EVOLVE ELSEVIER HESI MEDICAL
SURGICAL EXAM UPDATED 2026/2027
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
1. An adult client who is hospitalized after surgery reports sudden onset of
chest pain and dyspnea. The client appears anxious, restless, and mildly
cyanotic. The nurse should further assess the client for which condition? -
answer-pulmonary embolism
2. Which information should the nurse obtain when performing an initial
assessment of a client who presents to the emergency department with a
painful ankle injury? (select all that apply) - answer-quality of the pain
Signs of inflammation
Ankle range of motion
Visible deformities of the joint
3. Which description of pain is consistent with a diagnosis of rheumatoid
arthritis? - answer-joint pain is worse in the morning and involves symmetric
joints
4. Which physical assessment finding should the nurse anticipate in a client
with long-term gastroesophageal reflux disease (gerd)? - answer-hoarseness
5. A client presents with chronic venous insufficiency. Which assessment
finding should the nurse anticipate? - answer-bilateral lower leg stasis
dermatitis
6. A client has been hospitalized with a femur fracture and is being treated with
traction. Which action by the nurse is the priority when caring for this
client? - answer-assess neurovascular status
7. Which statement made by a client with chronic pancreatitis indicates that
further education is needed? - answer-i will cut back on smoking cigarettes
daily
8. The nurse is teaching a female client who uses a contraceptive diaphragm
about reducing the risk for toxic shock syndrome (tss). Which information
, should the nurse include? (select all that apply) - answer-do not leave the
diaphragm in place longer than 8 hours after intercourse
Replace the old diaphragm every 3 months
9. A male client who smokes two packs of cigarettes a day states he
understands that smoking cigarettes is contributing to the difficulty that he
and his wife are having in getting pregnant and wants to know if other
factors could be contributing to their difficulty. Which information is best
for the nurse to provide? (select all that apply). - answer-alcohol
consumption can cause erectile dysfunction
Low testosterone levels affect sperm production
Cessation of smoking improves general health and fertility
10.Twenty four hours after a client returns from surgical gastric bypass, the
registered nurse (rn) observes large amounts of blood in the nasogastric tube
(ngt) cannister. Which assessment finding should the rn report as early signs
of hypovolemic shock? - answer-lethargy
11.The registered nurse (rn) is assessing a male client who arrives at the clinic
with severe abdominal cramping, pain, tenesmus, and dehydration. The rn
discovers that the client has had 14 to 20 loose stools with rectal bleeding.
When taking the client's medical history, which information is most for the
nurse to obtain? - answer-ulcerative colitis
12.A client is newly diagnosed with diverticulosis. The registered nurse (rn) is
assessing the client's basic knowledge about the disease process. Which
statement by the client conveys an understanding of the etiology of
diverticula? - answer-chronic constipation causes weakening of colon wall
which results in out pouching sacs
13.The registered nurse (rn) is assessing a client who was discharged home
after management of chronic hypertension. Which equipment should the rn
instruct the client to use at home? - answer-sphygmomanometer
14.A young adult mail is diagnosed with stage 4 hodgkin's lymphoma in the
abdominopelvic region and is scheduled for radiation therapy (rt). The client
expresses concern about becoming infertile. How should the nurse respond?
, - answer-propose sperm banking before rt then artificial insemination is an
option
15.A client's susceptibility to ulcerative colitis is most likely due to which
aspect in the client's history? - answer-Jewish European ancestry
16.Small bowl obstruction is a condition characterized by which finding? -
answer-severe fluid and electrolyte imbalances
17.Which client should the nurse recognize as most likely to experience sleep
apnea? - answer-obese older male client with a short, thick neck
18.Which milestone indicates to the nurse successful achievement of young
adulthood? - answer-completes education and becomes self-supporting
19.A client who has heart failure is admitted with a serum potassium level of
2.9 meq/l (2.9 mmol/l). Which action is most important for the nurse to
implement? - answer-initiate continuous cardiac monitoring
20.Which postmenopausal client's complaint should the nurse refer to the hcp? -
answer-episodes of vaginal bleeding
21.The nurse is teaching a female client about the best time to plan sexual
intercourse in order to conceive. Which information should the nurse
provide? - answer-two weeks before menstruation
22.A postmenopausal client asks the nurse why she is experiencing discomfort
during intercourse. Which response is best for the nurse to provide? -
answer-estrogen deficiency causes the vaginal tissue to become dry and
thinner
23.Which discharge instruction is most important for a client after a kidney
transplant? - answer-use daily reminders to take immunosuppressants
24.The nurse is assessing a client with chronic kidney disease (ckd). Which
finding is most important for the nurse to respond to first? - answer-
