PN Medical Surgical HESI Exam 2025 Prep Test Bank
With 200 Real Exam Practice Questions and Correct
Answers with Rationales/ PN Hesi Med Surg Exam
2025—2026/ Evolve Med Surg (PN)
The nurse has reinforced instructions to a client with diabetes mellitus on how to
self-monitor for symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The nurse realizes the
instructions have been effective if the client can list which symptoms? (Select all
that apply.)
a. Fruity breath odor
b. Rapid, weak pulse
c. Cold, clammy skin
d. Extreme thirst
e. Urinary frequency
f. Protruding eyeballs - ANSWER-a. Fruity breath odor
b. Rapid, weak pulse
d. Extreme thirst
e. Urinary frequency
Diabetic ketoacidosis is caused by a profound deficiency of insulin. Some common
characteristics include a sweet, fruity breath odor, a rapid weak pulse, extreme
thirst, urinary frequency, and sunken-appearing eyeballs.
The practical nurse (PN) is reviewing the health histories of assigned clients.
Which factors have a potential for development of throat cancer? (Select all that
apply.)
a. Tobacco use
pg. 1
,b. Excessive intake of alcohol
c. Intake of hot and spicy foods
d. Human papillomavirus (HPV)
e. Lack of exercise
f. Lack of dietary fiber - ANSWER-a. Tobacco use
b. Excessive intake of alcohol
d. Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Rationale:
The most common risk factors for throat cancer are tobacco use, alcohol abuse,
human papillomavirus (HPV), a diet lacking in fruits and vegetable, and
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Foods seasoned with herbs and spices
have shown to have some health benefits in decreasing the risk of developing
cancer.
A client is hospitalized for an acute intestinal obstruction and has a nasogastric
(NG) tube connected to low intermittent suction. Which task can be assigned to the
unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
a. Providing sips of fluid around the clock
b. Irrigating the nasogastric tube with normal saline
c. Verifying the placement of the nasogastric tube in the stomach
d. Measuring and emptying the contents of the nasogastric suction - ANSWER-d.
Measuring and emptying the contents of the nasogastric suction
The nurse can assign the task of measuring and emptying the contents of the NG
tube suction to the UAP. The client will not be allowed fluids because the NG tube
would empty the fluid out as quickly as the patient drank the fluids. The nurse
cannot assign any tasks which require judgment, such as irrigating the NG tube or
verifying placement in the stomach.
pg. 2
,A client had a bowel resection yesterday and has a nasogastric tube (NGT)
attached to low intermittent suction. The client complains to the practical nurse of
abdominal distention and nausea. What action should the PN take first?
a. Irrigate the nasogastric tube with sterile normal saline.
b. Assess the NGT drainage in the collection container.
c. Advance the nasogastric tube 5 cm.
d. Notify the health care provider - ANSWER-b. Assess the NGT drainage in the
collection container.
The immediate priority is to determine if the tube is functioning correctly, which
the PN can do first by assessing the amount and characteristic of the drainage from
the nasogastric tube. Based on the findings of the drainage will determine the PN
next nursing intervention.
On the first post-op day following a total thyroidectomy, which finding(s) would
lead the nurse to suspect that the patient may be developing a thyroid storm?
a. Temperature of 101.8F
b. Pulse of 58beats/min
c. Brief attention span
d. Apprehension and restlessness
e. Respiratory rate of 12breathes/min - ANSWER-a. Temperature of 101.8F
c. Brief attention span
d. Apprehension and restlessness
A client residing in a memory care nursing facility with a diagnosis of diabetes
approaches the nurse crying, saying "I just do not feel good." What action should
the practical nurse take first?
pg. 3
, a. Clarify the meaning of what is feeling good.
b. Reassure the client that they are safe and okay.
c. Give the client a glass of orange juice.
d. Obtain a finger stick blood glucose test. - ANSWER-d. Obtain a fingerstick
blood glucose test.
An early sign of hypoglycemia increases confusion and/or irritability, sometimes
described as "feeling bad." Based on the history of diabetes, the PN should first
obtain objective data of a fingerstick blood glucose level to provide information to
guide further nursing actions.
During a clinic visit, a client reports to the practical nurse (PN) that they felt a solid
mass in their breast during self-examination, but it was not painful. What
instruction should the PN reinforce with the client?
A. Continue to monitor the mass until the next scheduled annual exam.
B. Notify the PCP if the mass becomes soft or painful or starts to drain.
C. Schedule an appointment with the PCP for evaluation
D. Breast masses are usually insignificant if they feel soft or are easily moveable. -
ANSWER-c. Schedule an appointment with the health care provider for
evaluation.
A painless breast mass is an abnormal finding, and the PN should instruct the client
to obtain prompt medical evaluation.
