HESI PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% CORRECT!!
,Which assessment is most important for the nurse to perform on a client who is
hospitalized for Guillain-Barre syndrome that is rapidly progressing?
Respiratory effort.
Unsteady gait.
Intensity of pain.
Ability to eat. - ANSWER Respiratory effort.
Guillain-Barre syndrome causes paralysis or weakness that typically starts at the feet
and progresses upwards. As the condition progresses, the nurse must ensure that the
client is able to breathe effectively.
A male client comes into the clinic with a history of penile discharge with painful, burning
urination. Which action should the nurse implement?
Collect a culture of the penile discharge.
Palpate the inguinal lymph nodes gently.
Observe for scrotal swelling and redness.
Express the discharge to determine color. - ANSWER Collect a culture of the penile
discharge.
Penile discharge with painful urination is commonly associated with gonorrhea. The
nurse should collect a culture of the penile discharge to determine the cause of these
symptoms. The cause must be determined or confirmed through culture to identify the
organism and ensure effective treatment.
A client with history of atrial fibrillation is admitted to the telemetry unit with sudden
onset of shortness of breath. The nurse observes a new irregular heart rhythm and
should perform which assessment at this time?
Check for a pulse deficit.
Palpate the apical impulse.
Inspect jugular vein pulse.
Examine for a carotid bruit. - ANSWER Check for a pulse deficit.
A client with a past history of atrial fibrillation may return to that rhythm. Any signs of
atrial fibrillation, such as sudden onset shortness of breath, requires further
,investigation. The nurse should assess this client for a pulse deficit because this
condition occurs with atrial fibrillation.
Which assessment finding is of greatest concern to the nurse who is caring for a client
with stomatitis?
Cough brought on by swallowing.
Sore throat caused by speaking.
Painful and dry oral cavity.
Unintended weight loss. - ANSWER Cough brought on by swallowing.
A cough brought on by swallowing is a sign of dysphagia, which is a finding of particular
concern in a client with stomatitis. Dysphagia can cause numerous problems, including
airway obstruction, and should be reported to the healthcare provider immediately.
The nurse is teaching a client diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease. Which
genitourinary system complication should the nurse include in the teaching?
Altered sexual response.
Sterility.
Urinary incontinence.
Decreased pelvic muscle tone. - ANSWER Altered sexual response.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a cardiovascular condition characterized by
narrowing of the arteries and reduced blood flow to the extremities. PAD is known to
alter the blood flow to the male's penis and is associated with erectile dysfunction in
men.
A 40-year-old female client has a history of smoking. Which finding should the nurse
identify as a risk factor for myocardial infarction?
Oral contraceptives.
Senile osteopenia.
Levothyroxine therapy.
Pernicious anemia. - ANSWER Oral contraceptives.
Women older than 35 years old who smoke and take oral contraceptives have an
increased risk of myocardial infarction or stroke.
A client has been told that there is cataract formation over both eyes. Which finding
should the nurse expect when assessing the client?
, Decreased color perception.
Presence of floaters.
Loss of central vision.
Reduced peripheral vision. - ANSWER Decreased color perception.
Decreased color perception occurs with cataract formation. Cataract formation is also
associated with blurred vision and a global loss of vision so gradual that the client may
not be aware of it.
Which assessment finding should most concern the nurse who is monitoring a client two
hours after a thoracentesis?
New onset of coughing.
Low resting heart rate.
Distended neck veins.
Decreased shallow respirations. - ANSWER New onset of coughing.
A pneumothorax (partial or complete lung collapse) is the potential complication of a
thoracentesis. Manifestations of a pneumothorax include new onset of a nagging cough,
tachycardia, and an increased shallow respiration rate.
While caring for a client who has esophageal varices, which nursing intervention is most
important for the registered nurse (RN) to implement?
Monitor infusing IV fluids and any replacement blood products.
Prepare for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).
Maintain the client on strict bedrest.
Insert a nasogastric tube (NGT) for intermittent suction. - ANSWER Monitor infusing IV
fluids and any replacement blood products.
Maintaining hemodynamic stability in a client with esophageal varicescan precipitatea
life-threatening crisis if esophageal varies leak or rupture and can result in hemorrhage.
The priority is assessing and monitoring infusions of IV fluids and any replacement
blood products.
The registered nurse (RN) is caring for a client who developed oliguria and was
diagnosed with sepsis and dehydration 48 hours ago. Which assessment finding
indicates to the RN that the client is stabilizing?
Urine output of 40 mL/hour.
