HESI MED SURG EXAM SCRIPT
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS
◉ The nurse assesses a patient with shortness of breath for evidence
of long-standing hypoxemia by inspecting:
A. Chest excursion
B. Spinal curvatures
C. The respiratory pattern
D. The fingernail and its base. Answer: D. The fingernail and its base
Clubbing, a sign of long-standing hypoxemia, is evidenced by an
increase in the angle between the base of the nail and the fingernail to
180 degrees or more, usually accompanied by an increase in the
depth, bulk, and sponginess of the end of the finger.
◉ 2. The nurse is caring for a patient with COPD and pneumonia who
has an order for arterial blood gases to be drawn. Which of the
following is the minimum length of time the nurse should plan to hold
pressure on the puncture site?
A. 2 minutes
B. 5 minutes
C. 10 minutes
D. 15 minutes. Answer: B. 5 minutes Following obtaining an arterial
blood gas, the nurse should hold pressure on the puncture site for 5
minutes by the clock to be sure that bleeding has stopped. An artery is
an elastic vessel under higher pressure than veins, and significant
blood loss or hematoma formation could occur if the time is
insufficient.
,◉ 3. The nurse notices clear nasal drainage in a patient newly
admitted with facial trauma, including a nasal fracture. The nurse
should:
A. test the drainage for the presence of glucose.
B. suction the nose to maintain airway clearance.
C. document the findings and continue monitoring.
D. apply a drip pad and reassure the patient this is normal.. Answer:
A. test the drainage for the presence of glucose. Clear nasal drainage
suggests leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The drainage should be
tested for the presence of glucose, which would indicate the presence
of CSF.
◉ 4. When caring for a patient who is 3 hours postoperative
laryngectomy, the nurse's highest priority assessment would be:
A. Airway patency
B. Patient comfort
C. Incisional drainage
D. Blood pressure and heart rate. Answer: A. Airway patency
Remember ABCs with prioritization. Airway patency is always the
highest priority and is essential for a patient undergoing surgery
surrounding the upper respiratory system.
◉ 5. When initially teaching a patient the supraglottic swallow
following a radical neck dissection, with which of the following foods
should the nurse begin?
A. Cola
B. Applesauce
C. French fries
D. White grape juice. Answer: A. ColaWhen learning the supraglottic
swallow, it may be helpful to start with carbonated beverages because
,the effervescence provides clues about the liquid's position. Thin,
watery fluids should be avoided because they are difficult to swallow
and increase the risk of aspiration. Nonpourable pureed foods, such as
applesauce, would decrease the risk of aspiration, but carbonated
beverages are the better choice to start with.
◉ 6. The nurse is caring for a patient admitted to the hospital with
pneumonia. Upon assessment, the nurse notes a temperature of 101.4°
F, a productive cough with yellow sputum and a respiratory rate of 20.
Which of the following nursing diagnosis is most appropriate based
upon this assessment? A. Hyperthermia related to infectious illness
B. Ineffective thermoregulation related to chilling
C. Ineffective breathing pattern related to pneumonia
D. Ineffective airway clearance related to thick secretions. Answer: A.
Hyperthermia related to infectious illness Because the patient has
spiked a temperature and has a diagnosis of pneumonia, the logical
nursing diagnosis is hyperthermia related to infectious illness. There
is no evidence of a chill, and her breathing pattern is within normal
limits at 20 breaths per minute. There is no evidence of ineffective
airway clearance from the information given because the patient is
expectorating sputum.
◉ 7. Which of the following physical assessment findings in a patient
with pneumonia best supports the nursing diagnosis of ineffective
airway clearance? A. Oxygen saturation of 85%
B. Respiratory rate of 28
C. Presence of greenish sputum
D. Basilar crackles. Answer: D. Basilar crackles The presence of
adventitious breath sounds indicates that there is accumulation of
secretions in the lower airways. This would be consistent with a
nursing diagnosis of ineffective airway clearance because the patient
is retaining secretions.
, ◉ 8. Which of the following clinical manifestations would the nurse
expect to find during assessment of a patient admitted with
pneumococcal pneumonia? A. Hyperresonance on percussion
B. Fine crackles in all lobes on auscultation
C. Increased vocal fremitus on palpation D. Vesicular breath sounds in
all lobes. Answer: C. Increased vocal fremitus on palpation. A typical
physical examination finding for a patient with pneumonia is
increased vocal fremitus on palpation. Other signs of pulmonary
consolidation include dullness to percussion, bronchial breath sounds,
and crackles in the affected area.
◉ 9. Which of the following nursing interventions is of the highest
priority in helping a patient expectorate thick secretions related to
pneumonia?
A. Humidify the oxygen as able
B. Increase fluid intake to 3L/day if tolerated.
C. Administer cough suppressant q4hr.
D. Teach patient to splint the affected area.. Answer: B. Increase fluid
intake to 3L/day if tolerated. Although several interventions may help
the patient expectorate mucus, the highest priority should be on
increasing fluid intake, which will liquefy the secretions so that the
patient can expectorate them more easily. Humidifying the oxygen is
also helpful, but is not the primary intervention. Teaching the patient
to splint the affected area may also be helpful, but does not liquefy the
secretions so that they can be removed.
◉ 10. During discharge teaching for a 65-year-old patient with
emphysema and pneumonia, which of the following vaccines should
the nurse recommend the patient receive?
