Hesi Next Gen Case Studies for Med
Surg Questions and Answers | Latest
Version | 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
A client with pneumonia develops increasing shortness of breath and confusion. What is the
nurse’s priority action?
✔✔Assess oxygen saturation and apply supplemental oxygen.
A client with heart failure reports sudden weight gain of 3 kg in two days. What does this most
likely indicate?
✔✔Fluid retention.
A client with type 2 diabetes becomes sweaty and shaky during physical therapy. What is the
nurse’s first action?
✔✔Check blood glucose level.
A client after abdominal surgery has absent bowel sounds and abdominal distension. What is the
likely complication?
✔✔Paralytic ileus.
1
,A client with chronic kidney disease has a potassium level of 6.5 mEq/L. What is the nurse’s
immediate priority?
✔✔Place the client on a cardiac monitor.
A client with COPD becomes increasingly lethargic and has shallow respirations. What should
the nurse do first?
✔✔Assess arterial blood gases.
A client post–thyroidectomy reports tingling around the mouth and fingertips. What condition
does the nurse suspect?
✔✔Hypocalcemia.
A client receiving IV antibiotics for a wound infection develops watery diarrhea. What condition
should the nurse suspect?
✔✔Clostridioides difficile infection.
A client admitted with a stroke has slurred speech and right-sided weakness. What is the nurse’s
priority action?
✔✔Perform a swallow assessment before giving food or fluids.
2
, A client with a chest tube shows continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber. What does this
indicate?
✔✔Air leak in the system.
A client with sepsis has a blood pressure of 80/50 mmHg despite receiving fluids. What is the
next likely intervention?
✔✔Administration of vasopressors.
A client receiving blood transfusion reports chills and back pain. What is the nurse’s immediate
action?
✔✔Stop the transfusion and keep the IV line open with normal saline.
A client with diabetic ketoacidosis has a fruity breath odor and rapid respirations. What is the
priority nursing intervention?
✔✔Start IV fluids as prescribed.
A client post hip surgery develops sudden shortness of breath and chest pain. What does the
nurse suspect?
3
Surg Questions and Answers | Latest
Version | 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
A client with pneumonia develops increasing shortness of breath and confusion. What is the
nurse’s priority action?
✔✔Assess oxygen saturation and apply supplemental oxygen.
A client with heart failure reports sudden weight gain of 3 kg in two days. What does this most
likely indicate?
✔✔Fluid retention.
A client with type 2 diabetes becomes sweaty and shaky during physical therapy. What is the
nurse’s first action?
✔✔Check blood glucose level.
A client after abdominal surgery has absent bowel sounds and abdominal distension. What is the
likely complication?
✔✔Paralytic ileus.
1
,A client with chronic kidney disease has a potassium level of 6.5 mEq/L. What is the nurse’s
immediate priority?
✔✔Place the client on a cardiac monitor.
A client with COPD becomes increasingly lethargic and has shallow respirations. What should
the nurse do first?
✔✔Assess arterial blood gases.
A client post–thyroidectomy reports tingling around the mouth and fingertips. What condition
does the nurse suspect?
✔✔Hypocalcemia.
A client receiving IV antibiotics for a wound infection develops watery diarrhea. What condition
should the nurse suspect?
✔✔Clostridioides difficile infection.
A client admitted with a stroke has slurred speech and right-sided weakness. What is the nurse’s
priority action?
✔✔Perform a swallow assessment before giving food or fluids.
2
, A client with a chest tube shows continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber. What does this
indicate?
✔✔Air leak in the system.
A client with sepsis has a blood pressure of 80/50 mmHg despite receiving fluids. What is the
next likely intervention?
✔✔Administration of vasopressors.
A client receiving blood transfusion reports chills and back pain. What is the nurse’s immediate
action?
✔✔Stop the transfusion and keep the IV line open with normal saline.
A client with diabetic ketoacidosis has a fruity breath odor and rapid respirations. What is the
priority nursing intervention?
✔✔Start IV fluids as prescribed.
A client post hip surgery develops sudden shortness of breath and chest pain. What does the
nurse suspect?
3
