1
HESI RN MEDICAL SURGICAL EXAM PACK
2024/2025 ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+
WITH RATIONALES
1.An ER nurse is completing an assessment on a patient that is
z z z z z z z z z z z
alert but struggles to answer questions. When she attempts to
z z z z z z z z z z
talk, she slurs her speech and appears very frightened. What
z z z z z z z z z z
additional clinical manifestation does the nurse expect to find
z z z z z z z z z
if nacy's sysmptoms have been caused by a brain attack
z z z z z z z z z z
(stroke)?
z
A. A carotid bruit
z z z
B. A hypotensive blood pressure
z z z z
C. hyperreflexic deep tendon relexes.
z z z z
D. Decreased bowel sounds
z z z zzzz
ANS✅: A) A carotid bruit. zz z z z
Rationale: the carotid artery (artery to the brain) is narrowed in
z z z z z z z z z z
clients with a brain attack. A bruit is an abnormal sound heard on
z z z z z z z z z z z z z
auscultation resulting from interference with normal blood flow.
z z z z z z z z
,2 Usually the blood pressure is hypertensive. Initially flaccid
z z z z z z z z
paralysis occurs, resulting in hyporefkexic deep tendon reflexes.
z z z z z z z z
Bowel sounds are not indicative of a brain attack.
z z z z z z z z z
2.Which clinical manifestation further supports an
z z z z z
assessment of a left-sided brain attack?
z z z z z z
A) Visual field deficit on the left side.
z z z z z z z
B) Spatial-perceptual deficits.
z z
C) Paresthesia of the left side.
z z z z z
D) Global aphasia.
z z
D) Global aphasia.
z z zzzz
ANS✅ D) Global aphasia. zz z z
Rationale: Global aphasia refers to difficulty speaking, listening,
z z z z z z z
and understanding, as well as difficulty reading and writing.
z z z z z z z z z
Symptoms vary from person to person. Aphasia may occur
z z z z z z z z z
secondary to any brain injury involving the left hemisphere.
z z z z z z z z z
Visual field deficits, spatial-perceptual deficits, and paresthsia of
z z z z z z z z
the left side usually occur with right-sided brain attack.
z z z z z z z z z
3.When preparing a patient for a noncontrast computed
z z z z z z z
tomography (CT) scan STAT, what nursing intervention
z z z z z z z
should the nurse implement?
z z z z
,3
A) Determine if the client has any allergies to iodine
z z z z z z z z z
B) Explain that the client will not be able to move her head
z z z z z z z z z z z z
throughout the CT scan.
z z z z
C) Premedicate the client to decrease pain prior to having the
z z z z z z z z z z
procedure.
z
D) Provide an explanation of relaxation exercises prior to the
z z z z z z z z z
procedure.
z zzzz
ANS✅ B) Explain that the client will not be able to move her
zz z z z z z z z z z z z
head throughout the CT scan.
z z z z z
Rationale: Because head motion will distort the images, Nancy
z z z z z z z z
will have to remain still throughout the procedure. Allergies to
z z z z z z z z z z
iodine is important if contrast dye is being used for the CT scan.
z z z z z z z z z z z z z
Premedicating the client to decrease pain prior to the procedure is
z z z z z z z z z z z
unnecessary because CT scanning is a noninvasive and painless
z z z z z z z z z
procedure. Providing an explanation of relaxation exercises prior
z z z z z z z z
to the procedure is a worthwhile intervention to decrease anxiety
z z z z z z z z z z
but is not of highest priority.
z z z z z z
4.A neurologist prescribes a magnetic resonance imaging
z z z z z z
(MRI) of the head STAT for a patient. Which data warrants
z z z z z z z z z z z
immediate intervention by the nurse concerning this
z z z z z z z
diagnostic test?
z z
, 4 A) Elevated blood pressure.
z z z
B) Allergy to shell fish.
z z z z
C) Right hip replacement.
z z z
D) History of atrial fibrillation.
z z z z zzzz
ANS✅ C) Right hip replacement. zz z z z
Rationale: The magnetic field generated by the MRI is so strong
z z z z z z z z z z
that metal-containing items are strongly attracted to the magnet.
z z z z z z z z z
Because the hip joint is made of metal, a lead shield must be used
z z z z z z z z z z z z z z
during the procedure. Elevated blood pressure, an allergy to shell
z z z z z z z z z z
fish, and a history of atrial fibrillation would not affect the MRI.
z z z z z z z z z z z z
5.A client's daughter is sitting by her mother's bedside who
z z z z z z z z z
was recently transferred to the Intermediate Care Unit. She
z z z z z z z z z
states "I don't understand what a brain attack is. The
z z z z z z z z z z
healthcare provider told me my mother is in serious condition
z z z z z z z z z z
and they are going to run several tests. I just don't know what
z z z z z z z z z z z z z
is going on. What happened to my mother?" What is the best
z z z z z z z z z z z z
response by the nurse?
z z z z
A) "I am sorry, but according to the Health Insurance Portability
z z z z z z z z z z
and Accounting Act (HIPAA), I cannot give you any
z z z z z z z z z
information."
z
B) "Your mother has had a stroke, and the blood supply to the
z z z z z z z z z z z z
brain has been blocked."
