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HESI Med-Surg 3 Practice Exam Questions + Answers NEWEST 2026 ACTUAL
EXAM TEST- COMPLETE REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
Section I — Cardiovascular (1–10)
1. A patient with CHF presents with shortness of breath and 3+ pitting edema. Which nursing
intervention is priority?
A) Elevate legs and administer diuretics
B) Encourage ambulation
C) Provide high-sodium diet
D) Restrict fluids only
Answer: A
2. Which lab value is most important to monitor in a patient taking furosemide?
A) Potassium
B) Hemoglobin
C) Glucose
D) Calcium
Answer: A
3. A patient with MI complains of chest pain radiating to the left arm. Priority action:
A) Administer prescribed nitroglycerin and assess vital signs
B) Have patient ambulate
C) Provide diet teaching
D) Obtain weight
Answer: A
4. Which rhythm requires immediate intervention?
A) Ventricular tachycardia with pulse
B) Sinus bradycardia
C) Normal sinus rhythm
D) First-degree AV block
Answer: A
5. The patient is prescribed warfarin. What lab should be monitored?
A) INR
B) WBC
C) Glucose
2026 2027 GRADED A+
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D) Sodium
Answer: A
6. A client with hypertension is started on lisinopril. What side effect requires immediate
reporting?
A) Angioedema
B) Constipation
C) Mild headache
D) Mild fatigue
Answer: A
7. A patient reports sudden dizziness and syncope. Which condition is suspected?
A) Arrhythmia
B) Hypertension
C) Pneumonia
D) Diabetes
Answer: A
8. Which dietary instruction is appropriate for a patient with CHF?
A) Limit sodium intake
B) Increase fluid intake
C) High-potassium diet without monitoring
D) Avoid all protein
Answer: A
9. Which medication reduces afterload in heart failure?
A) ACE inhibitor
B) Loop diuretic
C) Beta blocker
D) Calcium supplement
Answer: A
10. A patient has a BNP of 1200 pg/mL. This indicates:
A) Severe heart failure
B) Normal cardiac function
C) Hypovolemia
D) Hypokalemia
Answer: A
Section II — Respiratory (11–20)
11. A patient with COPD has oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula. SpO₂ is 88%. Best action:
A) Increase O₂ per protocol and monitor
B) Call respiratory therapy immediately
2026 2027 GRADED A+
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C) Encourage deep breathing only
D) Remove oxygen
Answer: A
12. Which is a priority for a patient with asthma attack?
A) Administer albuterol inhaler
B) Provide high-protein diet
C) Assess bowel sounds
D) Teach exercise regimen
Answer: A
13. ABG shows pH 7.25, PaCO₂ 55, HCO₃ 24. Interpretation:
A) Respiratory acidosis
B) Metabolic acidosis
C) Respiratory alkalosis
D) Metabolic alkalosis
Answer: A
14. A patient with pneumonia has crackles in lungs and fever. Nursing intervention:
A) Administer prescribed antibiotics
B) Restrict fluids
C) Encourage bed rest only
D) Administer antacids
Answer: A
15. Which finding indicates impending respiratory failure?
A) Use of accessory muscles and confusion
B) Slight cough
C) Mild fatigue
D) Oxygen saturation 98%
Answer: A
16. For a patient using metered-dose inhaler, correct teaching:
A) Shake inhaler, exhale, inhale slowly, hold breath 10 sec
B) Inhale quickly without shaking
C) Administer while supine
D) Take multiple puffs at once
Answer: A
17. Which patient requires immediate suctioning?
A) Copious secretions, gurgling sounds
B) Mild cough
C) Oxygen saturation 95%
D) Dry throat
Answer: A
2026 2027 GRADED A+
, 4|Page
18. Priority for COPD patient with PaO₂ 55 mmHg:
A) Oxygen therapy and monitor response
B) Start high-flow oxygen without monitoring
C) Administer beta blocker
D) Restrict fluids
Answer: A
19. A patient on the ventilator shows peak airway pressures rising. First action:
A) Check for kinked tubing or obstruction
B) Increase tidal volume
C) Administer bronchodilator immediately
D) Decrease sedation
Answer: A
20. Which intervention helps prevent hospital-acquired pneumonia?
A) Elevate head of bed 30–45°
B) Keep patient supine
C) Limit oral care
D) Restrict fluids
Answer: A
Section III — Endocrine (21–30)
21. A patient with type 1 diabetes has blood glucose 320 mg/dL and ketones in urine. Priority:
A) Notify provider, prepare for insulin therapy
B) Provide orange juice
C) Administer glucagon
D) Encourage exercise
Answer: A
22. Hypoglycemia symptoms include:
A) Sweating, tremors, confusion
B) Polyuria
C) Polydipsia
D) Weight loss
Answer: A
23. Which insulin is rapid-acting?
A) Lispro
B) NPH
C) Glargine
D) Detemir
Answer: A
2026 2027 GRADED A+
HESI Med-Surg 3 Practice Exam Questions + Answers NEWEST 2026 ACTUAL
EXAM TEST- COMPLETE REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
Section I — Cardiovascular (1–10)
1. A patient with CHF presents with shortness of breath and 3+ pitting edema. Which nursing
intervention is priority?
