unit secretary in the
nurses' lounge. The unit secretary says to the nurse, "I read in Mr.
Gage's medical record that he has gonorrhea." How should the nurse
respond to the secretary?
"Oh, really? I didn't see that!"
"Yes, he does, but be sure not to discuss this with anyone else."
, "Yes, that's why we've imposed contact precautions."
"We can't discuss a client's medical condition."
Answer: "We can't discuss a client's medical condition."
◉ ** A nurse on the night shift is making client rounds. When the
nurse checks a client who is 97 years old and has successfully been
treated for heart failure, he notes that the client is not breathing. If
the client does not have a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order, the nurse
should:
Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
Call the client's primary health care provider
Contact the nursing supervisor for directions
Contact the client's next-of-kin
Answer: Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
◉ A physician informs a nurse that the husband of an unconscious
client with terminal cancer will not grant permission for a do-not-
resuscitate (DNR) order. The physician tells the nurse to perform a
"slow code" and let the client "rest in peace" if she stops breathing.
How should the nurse respond?
Telling the primary health care provider that the client would
probably want to die in peace
