Med Surg HESI Exam Questions and
Answers with Verified Solutions | Latest
Updated 2026
Which statement made by a client To prevent exacerbations of chronic
with chronic pancreatitis indicates pancreatitis,
that further education is needed? clients should be instructed to avoid
I will cut back on smoking nicotine
cigarettes daily. Correct entirely. Additional teaching includes
I will avoid drinking caffeinated avoiding
beverages. caffeinated beverages, resting frequently
I will rest frequently and avoid as
vigorous exercise. Incorrect needed, and eating a bland diet low fat
I will eat a bland, low-fat, high- and high in
protein diet. protein.
How should the nurse position the In MCL I monitoring, the positive electrode
electrodes for modified chest lead is
one (MCL I) telemetry monitoring? placed on the client's mid-chest to the right
Negative polarity left shoulder, of the
positive polarity right chest nipple sternum, and the negative electrode is
line, ground left chest nipple line. placed on
Correct the upper left part of the chest. The ground
may be
placed anywhere, but is usually placed on
the
lower left portion of the chest.
,In preparing to administer Albumin should be infused within four
intravenous albumin to a client hours
following surgery, which are the because it does not contain any
priority nursing interventions? preservatives. Any
(Select all that apply.) fluid remaining after four hours should be
Set the infusion pump to infuse the discarded. A large gauge catheter allows
albumin within four hours. Correct for fast
Compare the client's blood type infusion rate, which may be necessary.
with Hemodilution may decrease hemoglobin
the label on the albumin. (HgB)
Assign a UAP to monitor blood and hematocrit (HCT) levels, so the HgB
pressure q15 minutes. and HCT
Administer through a large gauge levels should be monitored while
catheter. Correct monitoring for
Monitor hemoglobin and bleeding because of the increased blood
hematocrit volume
levels. Correct and blood pressure.
Assess for increased bleeding
after
administration. Correct
,A client who has heart failure is Hypokalemia (normal 3.5 to 5 mEq/L [3.5
admitted with a serum potassium to 5
level of 2.9 mEq/L (2.9 mmol/L). mmol/L]) causes changes in myocardial
Which action is most important for irritability
the nurse to implement? and ECG waveform, so it is most important
Give 20 mEq of potassium for the
chloride. nurse to initiate continuous cardiac
Initiate continuous cardiac monitoring to
monitoring. Correct identify ventricular ectopy or other
Arrange a consultation with the life-threatening
dietician. dysrhythmias. After cardiac monitoring is
Teach about the side effects of initiated,
diuretics. then the potassium chloride should be
given so
that the effects of potassium replacement
on the
cardiac rhythm can be monitored.
After checking the urinary After surgery, an adult who weighs 132
drainage pounds (60
system for kinks in the tubing, the kg) should produce about 60 mL of urine
nurse determines that a client who hourly (1
has returned from the post- mL/kg/hour). Dark, concentrated, and low
anesthesia care has a dark, volume
concentrated urinary output of 54 of urine output should be reported to the
mL for the last 2 hours. Which surgeon.
priority nursing action should be
implemented?
Report the findings to the surgeon.
Correct
Irrigate the indwelling urinary
catheter.
Apply manual pressure to the
bladder.
Increase the IV flow rate for 15
minutes. Incorrect
, Two days postoperative, a male For a client exhibiting symptoms of deep
client reports aching pain in his left vein
leg. The nurse assesses redness thrombosis (DVT), a complication of
and immobility, the
warmth on the lower left calf. initial care includes bedrest and elevation
Which of the
intervention would be most helpful extremity.
to this client?
Apply sequential compression
devices (SCDs) bilaterally.
Assess for a positive Homan's sign
in
each leg. Incorrect
Pad all bony prominences on the
affected leg.
Advise the client to remain in bed
with the leg elevated. Correct
Which description of pain is Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an
consistent with a diagnosis of autoimmune disease
rheumatoid arthritis? that causes joint pain and swelling. RA is
Joint pain is worse in the morning characterized by pain that is worse when
and involves symmetric joints. arising
Correct 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. Incorrect
Joint pain is worse during the day
and involves unilateral joints.
