MED SURG II HESI MAIN EXAM CORE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔A client who has undergone a subtotal thyroidectomy is subject to
complications in the first 48 hours after surgery. The nurse should obtain and keep at
the bedside equipment to:
1. Begin total parenteral nutrition.
2. Start a cutdown infusion.
3. Administer tube feedings.
4. Perform a tracheotomy. - ✔✔4. Perform a tracheotomy
✔✔One day following a subtotal thyroidectomy, a client begins to have tingling in the
fingers and toes. The nurse should first:
1. Encourage the client to flex and extend the fingers and toes.
2. Notify the physician.
3. Assess the client for thrombophlebitis.
4. Ask the client to speak. - ✔✔2. Notify the physician
✔✔Which of the following medications should be available to provide emergency
treatment if a client develops tetany after a subtotal thyroidectomy?
1. Sodium phosphate.
2. Calcium gluconate.
3. Echothiophate iodide.
4. Sodium bicarbonate. - ✔✔2. Calcium gluconate
✔✔A 60-year-old female is diagnosed with hypothyroidism. The nurse should
assess the client for which of the following?
1. Tachycardia.
2. Weight gain.
,3. Diarrhea.
4. Nausea. - ✔✔Weight gain
✔✔The nurse should assess a client with hypothyroidism for which of the
following?
1. Corneal abrasion due to inability to close the eyelids.
2. Weight loss due to hypermetabolism.
3. Fluid loss due to diarrhea.
4. Decreased activity due to fatigue. - ✔✔4. Decreased activity due to fatigue
✔✔When discussing recent onset of feelings of sadness and depression in a client with
hypothyroidism, the nurse should inform the client that these feelings are:
1. The effects of thyroid hormone replacement therapy and will diminish over time.
2. Related to thyroid hormone replacement therapy and will not diminish over time.
3. A normal part of having a chronic illness.
4. Most likely related to low thyroid hormone levels and will improve with
treatment. - ✔✔4. Most likely related to low thyroid hormone levels and will improve with
treatment.
✔✔The nurse is instructing the client with hypothyroidism who takes levothyroxine
(Synthroid) 100 mcg, digoxin (Lanoxin) and simvastatin (Zocor). Teaching regarding
medications is effective if the client will take:
1. The Synthroid with breakfast and the other medications after breakfast.
2. The Synthroid before breakfast and the other medications 4 hours later.
3. All medications together 1 hour after eating breakfast.
4. All medications before going to bed. - ✔✔2. The Synthroid before breakfast and the
other medications 4 hours later.
✔✔The nurse is teaching a diabetic client using an empowerment approach. The nurse
should initiate teaching by asking which of the following?
1. "How much does your family need to be involved in learning about your
condition?"
2. "What is required for your family to manage your symptoms?"
3. "What activities are most important for you to be able to maintain control of your
diabetes?"
4. "What do you know about your medications and condition?" - ✔✔3. "What activities
are most important for you to be able to maintain control of your diabetes?"
✔✔The nurse is preparing to teach a client with a peptic ulcer about the diet that should
be followed after discharge. The nurse should explain that the client should eat which of
the following?
, 1. Bland foods.
2. High-protein foods.
3. Any foods that are tolerated.
4. A glass of milk with each meal. - ✔✔3. Any foods that are tolerated.
✔✔The nurse finds a client who has been diagnosed with a peptic ulcer surrounded by
papers from a briefcase and arguing on the telephone with a coworker. The nurse's
response to observing these actions should be based on knowledge that:
1. Involvement with the job will keep the client from becoming bored.
2. A relaxed environment will promote ulcer healing.
3. Not keeping up with the job will increase the client's stress level.
4. Setting limits on the client's behavior is an important nursing responsibility. - ✔✔2. A
relaxed environment will promote ulcer healing.
✔✔A client with a peptic ulcer has been instructed to avoid intense physical
activity and stress. Which strategy should the client incorporate into the home care
plan?
1. Conduct physical activity in the morning in order to be able to rest in the
afternoon.
2. Have the family agree to perform the necessary yard work at home.
3. Give up jogging and substitute a less demanding hobby.
4. Incorporate periods of physical and mental rest in the daily schedule. - ✔✔4.
Incorporate periods of physical and mental rest in the daily schedule.
✔✔A client is to take one daily dose of ranitidine (Zantac) at home to treat a peptic
ulcer. The client understands proper drug administration of ranitidine when the client will
take the drug at which of the following times?
1. Before meals.
2. With meals.
3. At bedtime.
4. When pain occurs. - ✔✔3. At bedtime.
✔✔A client has been taking aluminum hydroxide 30 mL six times per day at home to
treat a peptic ulcer. The client has been unable to have a bowel movement for 3 days.
Based on this information, the nurse would determine that which of the following is the
most likely cause of the client's constipation?