A) Elevate legs and administer diuretics
B) Encourage ambulation
C) Provide high-sodium diet
D) Restrict fluids only
Answer: A
2. Which lab value is most important to monitor in a patient taking furosemide?
A) Potassium
B) Hemoglobin
C) Glucose
D) Calcium
Answer: A
3. A patient with MI complains of chest pain radiating to the left arm. Priority action:
A) Administer prescribed nitroglycerin and assess vital signs
B) Have patient ambulate
C) Provide diet teaching
D) Obtain weight
Answer: A
4. Which rhythm requires immediate intervention?
A) Ventricular tachycardia with pulse
B) Sinus bradycardia
C) Normal sinus rhythm
D) First-degree AV block
Answer: A
5. The patient is prescribed warfarin. What lab should be monitored?
A) INR
B) WBC
C) Glucose
2026 2027 GRADED A+
,2|Page
D) Sodium
Answer: A
6. A client with hypertension is started on lisinopril. What side effect requires immediate
reporting?
A) Angioedema
B) Constipation
C) Mild headache
D) Mild fatigue
Answer: A
7. A patient reports sudden dizziness and syncope. Which condition is suspected?
A) Arrhythmia
B) Hypertension
C) Pneumonia
D) Diabetes
Answer: A
8. Which dietary instruction is appropriate for a patient with CHF?
A) Limit sodium intake
B) Increase fluid intake
C) High-potassium diet without monitoring
D) Avoid all protein
Answer: A
9. Which medication reduces afterload in heart failure?
A) ACE inhibitor
B) Loop diuretic
C) Beta blocker
D) Calcium supplement
Answer: A
10. A patient has a BNP of 1200 pg/mL. This indicates:
A) Severe heart failure
B) Normal cardiac function
C) Hypovolemia
D) Hypokalemia
Answer: A
Section II — Respiratory (11–20)
11. A patient with COPD has oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula. SpO₂ is 88%. Best action:
A) Increase O₂ per protocol and monitor
B) Call respiratory therapy immediately
2026 2027 GRADED A+
,3|Page
C) Encourage deep breathing only
D) Remove oxygen
Answer: A
12. Which is a priority for a patient with asthma attack?
A) Administer albuterol inhaler
B) Provide high-protein diet
C) Assess bowel sounds
D) Teach exercise regimen
Answer: A
13. ABG shows pH 7.25, PaCO₂ 55, HCO₃ 24. Interpretation:
A) Respiratory acidosis
B) Metabolic acidosis
C) Respiratory alkalosis
D) Metabolic alkalosis
Answer: A
14. A patient with pneumonia has crackles in lungs and fever. Nursing intervention:
A) Administer prescribed antibiotics
B) Restrict fluids
C) Encourage bed rest only
D) Administer antacids
Answer: A
15. Which finding indicates impending respiratory failure?
A) Use of accessory muscles and confusion
B) Slight cough
C) Mild fatigue
D) Oxygen saturation 98%
Answer: A
16. For a patient using metered-dose inhaler, correct teaching:
A) Shake inhaler, exhale, inhale slowly, hold breath 10 sec
B) Inhale quickly without shaking
C) Administer while supine
D) Take multiple puffs at once
Answer: A
17. Which patient requires immediate suctioning?
A) Copious secretions, gurgling sounds
B) Mild cough
C) Oxygen saturation 95%
D) Dry throat
Answer: A
2026 2027 GRADED A+
, 4|Page
18. Priority for COPD patient with PaO₂ 55 mmHg:
A) Oxygen therapy and monitor response
B) Start high-flow oxygen without monitoring
C) Administer beta blocker
D) Restrict fluids
Answer: A
19. A patient on the ventilator shows peak airway pressures rising. First action:
A) Check for kinked tubing or obstruction
B) Increase tidal volume
C) Administer bronchodilator immediately
D) Decrease sedation
Answer: A
20. Which intervention helps prevent hospital-acquired pneumonia?
A) Elevate head of bed 30–45°
B) Keep patient supine
C) Limit oral care
D) Restrict fluids
Answer: A
Section III — Endocrine (21–30)
21. A patient with type 1 diabetes has blood glucose 320 mg/dL and ketones in urine. Priority:
A) Notify provider, prepare for insulin therapy
B) Provide orange juice
C) Administer glucagon
D) Encourage exercise
Answer: A
22. Hypoglycemia symptoms include:
A) Sweating, tremors, confusion
B) Polyuria
C) Polydipsia
D) Weight loss
Answer: A
23. Which insulin is rapid-acting?
A) Lispro
B) NPH
C) Glargine
D) Detemir
Answer: A
2026 2027 GRADED A+
