HESI - Medical Surgical Nursing test
] ] ] ] ] ]
(2026) Questions with 100% Correct Det
] ] ] ]] ]
ailed Answers ]
When ]describing ]patient ]education ]approaches, ]the ]nurse ]educator ]would ]explain ]that ]informal ]
teaching ]is ]an ]approach ]that
a. ]follows ]formalized ]plans
b. ]has ]standardized ]content
c. ]often ]occurs ]one-to-one
d. ]addresses ]group ]needs ]- ]correct ]answer: ]C. ]Informal ]teaching ]is ]individualized ]one ]on ]one ]tea
ching ]which ]represents ]the ]majority ]of ]patient ]education ]done ]by ]nurses ]that ]occurs ]when ]an ]in
tervention ]is ]explained ]or ]a ]question ]is ]answered. ]Group ]needs ]are ]often ]the ]focus ]of ]formal ]pa
tient ]education ]courses ]or ]classes. ]Informal ]teaching ]does ]not ]necessarily ]follow ]a ]specific ]forma
lized ]plan. ]It ]may ]be ]planned ]with ]specific ]content, ]but ]it ]is ]individualized ]responses ]to ]patient ]n
eeds. ]Formal ]teaching ]involves ]the ]use ]of ]a ]curriculum/course ]plan ]with ]standardized ]content.
A ]patient ]expresses ]a ]strong ]interest ]in ]returning ]to ]their ]work, ]family, ]and ]hobbies ]after ]having ]
a ]stroke. ]Which ]theory ]type ]would ]the ]nurse ]use ]to ]develop ]a ]plan ]of ]care ]for ]the ]best ]results ]of ]
this ]patient's ]motivation ]style?
a. ]field
b. ]biological
c. ]cognitive
d. ]sociologic ]- ]correct ]answer: ]C. ]Cognitive ]theorists ]believe ]that ]attention, ]relevance, ]confidenc
e, ]and ]satisfaction ]
(ARCS) ]are ]the ]conditions ]that, ]when ]integrated, ]motivate ]someone ]to ]learn. ]Field ]theorists ]plac
e ]significance ]on ]how ]achievement, ]power, ]the ]need ]for ]affiliation, ]and ]avoidance ]motives ]influe
nce ]individual ]behavior. ]Sociologic ]theories ]are ]not ]involved ]in ]motivation.
,The ]nurse ]is ]assessing ]a ]group ]of ]clients. ]Which ]clients ]are ]at ]greater ]risk ]for ]hypothermia ]or ]fros
tbite? ](select ]all ]that ]apply)
a. ]an ]older ]woman ]with ]hypertension
b. ]a ]young ]man ]with ]a ]body ]mass ]index ]of ]42
c. ]a ]young ]many ]who ]has ]just ]consumed ]six ]martinis
d. ]an ]older ]man ]who ]smokes ]a ]pack ]of ]cigarettes ]a ]day
e. ]a ]young ]woman ]who ]is ]anorexic
f. ]a ]young ]woman ]who ]is ]diabetic ]- ]correct ]answer: ]C, ]D, ]E, ]F
clients ]with ]poor ]nutrition, ]fatigue, ]and ]multiple ]chronic ]illnesses ]are ]at ]greater ]risk ]for ]hypother
mia. ]Clients ]who ]smoke, ]consume ]alcohol, ]or ]have ]impaired ]peripheral ]circulation ]have ]a ]higher ]
incidence ]of ]frostbite.
Which ]statement ]made ]by ]a ]nurse ]represents ]the ]need ]for ]further ]education ]regarding ]pain ]ma
nagement ]in ]older ]adult ]clients?
a. ]older ]adults ]tend ]to ]report ]pain ]less ]often ]than ]younger ]adults
b. ]older ]clients ]usually ]have ]more ]experience ]with ]pain ]than ]younger ]clients
c. ]older ]adults ]are ]at ]greatest ]risk ]for ]under ]treated ]pain
d. ]older ]clients ]have ]a ]different ]pain ]mechanism ]and ]do ]not ]feel ]it ]as ]much ]- ]correct ]answer: ]D
There ]is ]no ]evidence ]to ]support ]the ]idea ]that ]older ]adult ]clients ]perceive ]pain ]any ]differently ]tha
n ]younger ]clients. ]The ]other ]statements ]are ]accurate ]regarding ]older ]clients ]and ]pain.