ANSWERS 100% CORRECT!!
,Which assessment is most important for the nurse to perform on a client who is
hospitalized for Guillain-Barre syndrome that is rapidly progressing?
Respiratory effort.
Unsteady gait.
Intensity of pain.
Ability to eat. - ANSWER Respiratory effort.
Guillain-Barre syndrome causes paralysis or weakness that typically starts at the feet
and progresses upwards. As the condition progresses, the nurse must ensure that the
client is able to breathe effectively.
A male client comes into the clinic with a history of penile discharge with painful, burning
urination. Which action should the nurse implement?
Collect a culture of the penile discharge.
Palpate the inguinal lymph nodes gently.
Observe for scrotal swelling and redness.
Express the discharge to determine color. - ANSWER Collect a culture of the penile
discharge.
Penile discharge with painful urination is commonly associated with gonorrhea. The
nurse should collect a culture of the penile discharge to determine the cause of these
symptoms. The cause must be determined or confirmed through culture to identify the
organism and ensure effective treatment.
A client with history of atrial fibrillation is admitted to the telemetry unit with sudden
onset of shortness of breath. The nurse observes a new irregular heart rhythm and
should perform which assessment at this time?
Check for a pulse deficit.
Palpate the apical impulse.
Inspect jugular vein pulse.
Examine for a carotid bruit. - ANSWER Check for a pulse deficit.
A client with a past history of atrial fibrillation may return to that rhythm. Any signs of
atrial fibrillation, such as sudden onset shortness of breath, requires further
,investigation. The nurse should assess this client for a pulse deficit because this
condition occurs with atrial fibrillation.
Which assessment finding is of greatest concern to the nurse who is caring for a client
with stomatitis?
Cough brought on by swallowing.
Sore throat caused by speaking.
Painful and dry oral cavity.
Unintended weight loss. - ANSWER Cough brought on by swallowing.
A cough brought on by swallowing is a sign of dysphagia, which is a finding of particular
concern in a client with stomatitis. Dysphagia can cause numerous problems, including
airway obstruction, and should be reported to the healthcare provider immediately.
The nurse is teaching a client diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease. Which
genitourinary system complication should the nurse include in the teaching?
Altered sexual response.
Sterility.
Urinary incontinence.
Decreased pelvic muscle tone. - ANSWER Altered sexual response.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a cardiovascular condition characterized by
narrowing of the arteries and reduced blood flow to the extremities. PAD is known to
alter the blood flow to the male's penis and is associated with erectile dysfunction in
men.
A 40-year-old female client has a history of smoking. Which finding should the nurse
identify as a risk factor for myocardial infarction?
Oral contraceptives.
Senile osteopenia.
Levothyroxine therapy.
Pernicious anemia. - ANSWER Oral contraceptives.
Women older than 35 years old who smoke and take oral contraceptives have an
increased risk of myocardial infarction or stroke.
A client has been told that there is cataract formation over both eyes. Which finding
should the nurse expect when assessing the client?
, Decreased color perception.
Presence of floaters.
Loss of central vision.
Reduced peripheral vision. - ANSWER Decreased color perception.
Decreased color perception occurs with cataract formation. Cataract formation is also
associated with blurred vision and a global loss of vision so gradual that the client may
not be aware of it.
Which assessment finding should most concern the nurse who is monitoring a client two
hours after a thoracentesis?
New onset of coughing.
Low resting heart rate.
Distended neck veins.
Decreased shallow respirations. - ANSWER New onset of coughing.
A pneumothorax (partial or complete lung collapse) is the potential complication of a
thoracentesis. Manifestations of a pneumothorax include new onset of a nagging cough,
tachycardia, and an increased shallow respiration rate.
While caring for a client who has esophageal varices, which nursing intervention is most
important for the registered nurse (RN) to implement?
Monitor infusing IV fluids and any replacement blood products.
Prepare for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).
Maintain the client on strict bedrest.
Insert a nasogastric tube (NGT) for intermittent suction. - ANSWER Monitor infusing IV
fluids and any replacement blood products.
Maintaining hemodynamic stability in a client with esophageal varicescan precipitatea
life-threatening crisis if esophageal varies leak or rupture and can result in hemorrhage.
The priority is assessing and monitoring infusions of IV fluids and any replacement
blood products.
The registered nurse (RN) is caring for a client who developed oliguria and was
diagnosed with sepsis and dehydration 48 hours ago. Which assessment finding
indicates to the RN that the client is stabilizing?
Urine output of 40 mL/hour.