potassium 6.0 meq
SURGICAL EXAM UPDATED 2026/2027
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
1. An adult client who is hospitalized after surgery reports sudden onset of
chest pain and dyspnea. The client appears anxious, restless, and mildly
cyanotic. The nurse should further assess the client for which condition? -
answer-pulmonary embolism
2. Which information should the nurse obtain when performing an initial
assessment of a client who presents to the emergency department with a
painful ankle injury? (select all that apply) - answer-quality of the pain
Signs of inflammation
Ankle range of motion
Visible deformities of the joint
3. Which description of pain is consistent with a diagnosis of rheumatoid
arthritis? - answer-joint pain is worse in the morning and involves symmetric
joints
4. Which physical assessment finding should the nurse anticipate in a client
with long-term gastroesophageal reflux disease (gerd)? - answer-hoarseness
5. A client presents with chronic venous insufficiency. Which assessment
finding should the nurse anticipate? - answer-bilateral lower leg stasis
dermatitis
6. A client has been hospitalized with a femur fracture and is being treated with
traction. Which action by the nurse is the priority when caring for this
client? - answer-assess neurovascular status
7. Which statement made by a client with chronic pancreatitis indicates that
further education is needed? - answer-i will cut back on smoking cigarettes
daily
8. The nurse is teaching a female client who uses a contraceptive diaphragm
about reducing the risk for toxic shock syndrome (tss). Which information
, should the nurse include? (select all that apply) - answer-do not leave the
diaphragm in place longer than 8 hours after intercourse
Replace the old diaphragm every 3 months
9. A male client who smokes two packs of cigarettes a day states he
understands that smoking cigarettes is contributing to the difficulty that he
and his wife are having in getting pregnant and wants to know if other
factors could be contributing to their difficulty. Which information is best
for the nurse to provide? (select all that apply). - answer-alcohol
consumption can cause erectile dysfunction
Low testosterone levels affect sperm production
Cessation of smoking improves general health and fertility
10.Twenty four hours after a client returns from surgical gastric bypass, the
registered nurse (rn) observes large amounts of blood in the nasogastric tube
(ngt) cannister. Which assessment finding should the rn report as early signs
of hypovolemic shock? - answer-lethargy
11.The registered nurse (rn) is assessing a male client who arrives at the clinic
with severe abdominal cramping, pain, tenesmus, and dehydration. The rn
discovers that the client has had 14 to 20 loose stools with rectal bleeding.
When taking the client's medical history, which information is most for the
nurse to obtain? - answer-ulcerative colitis
12.A client is newly diagnosed with diverticulosis. The registered nurse (rn) is
assessing the client's basic knowledge about the disease process. Which
statement by the client conveys an understanding of the etiology of
diverticula? - answer-chronic constipation causes weakening of colon wall
which results in out pouching sacs
13.The registered nurse (rn) is assessing a client who was discharged home
after management of chronic hypertension. Which equipment should the rn
instruct the client to use at home? - answer-sphygmomanometer
14.A young adult mail is diagnosed with stage 4 hodgkin's lymphoma in the
abdominopelvic region and is scheduled for radiation therapy (rt). The client
expresses concern about becoming infertile. How should the nurse respond?
, - answer-propose sperm banking before rt then artificial insemination is an
option
15.A client's susceptibility to ulcerative colitis is most likely due to which
aspect in the client's history? - answer-Jewish European ancestry
16.Small bowl obstruction is a condition characterized by which finding? -
answer-severe fluid and electrolyte imbalances
17.Which client should the nurse recognize as most likely to experience sleep
apnea? - answer-obese older male client with a short, thick neck
18.Which milestone indicates to the nurse successful achievement of young
adulthood? - answer-completes education and becomes self-supporting
19.A client who has heart failure is admitted with a serum potassium level of
2.9 meq/l (2.9 mmol/l). Which action is most important for the nurse to
implement? - answer-initiate continuous cardiac monitoring
20.Which postmenopausal client's complaint should the nurse refer to the hcp? -
answer-episodes of vaginal bleeding
21.The nurse is teaching a female client about the best time to plan sexual
intercourse in order to conceive. Which information should the nurse
provide? - answer-two weeks before menstruation
22.A postmenopausal client asks the nurse why she is experiencing discomfort
during intercourse. Which response is best for the nurse to provide? -
answer-estrogen deficiency causes the vaginal tissue to become dry and
thinner
23.Which discharge instruction is most important for a client after a kidney
transplant? - answer-use daily reminders to take immunosuppressants
24.The nurse is assessing a client with chronic kidney disease (ckd). Which
finding is most important for the nurse to respond to first? - answer-
potassium 6.0 meq
