MED-SURG HESI Exam Study
Guide – Practice Questions
with Answers. GRADED A+.
Latest 2026/2027 Update.
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?
Pulmonary embolism.
Heart failure.
Tuberculosis.
Bronchitis. - Ans✔✔-Pulmonary embolism.
Post-surgical clients are at an increased risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT),
which may result in pulmonary embolism if the clot breaks off and travels to
the lungs. Signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism include chest pain,
dyspnea, anxiety, restlessness, and - in severe cases - cyanosis.
Jarvis, Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th ed., p.493
,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.)
Quality of the pain.
Signs of inflammation.
Ankle range of motion.
Muscle strength testing.
Visible deformities of the joint. - Ans✔✔-Quality of the pain.
Signs of inflammation.
Ankle range of motion.
Visible deformities of the joint.
Initial assessment of a joint injury is performed to determine the extent of the
damage. The nurse's initial assessment of a painful ankle injury should include
pain quality, the presence of deformities, evidence of inflammation, and range
of motion.
Jarvis Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th ed. p. 586-8
Which description of pain is consistent with a diagnosis of rheumatoid
arthritis?
Joint pain is worse in the morning and involves symmetric joints.
Joint pain is better in the morning and worsens throughout the day.
Joint pain is consistent throughout the day and is relieved by pain medication.
Joint pain is worse during the day and involves unilateral joints. - Ans✔✔-Joint
pain is worse in the morning and involves symmetric joints.
,Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes joint pain and
swelling. RA is characterized by pain that is worse when arising and involves
symmetric joints.
Jarvis. (2016), Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th Ed., Chapter
22; p. 586
Which physical assessment finding should the nurse anticipate in a client with
long-term gastroesophagealreflux disease (GERD)?
Hoarseness.
Dry mouth.
Mouth ulcers.
Weight loss. - Ans✔✔-Hoarseness.
Dyspepsia and regurgitation are the main symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux
disease (GERD); however, hoarseness is one of the most common long-term
symptoms of GERD due to the irritation of the reflux of gastric secretions.
Ignatavicius, (2016). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative
care, eight edition., Ch. 49, p. 1111.
A client presents with chronic venous insufficiency. Which assessment finding
should the nurse anticipate?
Bilateral lower leg stasis dermatitis.
Clubbing of fingers and toes.
, Intermittent claudication.
Peripheral cyanosis. - Ans✔✔-Bilateral lower leg stasis dermatitis.
Clients who suffer from chroninc venous insufficiency often develop statsis
dermatitis in the lower extremities. Statis dermatitis appear as brownish-red
discoloration on the lower extremities at the ankles which can develop into
stasis ulcers due to the pooling of the venous blood flow back to the heart.
Ignatavicius, (2013). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative
care, 7th ed.., Ch. 33, p. 803.
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?
Assess neurovascular status.
Change the client's position.
Inspect the traction equipment.
Review pain medication orders. - Ans✔✔-Assess neurovascular status.
The use of traction for long bone fractures reduces the potential for damage to
the surrounding tissues. Reports of increased pain may indicate circulatory
compromise or tissue damage (compartment syndrome). Assessing the client's
neurovascular status is the nurse's highest priority.
Ignatavicius, (2016). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative
care, eight edition., Ch. 51, pp. 1051-80.
Which statement made by a client with chronic pancreatitis indicates that
further education is needed?
Guide – Practice Questions
with Answers. GRADED A+.
Latest 2026/2027 Update.
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?
Pulmonary embolism.
Heart failure.
Tuberculosis.
Bronchitis. - Ans✔✔-Pulmonary embolism.
Post-surgical clients are at an increased risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT),
which may result in pulmonary embolism if the clot breaks off and travels to
the lungs. Signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism include chest pain,
dyspnea, anxiety, restlessness, and - in severe cases - cyanosis.
Jarvis, Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th ed., p.493
,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.)
Quality of the pain.
Signs of inflammation.
Ankle range of motion.
Muscle strength testing.
Visible deformities of the joint. - Ans✔✔-Quality of the pain.
Signs of inflammation.
Ankle range of motion.
Visible deformities of the joint.
Initial assessment of a joint injury is performed to determine the extent of the
damage. The nurse's initial assessment of a painful ankle injury should include
pain quality, the presence of deformities, evidence of inflammation, and range
of motion.
Jarvis Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th ed. p. 586-8
Which description of pain is consistent with a diagnosis of rheumatoid
arthritis?
Joint pain is worse in the morning and involves symmetric joints.
Joint pain is better in the morning and worsens throughout the day.
Joint pain is consistent throughout the day and is relieved by pain medication.
Joint pain is worse during the day and involves unilateral joints. - Ans✔✔-Joint
pain is worse in the morning and involves symmetric joints.
,Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes joint pain and
swelling. RA is characterized by pain that is worse when arising and involves
symmetric joints.
Jarvis. (2016), Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th Ed., Chapter
22; p. 586
Which physical assessment finding should the nurse anticipate in a client with
long-term gastroesophagealreflux disease (GERD)?
Hoarseness.
Dry mouth.
Mouth ulcers.
Weight loss. - Ans✔✔-Hoarseness.
Dyspepsia and regurgitation are the main symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux
disease (GERD); however, hoarseness is one of the most common long-term
symptoms of GERD due to the irritation of the reflux of gastric secretions.
Ignatavicius, (2016). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative
care, eight edition., Ch. 49, p. 1111.
A client presents with chronic venous insufficiency. Which assessment finding
should the nurse anticipate?
Bilateral lower leg stasis dermatitis.
Clubbing of fingers and toes.
, Intermittent claudication.
Peripheral cyanosis. - Ans✔✔-Bilateral lower leg stasis dermatitis.
Clients who suffer from chroninc venous insufficiency often develop statsis
dermatitis in the lower extremities. Statis dermatitis appear as brownish-red
discoloration on the lower extremities at the ankles which can develop into
stasis ulcers due to the pooling of the venous blood flow back to the heart.
Ignatavicius, (2013). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative
care, 7th ed.., Ch. 33, p. 803.
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?
Assess neurovascular status.
Change the client's position.
Inspect the traction equipment.
Review pain medication orders. - Ans✔✔-Assess neurovascular status.
The use of traction for long bone fractures reduces the potential for damage to
the surrounding tissues. Reports of increased pain may indicate circulatory
compromise or tissue damage (compartment syndrome). Assessing the client's
neurovascular status is the nurse's highest priority.
Ignatavicius, (2016). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative
care, eight edition., Ch. 51, pp. 1051-80.
Which statement made by a client with chronic pancreatitis indicates that
further education is needed?