Answers with Verified Solutions | Latest
Updated 2026
Which statement made by a client To prevent exacerbations of chronic
with chronic pancreatitis indicates pancreatitis,
that further education is needed? clients should be instructed to avoid
I will cut back on smoking nicotine
cigarettes daily. Correct entirely. Additional teaching includes
I will avoid drinking caffeinated avoiding
beverages. caffeinated beverages, resting frequently
I will rest frequently and avoid as
vigorous exercise. Incorrect needed, and eating a bland diet low fat
I will eat a bland, low-fat, high- and high in
protein diet. protein.
How should the nurse position the In MCL I monitoring, the positive electrode
electrodes for modified chest lead is
one (MCL I) telemetry monitoring? placed on the client's mid-chest to the right
Negative polarity left shoulder, of the
positive polarity right chest nipple sternum, and the negative electrode is
line, ground left chest nipple line. placed on
Correct the upper left part of the chest. The ground
may be
placed anywhere, but is usually placed on
the
lower left portion of the chest.
,In preparing to administer Albumin should be infused within four
intravenous albumin to a client hours
following surgery, which are the because it does not contain any
priority nursing interventions? preservatives. Any
(Select all that apply.) fluid remaining after four hours should be
Set the infusion pump to infuse the discarded. A large gauge catheter allows
albumin within four hours. Correct for fast
Compare the client's blood type infusion rate, which may be necessary.
with Hemodilution may decrease hemoglobin
the label on the albumin. (HgB)
Assign a UAP to monitor blood and hematocrit (HCT) levels, so the HgB
pressure q15 minutes. and HCT
Administer through a large gauge levels should be monitored while
catheter. Correct monitoring for
Monitor hemoglobin and bleeding because of the increased blood
hematocrit volume
levels. Correct and blood pressure.
Assess for increased bleeding
after
administration. Correct
,A client who has heart failure is Hypokalemia (normal 3.5 to 5 mEq/L [3.5
admitted with a serum potassium to 5
level of 2.9 mEq/L (2.9 mmol/L). mmol/L]) causes changes in myocardial
Which action is most important for irritability
the nurse to implement? and ECG waveform, so it is most important
Give 20 mEq of potassium for the
chloride. nurse to initiate continuous cardiac
Initiate continuous cardiac monitoring to
monitoring. Correct identify ventricular ectopy or other
Arrange a consultation with the life-threatening
dietician. dysrhythmias. After cardiac monitoring is
Teach about the side effects of initiated,
diuretics. then the potassium chloride should be
given so
that the effects of potassium replacement
on the
cardiac rhythm can be monitored.
After checking the urinary After surgery, an adult who weighs 132
drainage pounds (60
system for kinks in the tubing, the kg) should produce about 60 mL of urine
nurse determines that a client who hourly (1
has returned from the post- mL/kg/hour). Dark, concentrated, and low
anesthesia care has a dark, volume
concentrated urinary output of 54 of urine output should be reported to the
mL for the last 2 hours. Which surgeon.
priority nursing action should be
implemented?
Report the findings to the surgeon.
Correct
Irrigate the indwelling urinary
catheter.
Apply manual pressure to the
bladder.
Increase the IV flow rate for 15
minutes. Incorrect
, Two days postoperative, a male For a client exhibiting symptoms of deep
client reports aching pain in his left vein
leg. The nurse assesses redness thrombosis (DVT), a complication of
and immobility, the
warmth on the lower left calf. initial care includes bedrest and elevation
Which of the
intervention would be most helpful extremity.
to this client?
Apply sequential compression
devices (SCDs) bilaterally.
Assess for a positive Homan's sign
in
each leg. Incorrect
Pad all bony prominences on the
affected leg.
Advise the client to remain in bed
with the leg elevated. Correct
Which description of pain is Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an
consistent with a diagnosis of autoimmune disease
rheumatoid arthritis? that causes joint pain and swelling. RA is
Joint pain is worse in the morning characterized by pain that is worse when
and involves symmetric joints. arising
Correct 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. Incorrect
Joint pain is worse during the day
and involves unilateral joints.
