HESI RN Med-Surge Practice Exam
A 20 year old female client calls the nurse to report a lump she found in her breast. Which
response is the best for the nurse to provide?
"Check it again in one month, and if it is still there, schedule an appointment."
"Most lumps are benign, but it is always best to come in for an examination."
"Try not to worry too much about it, because usually, most lumps are benign."
"If you are in your menstrual period it is not a good time to check for lumps." - ANS-Most lumps
are benign, but it is always best to come in form an examination.
\A 32 year old female client complains of severe abdominal pain each month before her
menstrual period, painful intercourse, and painful defecation. Which additional history should the
nurse obtain that is consistent with the client's complaints?
Frequent urinary tract infections.
Inability to get pregnant.
Premenstrual syndrome.
Chronic use of laxatives. - ANS-Inability to get pregnant
\A 46 year old female client is admitted for acute renal failure secondary to diabetes and
hypertension. Which test is the best indicator of adequate glomerular filtration?
Serum creatinine.
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN).
Sedimentation rate.
Urine specific gravity. - ANS-Serum creatinine
\A 49 year old female client arrives at the clinic for an annual exam and asks the nurse why she
becomes excessively diaphoretic and feels warm during nighttime. What is the nurse's best
response?
Explain the effect of the follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones.
Discuss perimenopause and related comfort measures.
Assess lung fields and for a cough productive of blood-tinged mucous.
Ask if a fever above 101 F (38.3 C) has occurred in the last 24 hours. - ANS-Discuss
perimenopause and related comfort measures
\A 51 year old truck driver who smokes two packs of cigarettes a day and is 30 pounds
overweight is diagnosed with having a gastric ulcer. Which content is most important for the
nurse to include in the discharge teaching for this client?
Information about smoking cessation.
Diet instructions for a low-residue diet.
Instructions on a weight-loss program.
The importance of increasing milk in the diet. - ANS-Information about smoking cessation
,\A 57 year old male client is scheduled to have a stress thallium test the following morning and
is NPO after midnight. At 0130, he is agitated because he cannot eat and is demanding food.
Which response is best for the nurse to provide to this client?
"I'm sorry sir, you have a prescription for nothing by mouth from midnight tonight."
"I will let you have one cracker, but that is all you can have for the rest of tonight."
"What did the healthcare provider tell you about the test you are having tomorrow?"
"The test you are having tomorrow requires that you have nothing by mouth tonight." - ANS-The
test you are having tomorrow requires that you have nothing by mouth tonight
\A 58 year old client who has been post menopausal for five years is concerned about the risk of
osteoporosis because her mother has the condition. Which information should the nurse offer?
Osteoporosis is a progressive genetic disease with no effective treatment.
Calcium loss from bones can be slowed by increasing calcium intake and exercise.
Estrogen replacement therapy should be started to prevent the progression osteoporosis.
Low-dose corticosteroid treatment effectively halts the course of osteoporosis. - ANS-Calcium
loss from bones can be slowed by increasing calcium intake and exercise
\A 58 year old client, who has no health problems, asks the nurse about the Pneumovax
vaccine. The nurse's response to the client should be based on which information?
The vaccine is given annually before the flu season to those over 50 years of age.
The immunization is administered once to older adults or persons with a history of chronic
illness.
The vaccine is for all ages and is given primarily to those persons traveling overseas to areas of
infection.
The vaccine will prevent the occurrence of pneumococcal pneumonia for up to five years. -
ANS-The immunization is administered once to older adults or persons with a history of chronic
illness
\A 67 year old woman who lives alone tripped on a rug in her home and fractured her hip. Which
predisposing factor probably led to the fracture in the proximal end of her femur?
Failing eyesight resulting in an unsafe environment.
Renal osteodystrophy resulting from chronic renal failure.
Osteoporosis resulting from hormonal changes.
