NU272 HESI PRACTICE EXAM
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
2025 GRADED A+
A male client with chronic atrial fibrillation and a slow ventricular response is
scheduled for surgical placement of a permanent pacemaker. The client asks
the nurse how this device will help him. How should the nurse explain the
action of a synchronous pacemaker? ( correct answers ) An electrical
stimulus is discharged when no ventricular response is sensed.
-
The artificial cardiac pacemaker is an electronic device used to pace the
heart when the normal conduction pathway is damaged or diseased, such as
a symptomatic dysrhythmias like atrial fibrillation with a slow ventricular
response. Pacing modes that are synchronous (impulse generated on
demand or as needed according to the patient's intrinsic rhythm) send an
electrical signal from the pacemaker to the wall of the myocardium
stimulating it to contract when no ventricular depolarization is sensed.
The nurse is caring for a client with end stage liver disease who is being
assessed for the presence of asterixis. To assess the client for asterixis, what
position should the nurse ask the client to demonstrate? ( correct
answers ) Extend the arm, dorsiflex the wrist, and extend the fingers.
-
Asterixis (flapping tremor, liver flap) is a hand-flapping tremor that is often
seen frequently in hepatic encephalopathy. The tremor is induced by
extending the arm and dorsiflexing the wrist causing rapid, non-rhythmic
extension and flexion of the wrist while attempting to hold position.
GRADED A+
,The nurse is giving discharge instructions to a client with chronic prostatitis.
What instruction should the nurse provide the client to reduce the risk of
spreading the infection to other areas of the client's urinary tract? ( correct
answers ) Have intercourse or masturbate at least twice a week.
-
The prostate is not easily penetrated by antibiotics and can serve as a
reservoir for microorganisms, which can infect other areas of the
genitourinary tract. Draining the prostate regularly through intercourse or
masturbation decreases the number of microorganisms present and reduces
the risk for further infection from stored contaminated seminal fluids.
Which action should the nurse implement on the scheduled day of surgery
for a client with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM)? ( correct answers ) Obtain
a prescription for an adjusted dose of insulin.
-
Stressors, such as surgery, increase serum glucose levels. A client with type
1 DM who is NPO for scheduled surgery should receive a prescribed adjusted
dose of insulin.
A client with osteoarthritis receives a prescription for Naproxen (Naprosyn).
Which potential side effect should the nurse provide to the client about this
medication? ( correct answers ) Gastrointestinal disturbance.
-
Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors such as naproxen can have
gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and gastric burning. It is
recommended that this drug be taken with food to avoid gastrointestinal
upset.
The nurse is caring for a male client who had an inguinal herniorrhaphy 3
hours ago. The nurse determines the client's lower abdomen is distended
and assesses dullness to percussion. What is the priority nursing action?
( correct answers ) Determine the time the client last voided.
-
GRADED A+
,Swelling at the surgical site in the immediate postoperative period can
impact the bladder and prostate area causing the client to experience
difficulty voiding due to pressure on the urethra. To provide additional data
supporting bladder distention, the last time the client voided should be
determined next.
When teaching a client with breast cancer about the prescribed radiation
therapy for treatment, what information is important to include? ( correct
answers ) Dry, itchy skin changes may occur.
-
Side effects from radiation to the breast most often include temporary skin
changes such as: dryness, tenderness, redness, swelling, and pruritis.
Which finding should the nurse identify as an indication of carbon monoxide
poisoning in a client who experienced a burn injury during a house fire?
( correct answers ) Cherry red color to the mucous membranes.
-
The saturation of hemoglobin molecules with carbon monoxide molecules,
instead of oxygen molecules and the subsequent vasodilation induced cherry
red color of the mucous membranes is an indication of carbon monoxide
poisoning.
What assessment finding should the nurse identify that indicates a client
with an acute asthma exacerbation is beginning to improve after treatment?
( correct answers ) Wheezing becomes louder.
-
In an acute asthma attack, air flow may be so significantly restricted that
breath sounds and wheezing is diminished. If the client is successfully
responding to bronchodilators and respiratory treatments, wheezing should
become louder as the air flow increases in the airways. As the airways open
and mucous is mobilized in response to treatment, the cough should become
more productive.
GRADED A+
, The nurse is caring for a client with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
infection who develops Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). What is the
most significant desired outcome for this client? ( correct answers )
Return to pre-illness weight.
-
MAC is an opportunistic infection that presents as a tuberculosis-like
pulmonary process. MAC is a major contributing factor to the development of
wasting syndrome, so the most significant desired outcome is the client's
return to a pre-illness weight using oral, enteral, or parenteral
supplementation as needed.
The nurse obtains a client's history that includes right mastectomy and
radiation therapy for cancer of the breast 10 years ago. Which current health
problem should the nurse consider is a consequence of the radiation
therapy? ( correct answers ) Pathologic fracture of two ribs on the right
chest.
-
The ribs lie in the radiation pathway and lose density over time, becoming
thin and brittle, so the occurence of two right-sided ribs with pathological
fractures resulting without evidence of trauma is related to radiation
damage.
A client is admitted to the emergency department after being lost for four
days while hiking in a national forest. Upon review of the laboratory results,
the nurse determines the client's serum level for thyroid-stimulating
hormone (TSH) is elevated. Which additional assessment should the nurse
make? ( correct answers ) Exposure to cold environmental temperatures.