The ]nurse ]is ]working ]at ]a ]first ]aid ]booth ]for ]a ]spring ]training ]game ]on ]a ]hot ]day. ]A ]spectator ]com
es ]in, ]reporting ]that ]he ]is ]not ]feeling ]well. ]Vital ]signs ]are ]temp ]104.1 ]F, ]pulse ]132 ]BPM, ]respirs ]26
,]breaths/min, ]and ]blood ]pressure ]106/66 ]mm ]Hg. ]He ]trips ]over ]his ]feet ]as ]the ]nurse ]leads ]him ]to
]a ]cot. ]What ]is ]the ]priory ]action ]of ]the ]nurse?
a. ]admin ]tylenol ]650 ]mg ]orally
b. ]encourage ]rest, ]and ]reassess ]in ]15 ]minutes
c. ]sponge ]the ]victim ]with ]cool ]water ]and ]remove ]his ]shirt
d. ]encourage ]drinking ]of ]cool ]water ]or ]sports ]drink ]- ]correct ]answer: ]C
The ]spectator ]shows ]signs ]of ]heat ]stroke, ]which ]is ]a ]medical ]emergency. ]The ]spectator ]should ]b
e ]transported ]to ]the ]ED ]ASAP. ]The ]nurs ]should ]take ]actions ]to ]lower ]his ]body ]temp ]in ]teh ]meanti
me ]by ]removing ]his ]shirt ]and ]sponging ]his ]body ]with ]cool ]water. ]Lowering ]body ]temp ]by ]drinkin
g ]cool ]fluids ]or ]taking ]acetaminophen ]is ]not ]as ]effective ]in ]an ]emergency ]situation. ]The ]client ]ne
eds ]to ]be ]cooled ]quickly ]and ]is ]a ]priority ]for ]treatment
The ]client ]is ]receiving ]an ]IV ]of ]60 ]mEq ]of ]potassium ]chloride ]ina ]1000 ]mL ]solution ]of ]dextrose ]5
% ]in ]0.45% ]saline. ]The ]client ]states ]that ]the ]area ]around ]the ]IV ]site ]burns. ]What ]intervention ]do
es ]the ]nurse ]perform ]first?
a. ]assess ]for ]a ]blood ]return
b. ]notify ]the ]physician
c. ]document ]the ]finding
d. ]stop ]the ]IV ]infusion ]- ]correct ]answer: ]D
Potassium ]is ]a ]severe ]tissue ]irritant. ]The ]safest ]action ]is ]to ]discontinue ]the ]solution ]that ]contains
]the ]potassium ]and ]discontinue ]the ]IV ]altogether, ]in ]which ]case ]the ]client ]would ]need ]another ]si
te ]started. ]Assessing ]for ]a ]blood ]return ]may ]or ]may ]not ]be ]successful. ]The ]solution ]could ]be ]dilu
ted ]
(less ]potassium) ]and ]the ]rate ]could ]be ]slowed ]once ]it ]is ]determined ]that ]the ]needle ]is ]in ]the ]vei
n.
, A ]nurse ]is ]caring ]for ]an ]older ]adult ]client ]who ]lives ]alone. ]Which ]economic ]situation ]presents ]th
e ]most ]serious ]problem ]for ]this ]client?
a. ]costs ]of ]creating ]a ]living ]will
b. ]stock ]market ]fluctuations
c. ]increased ]provider ]benefits
d. ]social ]security ]as ]the ]basis ]of ]income ]- ]correct ]answer: ]D
Older ]adults ]on ]fixed ]incomes ]are ]unable ]to ]adjust ]their ]income ]to ]meet ]rising ]costs ]associated ]
with ]meeting ]basic ]needs
Controlling ]pain ]is ]important ]to ]promoting ]wellness. ]Unrelieved ]pain ]has ]been ]associated ]with ]
a. ]prolonged ]stress ]response ]and ]a ]cascade ]of ]harmful ]effects ]system ]wide.