z z z z
HESI RN MEDICAL SURGICAL EXAM PACK
2024/2025 ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+
WITH RATIONALES
1.An ER nurse is completing an assessment on a patient that is
z z z z z z z z z z z
alert but struggles to answer questions. When she attempts to
z z z z z z z z z z
talk, she slurs her speech and appears very frightened. What
z z z z z z z z z z
additional clinical manifestation does the nurse expect to find
z z z z z z z z z
if nacy's sysmptoms have been caused by a brain attack
z z z z z z z z z z
(stroke)?
z
A. A carotid bruit
z z z
B. A hypotensive blood pressure
z z z z
C. hyperreflexic deep tendon relexes.
z z z z
D. Decreased bowel sounds
z z z zzzz
ANS✅: A) A carotid bruit. zz z z z
Rationale: the carotid artery (artery to the brain) is narrowed in
z z z z z z z z z z
clients with a brain attack. A bruit is an abnormal sound heard on
z z z z z z z z z z z z z
auscultation resulting from interference with normal blood flow.
z z z z z z z z
,2 Usually the blood pressure is hypertensive. Initially flaccid
z z z z z z z z
paralysis occurs, resulting in hyporefkexic deep tendon reflexes.
z z z z z z z z
Bowel sounds are not indicative of a brain attack.
z z z z z z z z z
2.Which clinical manifestation further supports an
z z z z z
assessment of a left-sided brain attack?
z z z z z z
A) Visual field deficit on the left side.
z z z z z z z
B) Spatial-perceptual deficits.
z z
C) Paresthesia of the left side.
z z z z z
D) Global aphasia.
z z
D) Global aphasia.
z z zzzz
ANS✅ D) Global aphasia. zz z z
Rationale: Global aphasia refers to difficulty speaking, listening,
z z z z z z z
and understanding, as well as difficulty reading and writing.
z z z z z z z z z
Symptoms vary from person to person. Aphasia may occur
z z z z z z z z z
secondary to any brain injury involving the left hemisphere.
z z z z z z z z z
Visual field deficits, spatial-perceptual deficits, and paresthsia of
z z z z z z z z
the left side usually occur with right-sided brain attack.
z z z z z z z z z
3.When preparing a patient for a noncontrast computed
z z z z z z z
tomography (CT) scan STAT, what nursing intervention
z z z z z z z
should the nurse implement?
z z z z
,3
A) Determine if the client has any allergies to iodine
z z z z z z z z z
B) Explain that the client will not be able to move her head
z z z z z z z z z z z z
throughout the CT scan.
z z z z
C) Premedicate the client to decrease pain prior to having the
z z z z z z z z z z
procedure.
z
D) Provide an explanation of relaxation exercises prior to the
z z z z z z z z z
procedure.
z zzzz
ANS✅ B) Explain that the client will not be able to move her
zz z z z z z z z z z z z
head throughout the CT scan.
z z z z z
Rationale: Because head motion will distort the images, Nancy
z z z z z z z z
will have to remain still throughout the procedure. Allergies to
z z z z z z z z z z
iodine is important if contrast dye is being used for the CT scan.
z z z z z z z z z z z z z
Premedicating the client to decrease pain prior to the procedure is
z z z z z z z z z z z
unnecessary because CT scanning is a noninvasive and painless
z z z z z z z z z
procedure. Providing an explanation of relaxation exercises prior
z z z z z z z z
to the procedure is a worthwhile intervention to decrease anxiety
z z z z z z z z z z
but is not of highest priority.
z z z z z z
4.A neurologist prescribes a magnetic resonance imaging
z z z z z z
(MRI) of the head STAT for a patient. Which data warrants
z z z z z z z z z z z
immediate intervention by the nurse concerning this
z z z z z z z
diagnostic test?
z z
, 4 A) Elevated blood pressure.
z z z
B) Allergy to shell fish.
z z z z
C) Right hip replacement.
z z z
D) History of atrial fibrillation.
z z z z zzzz
ANS✅ C) Right hip replacement. zz z z z
Rationale: The magnetic field generated by the MRI is so strong
z z z z z z z z z z
that metal-containing items are strongly attracted to the magnet.
z z z z z z z z z
Because the hip joint is made of metal, a lead shield must be used
z z z z z z z z z z z z z z
during the procedure. Elevated blood pressure, an allergy to shell
z z z z z z z z z z
fish, and a history of atrial fibrillation would not affect the MRI.
z z z z z z z z z z z z
5.A client's daughter is sitting by her mother's bedside who
z z z z z z z z z
was recently transferred to the Intermediate Care Unit. She
z z z z z z z z z
states "I don't understand what a brain attack is. The
z z z z z z z z z z
healthcare provider told me my mother is in serious condition
z z z z z z z z z z
and they are going to run several tests. I just don't know what
z z z z z z z z z z z z z
is going on. What happened to my mother?" What is the best
z z z z z z z z z z z z
response by the nurse?
z z z z
A) "I am sorry, but according to the Health Insurance Portability
z z z z z z z z z z
and Accounting Act (HIPAA), I cannot give you any
z z z z z z z z z
information."
z
B) "Your mother has had a stroke, and the blood supply to the
z z z z z z z z z z z z
brain has been blocked."
z z z z