A. S. aureus
B. H. influenzae
C. Pneumococcal
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS
◉ The nurse assesses a patient with shortness of breath for evidence
of long-standing hypoxemia by inspecting:
A. Chest excursion
B. Spinal curvatures
C. The respiratory pattern
D. The fingernail and its base. Answer: D. The fingernail and its base
Clubbing, a sign of long-standing hypoxemia, is evidenced by an
increase in the angle between the base of the nail and the fingernail to
180 degrees or more, usually accompanied by an increase in the
depth, bulk, and sponginess of the end of the finger.
◉ 2. The nurse is caring for a patient with COPD and pneumonia who
has an order for arterial blood gases to be drawn. Which of the
following is the minimum length of time the nurse should plan to hold
pressure on the puncture site?
A. 2 minutes
B. 5 minutes
C. 10 minutes
D. 15 minutes. Answer: B. 5 minutes Following obtaining an arterial
blood gas, the nurse should hold pressure on the puncture site for 5
minutes by the clock to be sure that bleeding has stopped. An artery is
an elastic vessel under higher pressure than veins, and significant
blood loss or hematoma formation could occur if the time is
insufficient.
,◉ 3. The nurse notices clear nasal drainage in a patient newly
admitted with facial trauma, including a nasal fracture. The nurse
should:
A. test the drainage for the presence of glucose.
B. suction the nose to maintain airway clearance.
C. document the findings and continue monitoring.
D. apply a drip pad and reassure the patient this is normal.. Answer:
A. test the drainage for the presence of glucose. Clear nasal drainage
suggests leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The drainage should be
tested for the presence of glucose, which would indicate the presence
of CSF.
◉ 4. When caring for a patient who is 3 hours postoperative
laryngectomy, the nurse's highest priority assessment would be:
A. Airway patency
B. Patient comfort
C. Incisional drainage
D. Blood pressure and heart rate. Answer: A. Airway patency
Remember ABCs with prioritization. Airway patency is always the
highest priority and is essential for a patient undergoing surgery
surrounding the upper respiratory system.
◉ 5. When initially teaching a patient the supraglottic swallow
following a radical neck dissection, with which of the following foods
should the nurse begin?
A. Cola
B. Applesauce
C. French fries
D. White grape juice. Answer: A. ColaWhen learning the supraglottic
swallow, it may be helpful to start with carbonated beverages because
,the effervescence provides clues about the liquid's position. Thin,
watery fluids should be avoided because they are difficult to swallow
and increase the risk of aspiration. Nonpourable pureed foods, such as
applesauce, would decrease the risk of aspiration, but carbonated
beverages are the better choice to start with.
◉ 6. The nurse is caring for a patient admitted to the hospital with
pneumonia. Upon assessment, the nurse notes a temperature of 101.4°
F, a productive cough with yellow sputum and a respiratory rate of 20.
Which of the following nursing diagnosis is most appropriate based
upon this assessment? A. Hyperthermia related to infectious illness
B. Ineffective thermoregulation related to chilling
C. Ineffective breathing pattern related to pneumonia
D. Ineffective airway clearance related to thick secretions. Answer: A.
Hyperthermia related to infectious illness Because the patient has
spiked a temperature and has a diagnosis of pneumonia, the logical
nursing diagnosis is hyperthermia related to infectious illness. There
is no evidence of a chill, and her breathing pattern is within normal
limits at 20 breaths per minute. There is no evidence of ineffective
airway clearance from the information given because the patient is
expectorating sputum.
◉ 7. Which of the following physical assessment findings in a patient
with pneumonia best supports the nursing diagnosis of ineffective
airway clearance? A. Oxygen saturation of 85%
B. Respiratory rate of 28
C. Presence of greenish sputum
D. Basilar crackles. Answer: D. Basilar crackles The presence of
adventitious breath sounds indicates that there is accumulation of
secretions in the lower airways. This would be consistent with a
nursing diagnosis of ineffective airway clearance because the patient
is retaining secretions.
, ◉ 8. Which of the following clinical manifestations would the nurse
expect to find during assessment of a patient admitted with
pneumococcal pneumonia? A. Hyperresonance on percussion
B. Fine crackles in all lobes on auscultation
C. Increased vocal fremitus on palpation D. Vesicular breath sounds in
all lobes. Answer: C. Increased vocal fremitus on palpation. A typical
physical examination finding for a patient with pneumonia is
increased vocal fremitus on palpation. Other signs of pulmonary
consolidation include dullness to percussion, bronchial breath sounds,
and crackles in the affected area.
◉ 9. Which of the following nursing interventions is of the highest
priority in helping a patient expectorate thick secretions related to
pneumonia?
A. Humidify the oxygen as able
B. Increase fluid intake to 3L/day if tolerated.
C. Administer cough suppressant q4hr.
D. Teach patient to splint the affected area.. Answer: B. Increase fluid
intake to 3L/day if tolerated. Although several interventions may help
the patient expectorate mucus, the highest priority should be on
increasing fluid intake, which will liquefy the secretions so that the
patient can expectorate them more easily. Humidifying the oxygen is
also helpful, but is not the primary intervention. Teaching the patient
to splint the affected area may also be helpful, but does not liquefy the
secretions so that they can be removed.
◉ 10. During discharge teaching for a 65-year-old patient with
emphysema and pneumonia, which of the following vaccines should
the nurse recommend the patient receive?
A. S. aureus
B. H. influenzae
C. Pneumococcal