The health care provider informed a client diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer that
the cancer has spread to their spine. The client states to the practical nurse, "I have
a cancer, but it is not malignant." What is the best initial nursing action?
pg. 4
With 200 Real Exam Practice Questions and Correct
Answers with Rationales/ PN Hesi Med Surg Exam
2025—2026/ Evolve Med Surg (PN)
The nurse has reinforced instructions to a client with diabetes mellitus on how to
self-monitor for symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The nurse realizes the
instructions have been effective if the client can list which symptoms? (Select all
that apply.)
a. Fruity breath odor
b. Rapid, weak pulse
c. Cold, clammy skin
d. Extreme thirst
e. Urinary frequency
f. Protruding eyeballs - ANSWER-a. Fruity breath odor
b. Rapid, weak pulse
d. Extreme thirst
e. Urinary frequency
Diabetic ketoacidosis is caused by a profound deficiency of insulin. Some common
characteristics include a sweet, fruity breath odor, a rapid weak pulse, extreme
thirst, urinary frequency, and sunken-appearing eyeballs.
The practical nurse (PN) is reviewing the health histories of assigned clients.
Which factors have a potential for development of throat cancer? (Select all that
apply.)
a. Tobacco use
pg. 1
,b. Excessive intake of alcohol
c. Intake of hot and spicy foods
d. Human papillomavirus (HPV)
e. Lack of exercise
f. Lack of dietary fiber - ANSWER-a. Tobacco use
b. Excessive intake of alcohol
d. Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Rationale:
The most common risk factors for throat cancer are tobacco use, alcohol abuse,
human papillomavirus (HPV), a diet lacking in fruits and vegetable, and
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Foods seasoned with herbs and spices
have shown to have some health benefits in decreasing the risk of developing
cancer.
A client is hospitalized for an acute intestinal obstruction and has a nasogastric
(NG) tube connected to low intermittent suction. Which task can be assigned to the
unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
a. Providing sips of fluid around the clock
b. Irrigating the nasogastric tube with normal saline
c. Verifying the placement of the nasogastric tube in the stomach
d. Measuring and emptying the contents of the nasogastric suction - ANSWER-d.
Measuring and emptying the contents of the nasogastric suction
The nurse can assign the task of measuring and emptying the contents of the NG
tube suction to the UAP. The client will not be allowed fluids because the NG tube
would empty the fluid out as quickly as the patient drank the fluids. The nurse
cannot assign any tasks which require judgment, such as irrigating the NG tube or
verifying placement in the stomach.
pg. 2
,A client had a bowel resection yesterday and has a nasogastric tube (NGT)
attached to low intermittent suction. The client complains to the practical nurse of
abdominal distention and nausea. What action should the PN take first?
a. Irrigate the nasogastric tube with sterile normal saline.
b. Assess the NGT drainage in the collection container.
c. Advance the nasogastric tube 5 cm.
d. Notify the health care provider - ANSWER-b. Assess the NGT drainage in the
collection container.
The immediate priority is to determine if the tube is functioning correctly, which
the PN can do first by assessing the amount and characteristic of the drainage from
the nasogastric tube. Based on the findings of the drainage will determine the PN
next nursing intervention.
On the first post-op day following a total thyroidectomy, which finding(s) would
lead the nurse to suspect that the patient may be developing a thyroid storm?
a. Temperature of 101.8F
b. Pulse of 58beats/min
c. Brief attention span
d. Apprehension and restlessness
e. Respiratory rate of 12breathes/min - ANSWER-a. Temperature of 101.8F
c. Brief attention span
d. Apprehension and restlessness
A client residing in a memory care nursing facility with a diagnosis of diabetes
approaches the nurse crying, saying "I just do not feel good." What action should
the practical nurse take first?
pg. 3
, a. Clarify the meaning of what is feeling good.
b. Reassure the client that they are safe and okay.
c. Give the client a glass of orange juice.
d. Obtain a finger stick blood glucose test. - ANSWER-d. Obtain a fingerstick
blood glucose test.
An early sign of hypoglycemia increases confusion and/or irritability, sometimes
described as "feeling bad." Based on the history of diabetes, the PN should first
obtain objective data of a fingerstick blood glucose level to provide information to
guide further nursing actions.
During a clinic visit, a client reports to the practical nurse (PN) that they felt a solid
mass in their breast during self-examination, but it was not painful. What
instruction should the PN reinforce with the client?
A. Continue to monitor the mass until the next scheduled annual exam.
B. Notify the PCP if the mass becomes soft or painful or starts to drain.
C. Schedule an appointment with the PCP for evaluation
D. Breast masses are usually insignificant if they feel soft or are easily moveable. -
ANSWER-c. Schedule an appointment with the health care provider for
evaluation.
A painless breast mass is an abnormal finding, and the PN should instruct the client
to obtain prompt medical evaluation.
The health care provider informed a client diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer that
the cancer has spread to their spine. The client states to the practical nurse, "I have
a cancer, but it is not malignant." What is the best initial nursing action?
pg. 4