Cardiovascular changes resulting in small strokes which impair mental acuity. -
ANS-Osteoporosis resulting from hormonal changes
\A 77 year old female client is admitted to the hospital. She is confused, has no appetite, is
nauseated and vomiting, and is complaining of a headache. Her pulse rate is 43 beats per
minute. It is most important for the nurse to assess for which finding?
Wearing dentures.
Use of aspirin prior to admit.
Prescribed nitroglycerin for chest pain.
Takes digitalis. - ANS-Takes digitalis
, \A client experiencing uncontrolled atrial fibrillation is admitted to the telemetry unit. What initial
medication should the nurse anticipate administering to the client?
Xylocaine.
Procainamide.
Phenytoin.
Digoxin. - ANS-Digoxin
\A client has a staging procedure for cancer of the breast and ask the nurse which type of breast
cancer has the poorest prognosis. Which information should the nurse offer the client?
Stage II.
Invasive infiltrating ductal carcinoma.
T1N0M0.
Inflammatory with peau d'orange. - ANS-Inflammatory with peau d'orange
\A client has been hospitalized with a femur fracture and is being treated with traction. which
action by the nurse is the priority when caring for this client?
Assess neurovascular status.
Change the client's position.
Inspect the traction equipment.
Review pain medication orders. - ANS-Assess neurovascular status
\A client has been taking oral corticosteroids for the past five days because of seasonal
allergies. Which assessment finding is of most concern to the nurse?
White blood count of 10,000 mm3.
Serum glucose of 115 mg/dl.
Purulent sputum.
Excessive hunger. - ANS-Purulent sputum
\A client has taken steroids for 12 years to help manage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD). When making a home visit, which nursing function is of greatest importance to this
client? Assess the client's
pulse rate, both apically and radially.
blood pressure, both standing and sitting.
temperature.
skin color and turgor. - ANS-temperature
\A client has undergone insertion of a permanent pacemaker. When developing a discharge
teaching plan, the nurse writes a goal of, "The client will verbalize symptoms of pacemaker
failure." Which symptoms are most important to teach the client?
Facial flushing.
Fever.
Pounding headache.
Feelings of dizziness. - ANS-Feelings of dizziness
A 20 year old female client calls the nurse to report a lump she found in her breast. Which
response is the best for the nurse to provide?
"Check it again in one month, and if it is still there, schedule an appointment."
"Most lumps are benign, but it is always best to come in for an examination."
"Try not to worry too much about it, because usually, most lumps are benign."
"If you are in your menstrual period it is not a good time to check for lumps." - ANS-Most lumps
are benign, but it is always best to come in form an examination.
\A 32 year old female client complains of severe abdominal pain each month before her
menstrual period, painful intercourse, and painful defecation. Which additional history should the
nurse obtain that is consistent with the client's complaints?
Frequent urinary tract infections.
Inability to get pregnant.
Premenstrual syndrome.
Chronic use of laxatives. - ANS-Inability to get pregnant
\A 46 year old female client is admitted for acute renal failure secondary to diabetes and
hypertension. Which test is the best indicator of adequate glomerular filtration?
Serum creatinine.
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN).
Sedimentation rate.
Urine specific gravity. - ANS-Serum creatinine
\A 49 year old female client arrives at the clinic for an annual exam and asks the nurse why she
becomes excessively diaphoretic and feels warm during nighttime. What is the nurse's best
response?
Explain the effect of the follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones.
Discuss perimenopause and related comfort measures.
Assess lung fields and for a cough productive of blood-tinged mucous.
Ask if a fever above 101 F (38.3 C) has occurred in the last 24 hours. - ANS-Discuss
perimenopause and related comfort measures
\A 51 year old truck driver who smokes two packs of cigarettes a day and is 30 pounds
overweight is diagnosed with having a gastric ulcer. Which content is most important for the
nurse to include in the discharge teaching for this client?
Information about smoking cessation.
Diet instructions for a low-residue diet.
Instructions on a weight-loss program.
The importance of increasing milk in the diet. - ANS-Information about smoking cessation
,\A 57 year old male client is scheduled to have a stress thallium test the following morning and
is NPO after midnight. At 0130, he is agitated because he cannot eat and is demanding food.