-
TSH influences the amount of thyroxine secretion which increases the rate of
metabolism to maintain body temperature near normal. Prolonged exposure
to cold environmental temperatures stimulates the hypothalamus to secrete
GRADED A+
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
2025 GRADED A+
A male client with chronic atrial fibrillation and a slow ventricular response is
scheduled for surgical placement of a permanent pacemaker. The client asks
the nurse how this device will help him. How should the nurse explain the
action of a synchronous pacemaker? ( correct answers ) An electrical
stimulus is discharged when no ventricular response is sensed.
-
The artificial cardiac pacemaker is an electronic device used to pace the
heart when the normal conduction pathway is damaged or diseased, such as
a symptomatic dysrhythmias like atrial fibrillation with a slow ventricular
response. Pacing modes that are synchronous (impulse generated on
demand or as needed according to the patient's intrinsic rhythm) send an
electrical signal from the pacemaker to the wall of the myocardium
stimulating it to contract when no ventricular depolarization is sensed.
The nurse is caring for a client with end stage liver disease who is being
assessed for the presence of asterixis. To assess the client for asterixis, what
position should the nurse ask the client to demonstrate? ( correct
answers ) Extend the arm, dorsiflex the wrist, and extend the fingers.
-
Asterixis (flapping tremor, liver flap) is a hand-flapping tremor that is often
seen frequently in hepatic encephalopathy. The tremor is induced by
extending the arm and dorsiflexing the wrist causing rapid, non-rhythmic
extension and flexion of the wrist while attempting to hold position.
GRADED A+
,The nurse is giving discharge instructions to a client with chronic prostatitis.
What instruction should the nurse provide the client to reduce the risk of
spreading the infection to other areas of the client's urinary tract? ( correct
answers ) Have intercourse or masturbate at least twice a week.
-
The prostate is not easily penetrated by antibiotics and can serve as a
reservoir for microorganisms, which can infect other areas of the
genitourinary tract. Draining the prostate regularly through intercourse or
masturbation decreases the number of microorganisms present and reduces
the risk for further infection from stored contaminated seminal fluids.
Which action should the nurse implement on the scheduled day of surgery
for a client with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM)? ( correct answers ) Obtain
a prescription for an adjusted dose of insulin.
-
Stressors, such as surgery, increase serum glucose levels. A client with type
1 DM who is NPO for scheduled surgery should receive a prescribed adjusted
dose of insulin.
A client with osteoarthritis receives a prescription for Naproxen (Naprosyn).
Which potential side effect should the nurse provide to the client about this
medication? ( correct answers ) Gastrointestinal disturbance.
-
Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors such as naproxen can have
gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and gastric burning. It is
recommended that this drug be taken with food to avoid gastrointestinal
upset.
The nurse is caring for a male client who had an inguinal herniorrhaphy 3
hours ago. The nurse determines the client's lower abdomen is distended
and assesses dullness to percussion. What is the priority nursing action?
( correct answers ) Determine the time the client last voided.
-
GRADED A+
,Swelling at the surgical site in the immediate postoperative period can
impact the bladder and prostate area causing the client to experience
difficulty voiding due to pressure on the urethra. To provide additional data
supporting bladder distention, the last time the client voided should be
determined next.
When teaching a client with breast cancer about the prescribed radiation
therapy for treatment, what information is important to include? ( correct
answers ) Dry, itchy skin changes may occur.
-
Side effects from radiation to the breast most often include temporary skin
changes such as: dryness, tenderness, redness, swelling, and pruritis.
Which finding should the nurse identify as an indication of carbon monoxide
poisoning in a client who experienced a burn injury during a house fire?
( correct answers ) Cherry red color to the mucous membranes.
-
The saturation of hemoglobin molecules with carbon monoxide molecules,
instead of oxygen molecules and the subsequent vasodilation induced cherry
red color of the mucous membranes is an indication of carbon monoxide
poisoning.
What assessment finding should the nurse identify that indicates a client
with an acute asthma exacerbation is beginning to improve after treatment?
( correct answers ) Wheezing becomes louder.
-
In an acute asthma attack, air flow may be so significantly restricted that
breath sounds and wheezing is diminished. If the client is successfully
responding to bronchodilators and respiratory treatments, wheezing should
become louder as the air flow increases in the airways. As the airways open
and mucous is mobilized in response to treatment, the cough should become
more productive.
GRADED A+
, The nurse is caring for a client with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
infection who develops Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). What is the
most significant desired outcome for this client? ( correct answers )
Return to pre-illness weight.
-
MAC is an opportunistic infection that presents as a tuberculosis-like
pulmonary process. MAC is a major contributing factor to the development of
wasting syndrome, so the most significant desired outcome is the client's
return to a pre-illness weight using oral, enteral, or parenteral
supplementation as needed.
The nurse obtains a client's history that includes right mastectomy and
radiation therapy for cancer of the breast 10 years ago. Which current health
problem should the nurse consider is a consequence of the radiation
therapy? ( correct answers ) Pathologic fracture of two ribs on the right
chest.
-
The ribs lie in the radiation pathway and lose density over time, becoming
thin and brittle, so the occurence of two right-sided ribs with pathological
fractures resulting without evidence of trauma is related to radiation
damage.
A client is admitted to the emergency department after being lost for four
days while hiking in a national forest. Upon review of the laboratory results,
the nurse determines the client's serum level for thyroid-stimulating
hormone (TSH) is elevated. Which additional assessment should the nurse
make? ( correct answers ) Exposure to cold environmental temperatures.
-
TSH influences the amount of thyroxine secretion which increases the rate of
metabolism to maintain body temperature near normal. Prolonged exposure
to cold environmental temperatures stimulates the hypothalamus to secrete
GRADED A+