b. ]decreased ]tumor ]growth ]and ]longevity
c. ]large ]tidal ]volumes ]and ]decreased ]lung ]capacity
d. ]decreased ]carbohydrate, ]protein, ]and ]fat ]destruction ]- ]correct ]answer: ]A
Pain ]triggers ]a ]number ]of ]physiologic ]stress ]responses ]in ]the ]human ]body. ]Unrelieved ]pain ]can ]p
rolong ]the ]stress ]response ]and ]produce ]a ]cascade ]of ]harmful ]effects ]in ]all ]body ]systems. ]The ]str
ess ]response ]causes ]the ]endocrine ]system ]to ]release ]excessive ]amounts ]of ]hormones, ]such ]as ]c
ortisol, ]catecholamines, ]and ]glucagon. ]Insulin ]and ]testosterone ]levels ]decrease. ]Increased ]endoc
rine ]activity ]in ]turn ]initiates ]a ]number ]of ]metabolic ]processes, ]in ]particular, ]accelerated ]carbohy
drate, ]protein, ]and ]fat ]destruction, ]whcih ]can ]result ]in ]weight ]loss, ]tachycardia, ]increased ]respir
atory ]rate, ]shock, ]and ]even ]death. ]The ]immune ]system ]is ]also ]affected ]by ]pain ]as ]demonstrated ]
by ]research ]showing ]a ]link ]between ]unrelieved ]pain ]and ]a ]higher ]incidence ]of ]nosocomial ]infecti
ons ]and ]increased ]tumor ]growth. ]Large ]tidal ]volumes ]are ]not ]associated ]with ]pain ]while ]decreas
ed ]lung ]capacity ]is ]associated ]with ]unrelieved ]pain. ]Decreased ]tumor ]growth ]and ]longevity ]are ]n
ot ]associated ]with ]unrelieved ]pain. ]Decreased ]carbs, ]protein, ]and ]fat ]are ]not ]associated ]with ]pai
n ]or ]stress ]response.
] ] ] ] ] ]
(2026) Questions with 100% Correct Det
] ] ] ]] ]
ailed Answers ]
When ]describing ]patient ]education ]approaches, ]the ]nurse ]educator ]would ]explain ]that ]informal ]
teaching ]is ]an ]approach ]that
a. ]follows ]formalized ]plans
b. ]has ]standardized ]content
c. ]often ]occurs ]one-to-one
d. ]addresses ]group ]needs ]- ]correct ]answer: ]C. ]Informal ]teaching ]is ]individualized ]one ]on ]one ]tea
ching ]which ]represents ]the ]majority ]of ]patient ]education ]done ]by ]nurses ]that ]occurs ]when ]an ]in
tervention ]is ]explained ]or ]a ]question ]is ]answered. ]Group ]needs ]are ]often ]the ]focus ]of ]formal ]pa
tient ]education ]courses ]or ]classes. ]Informal ]teaching ]does ]not ]necessarily ]follow ]a ]specific ]forma
lized ]plan. ]It ]may ]be ]planned ]with ]specific ]content, ]but ]it ]is ]individualized ]responses ]to ]patient ]n
eeds. ]Formal ]teaching ]involves ]the ]use ]of ]a ]curriculum/course ]plan ]with ]standardized ]content.
A ]patient ]expresses ]a ]strong ]interest ]in ]returning ]to ]their ]work, ]family, ]and ]hobbies ]after ]having ]
a ]stroke. ]Which ]theory ]type ]would ]the ]nurse ]use ]to ]develop ]a ]plan ]of ]care ]for ]the ]best ]results ]of ]
this ]patient's ]motivation ]style?
a. ]field
b. ]biological
c. ]cognitive
d. ]sociologic ]- ]correct ]answer: ]C. ]Cognitive ]theorists ]believe ]that ]attention, ]relevance, ]confidenc
e, ]and ]satisfaction ]
(ARCS) ]are ]the ]conditions ]that, ]when ]integrated, ]motivate ]someone ]to ]learn. ]Field ]theorists ]plac
e ]significance ]on ]how ]achievement, ]power, ]the ]need ]for ]affiliation, ]and ]avoidance ]motives ]influe
nce ]individual ]behavior. ]Sociologic ]theories ]are ]not ]involved ]in ]motivation.