Which response is best for the nurse to provide to this client?
"I'm sorry sir, you have a prescription for nothing by mouth from midnight tonight."
"I will let you have one cracker, but that is all you can have for the rest of tonight."
"What did the healthcare provider tell you about the test you are having tomorrow?"
"The test you are having tomorrow requires that you have nothing by mouth tonight." - ANS-The
test you are having tomorrow requires that you have nothing by mouth tonight
\A 58 year old client who has been post menopausal for five years is concerned about the risk of
osteoporosis because her mother has the condition. Which information should the nurse offer?
Osteoporosis is a progressive genetic disease with no effective treatment.
Calcium loss from bones can be slowed by increasing calcium intake and exercise.
Estrogen replacement therapy should be started to prevent the progression osteoporosis.
Low-dose corticosteroid treatment effectively halts the course of osteoporosis. - ANS-Calcium
loss from bones can be slowed by increasing calcium intake and exercise
\A 58 year old client, who has no health problems, asks the nurse about the Pneumovax
vaccine. The nurse's response to the client should be based on which information?
The vaccine is given annually before the flu season to those over 50 years of age.
The immunization is administered once to older adults or persons with a history of chronic
illness.
The vaccine is for all ages and is given primarily to those persons traveling overseas to areas of
infection.
The vaccine will prevent the occurrence of pneumococcal pneumonia for up to five years. -
ANS-The immunization is administered once to older adults or persons with a history of chronic
illness
\A 67 year old woman who lives alone tripped on a rug in her home and fractured her hip. Which
predisposing factor probably led to the fracture in the proximal end of her femur?
Failing eyesight resulting in an unsafe environment.
Renal osteodystrophy resulting from chronic renal failure.
Osteoporosis resulting from hormonal changes.
Cardiovascular changes resulting in small strokes which impair mental acuity. -
ANS-Osteoporosis resulting from hormonal changes
\A 77 year old female client is admitted to the hospital. She is confused, has no appetite, is
nauseated and vomiting, and is complaining of a headache. Her pulse rate is 43 beats per
minute. It is most important for the nurse to assess for which finding?
Wearing dentures.
Use of aspirin prior to admit.
Prescribed nitroglycerin for chest pain.
Takes digitalis. - ANS-Takes digitalis
, \A client experiencing uncontrolled atrial fibrillation is admitted to the telemetry unit. What initial
medication should the nurse anticipate administering to the client?
Xylocaine.
Procainamide.
Phenytoin.
Digoxin. - ANS-Digoxin
\A client has a staging procedure for cancer of the breast and ask the nurse which type of breast
cancer has the poorest prognosis. Which information should the nurse offer the client?
Stage II.
Invasive infiltrating ductal carcinoma.
T1N0M0.
Inflammatory with peau d'orange. - ANS-Inflammatory with peau d'orange
\A client has been hospitalized with a femur fracture and is being treated with traction. which
action by the nurse is the priority when caring for this client?
Assess neurovascular status.
Change the client's position.
Inspect the traction equipment.
Review pain medication orders. - ANS-Assess neurovascular status
\A client has been taking oral corticosteroids for the past five days because of seasonal
allergies. Which assessment finding is of most concern to the nurse?
White blood count of 10,000 mm3.
Serum glucose of 115 mg/dl.
Purulent sputum.
Excessive hunger. - ANS-Purulent sputum
\A client has taken steroids for 12 years to help manage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD). When making a home visit, which nursing function is of greatest importance to this
client? Assess the client's
pulse rate, both apically and radially.
blood pressure, both standing and sitting.
temperature.
skin color and turgor. - ANS-temperature
\A client has undergone insertion of a permanent pacemaker. When developing a discharge
teaching plan, the nurse writes a goal of, "The client will verbalize symptoms of pacemaker
failure." Which symptoms are most important to teach the client?
Facial flushing.
Fever.
Pounding headache.
Feelings of dizziness. - ANS-Feelings of dizziness