1. The client has not been including enough fiber in the diet.
2. The client needs to increase the daily exercise.
3. The client is experiencing an adverse effect of the aluminum hydroxide.
AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔A client who has undergone a subtotal thyroidectomy is subject to
complications in the first 48 hours after surgery. The nurse should obtain and keep at
the bedside equipment to:
1. Begin total parenteral nutrition.
2. Start a cutdown infusion.
3. Administer tube feedings.
4. Perform a tracheotomy. - ✔✔4. Perform a tracheotomy
✔✔One day following a subtotal thyroidectomy, a client begins to have tingling in the
fingers and toes. The nurse should first:
1. Encourage the client to flex and extend the fingers and toes.
2. Notify the physician.
3. Assess the client for thrombophlebitis.
4. Ask the client to speak. - ✔✔2. Notify the physician
✔✔Which of the following medications should be available to provide emergency
treatment if a client develops tetany after a subtotal thyroidectomy?
1. Sodium phosphate.
2. Calcium gluconate.
3. Echothiophate iodide.
4. Sodium bicarbonate. - ✔✔2. Calcium gluconate
✔✔A 60-year-old female is diagnosed with hypothyroidism. The nurse should
assess the client for which of the following?
1. Tachycardia.
2. Weight gain.
,3. Diarrhea.
4. Nausea. - ✔✔Weight gain
✔✔The nurse should assess a client with hypothyroidism for which of the
following?
1. Corneal abrasion due to inability to close the eyelids.
2. Weight loss due to hypermetabolism.
3. Fluid loss due to diarrhea.
4. Decreased activity due to fatigue. - ✔✔4. Decreased activity due to fatigue
✔✔When discussing recent onset of feelings of sadness and depression in a client with
hypothyroidism, the nurse should inform the client that these feelings are:
1. The effects of thyroid hormone replacement therapy and will diminish over time.
2. Related to thyroid hormone replacement therapy and will not diminish over time.
3. A normal part of having a chronic illness.
4. Most likely related to low thyroid hormone levels and will improve with
treatment. - ✔✔4. Most likely related to low thyroid hormone levels and will improve with
treatment.
✔✔The nurse is instructing the client with hypothyroidism who takes levothyroxine
(Synthroid) 100 mcg, digoxin (Lanoxin) and simvastatin (Zocor). Teaching regarding
medications is effective if the client will take:
1. The Synthroid with breakfast and the other medications after breakfast.
2. The Synthroid before breakfast and the other medications 4 hours later.
3. All medications together 1 hour after eating breakfast.
4. All medications before going to bed. - ✔✔2. The Synthroid before breakfast and the
other medications 4 hours later.
✔✔The nurse is teaching a diabetic client using an empowerment approach. The nurse
should initiate teaching by asking which of the following?
1. "How much does your family need to be involved in learning about your
condition?"
2. "What is required for your family to manage your symptoms?"
3. "What activities are most important for you to be able to maintain control of your
diabetes?"
4. "What do you know about your medications and condition?" - ✔✔3. "What activities
are most important for you to be able to maintain control of your diabetes?"
✔✔The nurse is preparing to teach a client with a peptic ulcer about the diet that should
be followed after discharge. The nurse should explain that the client should eat which of
the following?
, 1. Bland foods.
2. High-protein foods.
3. Any foods that are tolerated.
4. A glass of milk with each meal. - ✔✔3. Any foods that are tolerated.
✔✔The nurse finds a client who has been diagnosed with a peptic ulcer surrounded by
papers from a briefcase and arguing on the telephone with a coworker. The nurse's
response to observing these actions should be based on knowledge that:
1. Involvement with the job will keep the client from becoming bored.
2. A relaxed environment will promote ulcer healing.
3. Not keeping up with the job will increase the client's stress level.
4. Setting limits on the client's behavior is an important nursing responsibility. - ✔✔2. A
relaxed environment will promote ulcer healing.
✔✔A client with a peptic ulcer has been instructed to avoid intense physical
activity and stress. Which strategy should the client incorporate into the home care
plan?
1. Conduct physical activity in the morning in order to be able to rest in the
afternoon.
2. Have the family agree to perform the necessary yard work at home.
3. Give up jogging and substitute a less demanding hobby.
4. Incorporate periods of physical and mental rest in the daily schedule. - ✔✔4.
Incorporate periods of physical and mental rest in the daily schedule.
✔✔A client is to take one daily dose of ranitidine (Zantac) at home to treat a peptic
ulcer. The client understands proper drug administration of ranitidine when the client will
take the drug at which of the following times?
1. Before meals.
2. With meals.
3. At bedtime.
4. When pain occurs. - ✔✔3. At bedtime.
✔✔A client has been taking aluminum hydroxide 30 mL six times per day at home to
treat a peptic ulcer. The client has been unable to have a bowel movement for 3 days.
Based on this information, the nurse would determine that which of the following is the
most likely cause of the client's constipation?
1. The client has not been including enough fiber in the diet.
2. The client needs to increase the daily exercise.
3. The client is experiencing an adverse effect of the aluminum hydroxide.