,The ]nurse ]is ]assessing ]a ]group ]of ]clients. ]Which ]clients ]are ]at ]greater ]risk ]for ]hypothermia ]or ]fros
tbite? ](select ]all ]that ]apply)
a. ]an ]older ]woman ]with ]hypertension
b. ]a ]young ]man ]with ]a ]body ]mass ]index ]of ]42
c. ]a ]young ]many ]who ]has ]just ]consumed ]six ]martinis
d. ]an ]older ]man ]who ]smokes ]a ]pack ]of ]cigarettes ]a ]day
e. ]a ]young ]woman ]who ]is ]anorexic
f. ]a ]young ]woman ]who ]is ]diabetic ]- ]correct ]answer: ]C, ]D, ]E, ]F
clients ]with ]poor ]nutrition, ]fatigue, ]and ]multiple ]chronic ]illnesses ]are ]at ]greater ]risk ]for ]hypother
mia. ]Clients ]who ]smoke, ]consume ]alcohol, ]or ]have ]impaired ]peripheral ]circulation ]have ]a ]higher ]
incidence ]of ]frostbite.
Which ]statement ]made ]by ]a ]nurse ]represents ]the ]need ]for ]further ]education ]regarding ]pain ]ma
nagement ]in ]older ]adult ]clients?
a. ]older ]adults ]tend ]to ]report ]pain ]less ]often ]than ]younger ]adults
b. ]older ]clients ]usually ]have ]more ]experience ]with ]pain ]than ]younger ]clients
c. ]older ]adults ]are ]at ]greatest ]risk ]for ]under ]treated ]pain
d. ]older ]clients ]have ]a ]different ]pain ]mechanism ]and ]do ]not ]feel ]it ]as ]much ]- ]correct ]answer: ]D
There ]is ]no ]evidence ]to ]support ]the ]idea ]that ]older ]adult ]clients ]perceive ]pain ]any ]differently ]tha
n ]younger ]clients. ]The ]other ]statements ]are ]accurate ]regarding ]older ]clients ]and ]pain.
The ]nurse ]is ]working ]at ]a ]first ]aid ]booth ]for ]a ]spring ]training ]game ]on ]a ]hot ]day. ]A ]spectator ]com
es ]in, ]reporting ]that ]he ]is ]not ]feeling ]well. ]Vital ]signs ]are ]temp ]104.1 ]F, ]pulse ]132 ]BPM, ]respirs ]26
,]breaths/min, ]and ]blood ]pressure ]106/66 ]mm ]Hg. ]He ]trips ]over ]his ]feet ]as ]the ]nurse ]leads ]him ]to
]a ]cot. ]What ]is ]the ]priory ]action ]of ]the ]nurse?
a. ]admin ]tylenol ]650 ]mg ]orally
b. ]encourage ]rest, ]and ]reassess ]in ]15 ]minutes
c. ]sponge ]the ]victim ]with ]cool ]water ]and ]remove ]his ]shirt
d. ]encourage ]drinking ]of ]cool ]water ]or ]sports ]drink ]- ]correct ]answer: ]C
The ]spectator ]shows ]signs ]of ]heat ]stroke, ]which ]is ]a ]medical ]emergency. ]The ]spectator ]should ]b
e ]transported ]to ]the ]ED ]ASAP. ]The ]nurs ]should ]take ]actions ]to ]lower ]his ]body ]temp ]in ]teh ]meanti
me ]by ]removing ]his ]shirt ]and ]sponging ]his ]body ]with ]cool ]water. ]Lowering ]body ]temp ]by ]drinkin
g ]cool ]fluids ]or ]taking ]acetaminophen ]is ]not ]as ]effective ]in ]an ]emergency ]situation. ]The ]client ]ne
eds ]to ]be ]cooled ]quickly ]and ]is ]a ]priority ]for ]treatment
The ]client ]is ]receiving ]an ]IV ]of ]60 ]mEq ]of ]potassium ]chloride ]ina ]1000 ]mL ]solution ]of ]dextrose ]5
% ]in ]0.45% ]saline. ]The ]client ]states ]that ]the ]area ]around ]the ]IV ]site ]burns. ]What ]intervention ]do
es ]the ]nurse ]perform ]first?
