HESI RN MEDICAL SURGICAL
EXAM PACK 2025
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
[Document subtitle]
[DATE]
[COMPANY NAME]
[Company address]
,1. An ER nurse is completing an assessment on a patient that is alert but struggles
to answer questions. When she attempts to talk, she slurs her speech and
appears very frightened. What additional clinical manifestation does the nurse
expect to find if Nancy's symptoms have been caused by a brain attack (stroke)?
o A) A carotid bruit
o B) A hypotensive blood pressure
o C) Hyperreflexic deep tendon reflexes
o D) Decreased bowel sounds
o Answer: A) A carotid bruit.
2. Which clinical manifestation further supports an assessment of a left-sided
brain attack?
o A) Visual field deficit on the left side
o B) Spatial-perceptual deficits
o C) Paresthesia of the left side
o D) Global aphasia
o Answer: D) Global aphasia.
3. When preparing a patient for a noncontrast computed tomography (CT) scan
STAT, what nursing intervention should the nurse implement?
o A) Determine if the client has any allergies to iodine
o B) Explain that the client will not be able to move her head throughout the
CT scan
o C) Premedicate the client to decrease pain prior to having the procedure
o D) Provide an explanation of relaxation exercises prior to the procedure
o Answer: B) Explain that the client will not be able to move her head
throughout the CT scan.
4. A neurologist prescribes a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head STAT
for a patient. Which data warrants immediate intervention by the nurse
concerning this diagnostic test?
o A) Elevated blood pressure
o B) Allergy to shellfish
o C) Right hip replacement
, o D) History of atrial fibrillation
o Answer: C) Right hip replacement.
5. A client's daughter is sitting by her mother's bedside who was recently
transferred to the Intermediate Care Unit. She states "I don't understand what a
brain attack is. The healthcare provider told me my mother is in serious condition
and they are going to run several tests. I just don't know what is going on. What
happened to my mother?" What is the best response by the nurse?
o A) "I am sorry, but according to the Health Insurance Portability and
Accounting Act (HIPAA), I cannot give you any information."
o B) "Your mother has had a stroke, and the blood supply to the brain has
been blocked."
o C) "How do you feel about what the healthcare provider said?"
o D) "I will call the healthcare provider so he/she can talk to you about your
mother's serious condition."
o Answer: B) "Your mother has had a stroke, and the blood supply to the
brain has been blocked."
6. What is the normal range for cardiac output?
o Answer: The normal range for cardiac output to ensure cerebral blood
flow and oxygen delivery is 4 to 8 L/min.
7. A client was admitted with the diagnosis of a brain attack. Their symptoms began
24 hours before being admitted. Why would this client not be a candidate for
thrombolytic therapy?
o Answer: Thrombolytic therapy is contraindicated in clients with
symptom onset longer than 3 hours prior to admission. This client had
symptoms for 24 hours before being brought to the medical center.
8. What are plate guards?
o Answer: Plate guards prevent food from being pushed off the plate.
Using plate guards and other assistive devices will encourage
independence in a client with a self-care deficit.
9. Which condition is considered a non-modifiable risk factor for a brain attack?
o A) High cholesterol levels
o B) Obesity
o C) History of atrial fibrillation
, o D) Advanced age
o Answer: D) Advanced age.
10. A client is experiencing homonymous hemianopsia as the result of a brain
attack. Which nursing intervention would the nurse implement to address this
condition?
o A) Turn Nancy every two hours and perform active range of motion
exercises.
o B) Place the objects Nancy needs for activities of daily living on the left
side of the table.
o C) Speak slowly and clearly to assist Nancy in forming sounds to words.
o D) Request that the dietary department thicken all liquids on Nancy's
meal and snack trays.
o Answer: B) Place the objects Nancy needs for activities of daily living
on the left side of the table.
11. A physical therapist (PT) places a gait belt on a client and is assisting them with
ambulation from the bed to the chair. As they get up out of the bed, they report
being dizzy and begin to fall. The PT carefully allows them to fall back to the bed
and notifies the primary nurse. Which written documentation should the nurse
put in the client's record?
o A) Client experienced orthostatic hypotension when getting out of bed.
o B) PT reported client complained of dizziness when getting out of bed, and
gait belt was used to allow client to fall back onto the bed.
o C) PT notified the primary nurse that the client could not ambulate at this
time because of dizziness.
o D) Client had difficulty ambulating from the bed to the chair when
accompanied by the PT, variance report completed.
o Answer: B) PT reported client complained of dizziness when getting
out of bed, and gait belt was used to allow client to fall back onto the
bed.
12. A new nurse graduate is caring for a postoperative client with the following
arterial blood gases (ABGs): pH, 7.30; PCO2, 60 mm Hg; PO2, 80 mm Hg;
bicarbonate, 24 mEq/L; and O2 saturation, 96%. Which of these actions by the
new graduate is indicated?
o A) Encourage the client to use the incentive spirometer and to cough.