a. ]assess ]for ]a ]blood ]return
b. ]notify ]the ]physician
c. ]document ]the ]finding
d. ]stop ]the ]IV ]infusion ]- ]correct ]answer: ]D
Potassium ]is ]a ]severe ]tissue ]irritant. ]The ]safest ]action ]is ]to ]discontinue ]the ]solution ]that ]contains
]the ]potassium ]and ]discontinue ]the ]IV ]altogether, ]in ]which ]case ]the ]client ]would ]need ]another ]si
te ]started. ]Assessing ]for ]a ]blood ]return ]may ]or ]may ]not ]be ]successful. ]The ]solution ]could ]be ]dilu
ted ]
(less ]potassium) ]and ]the ]rate ]could ]be ]slowed ]once ]it ]is ]determined ]that ]the ]needle ]is ]in ]the ]vei
n.
, A ]nurse ]is ]caring ]for ]an ]older ]adult ]client ]who ]lives ]alone. ]Which ]economic ]situation ]presents ]th
e ]most ]serious ]problem ]for ]this ]client?
a. ]costs ]of ]creating ]a ]living ]will
b. ]stock ]market ]fluctuations
c. ]increased ]provider ]benefits
d. ]social ]security ]as ]the ]basis ]of ]income ]- ]correct ]answer: ]D
Older ]adults ]on ]fixed ]incomes ]are ]unable ]to ]adjust ]their ]income ]to ]meet ]rising ]costs ]associated ]
with ]meeting ]basic ]needs
Controlling ]pain ]is ]important ]to ]promoting ]wellness. ]Unrelieved ]pain ]has ]been ]associated ]with ]
a. ]prolonged ]stress ]response ]and ]a ]cascade ]of ]harmful ]effects ]system ]wide.
b. ]decreased ]tumor ]growth ]and ]longevity
c. ]large ]tidal ]volumes ]and ]decreased ]lung ]capacity
d. ]decreased ]carbohydrate, ]protein, ]and ]fat ]destruction ]- ]correct ]answer: ]A
Pain ]triggers ]a ]number ]of ]physiologic ]stress ]responses ]in ]the ]human ]body. ]Unrelieved ]pain ]can ]p
rolong ]the ]stress ]response ]and ]produce ]a ]cascade ]of ]harmful ]effects ]in ]all ]body ]systems. ]The ]str
ess ]response ]causes ]the ]endocrine ]system ]to ]release ]excessive ]amounts ]of ]hormones, ]such ]as ]c
ortisol, ]catecholamines, ]and ]glucagon. ]Insulin ]and ]testosterone ]levels ]decrease. ]Increased ]endoc
rine ]activity ]in ]turn ]initiates ]a ]number ]of ]metabolic ]processes, ]in ]particular, ]accelerated ]carbohy
drate, ]protein, ]and ]fat ]destruction, ]whcih ]can ]result ]in ]weight ]loss, ]tachycardia, ]increased ]respir
atory ]rate, ]shock, ]and ]even ]death. ]The ]immune ]system ]is ]also ]affected ]by ]pain ]as ]demonstrated ]
by ]research ]showing ]a ]link ]between ]unrelieved ]pain ]and ]a ]higher ]incidence ]of ]nosocomial ]infecti
ons ]and ]increased ]tumor ]growth. ]Large ]tidal ]volumes ]are ]not ]associated ]with ]pain ]while ]decreas
ed ]lung ]capacity ]is ]associated ]with ]unrelieved ]pain. ]Decreased ]tumor ]growth ]and ]longevity ]are ]n
ot ]associated ]with ]unrelieved ]pain. ]Decreased ]carbs, ]protein, ]and ]fat ]are ]not ]associated ]with ]pai
n ]or ]stress ]response.