EXAM PACK 2025
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
[Document subtitle]
[DATE]
[COMPANY NAME]
[Company address]
,1. An ER nurse is completing an assessment on a patient that is alert but struggles
to answer questions. When she attempts to talk, she slurs her speech and
appears very frightened. What additional clinical manifestation does the nurse
expect to find if Nancy's symptoms have been caused by a brain attack (stroke)?
o A) A carotid bruit
o B) A hypotensive blood pressure
o C) Hyperreflexic deep tendon reflexes
o D) Decreased bowel sounds
o Answer: A) A carotid bruit.
2. Which clinical manifestation further supports an assessment of a left-sided
brain attack?
o A) Visual field deficit on the left side
o B) Spatial-perceptual deficits
o C) Paresthesia of the left side
o D) Global aphasia
o Answer: D) Global aphasia.
3. When preparing a patient for a noncontrast computed tomography (CT) scan
STAT, what nursing intervention should the nurse implement?
o A) Determine if the client has any allergies to iodine
o B) Explain that the client will not be able to move her head throughout the
CT scan
o C) Premedicate the client to decrease pain prior to having the procedure
o D) Provide an explanation of relaxation exercises prior to the procedure
o Answer: B) Explain that the client will not be able to move her head
throughout the CT scan.
4. A neurologist prescribes a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head STAT
for a patient. Which data warrants immediate intervention by the nurse
concerning this diagnostic test?
o A) Elevated blood pressure
o B) Allergy to shellfish
o C) Right hip replacement
, o D) History of atrial fibrillation
o Answer: C) Right hip replacement.
5. A client's daughter is sitting by her mother's bedside who was recently
transferred to the Intermediate Care Unit. She states "I don't understand what a
brain attack is. The healthcare provider told me my mother is in serious condition
and they are going to run several tests. I just don't know what is going on. What
happened to my mother?" What is the best response by the nurse?
o A) "I am sorry, but according to the Health Insurance Portability and
Accounting Act (HIPAA), I cannot give you any information."
o B) "Your mother has had a stroke, and the blood supply to the brain has
been blocked."
o C) "How do you feel about what the healthcare provider said?"
o D) "I will call the healthcare provider so he/she can talk to you about your
mother's serious condition."
o Answer: B) "Your mother has had a stroke, and the blood supply to the
brain has been blocked."
6. What is the normal range for cardiac output?
o Answer: The normal range for cardiac output to ensure cerebral blood
flow and oxygen delivery is 4 to 8 L/min.
7. A client was admitted with the diagnosis of a brain attack. Their symptoms began
24 hours before being admitted. Why would this client not be a candidate for
thrombolytic therapy?
o Answer: Thrombolytic therapy is contraindicated in clients with
symptom onset longer than 3 hours prior to admission. This client had
symptoms for 24 hours before being brought to the medical center.
8. What are plate guards?
o Answer: Plate guards prevent food from being pushed off the plate.
Using plate guards and other assistive devices will encourage
independence in a client with a self-care deficit.
9. Which condition is considered a non-modifiable risk factor for a brain attack?
o A) High cholesterol levels
o B) Obesity
o C) History of atrial fibrillation
, o D) Advanced age
o Answer: D) Advanced age.
10. A client is experiencing homonymous hemianopsia as the result of a brain
attack. Which nursing intervention would the nurse implement to address this
condition?
o A) Turn Nancy every two hours and perform active range of motion
exercises.
o B) Place the objects Nancy needs for activities of daily living on the left
side of the table.
o C) Speak slowly and clearly to assist Nancy in forming sounds to words.
o D) Request that the dietary department thicken all liquids on Nancy's
meal and snack trays.
o Answer: B) Place the objects Nancy needs for activities of daily living
on the left side of the table.
11. A physical therapist (PT) places a gait belt on a client and is assisting them with
ambulation from the bed to the chair. As they get up out of the bed, they report
being dizzy and begin to fall. The PT carefully allows them to fall back to the bed
and notifies the primary nurse. Which written documentation should the nurse
put in the client's record?
o A) Client experienced orthostatic hypotension when getting out of bed.
o B) PT reported client complained of dizziness when getting out of bed, and
gait belt was used to allow client to fall back onto the bed.
o C) PT notified the primary nurse that the client could not ambulate at this
time because of dizziness.
o D) Client had difficulty ambulating from the bed to the chair when
accompanied by the PT, variance report completed.
o Answer: B) PT reported client complained of dizziness when getting
out of bed, and gait belt was used to allow client to fall back onto the
bed.
12. A new nurse graduate is caring for a postoperative client with the following
arterial blood gases (ABGs): pH, 7.30; PCO2, 60 mm Hg; PO2, 80 mm Hg;
bicarbonate, 24 mEq/L; and O2 saturation, 96%. Which of these actions by the
new graduate is indicated?
o A) Encourage the client to use the incentive spirometer and to cough.
