Critical Care HESI Practice Questions
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1. ANS = A The nurse is providing post-procedure care to a client who had a cardiac catheter-
ization. The client begins to manifest signs & symptoms associated with emboliza-
tion. Which action should the nurse take?
a. Notify the primary healthcare provider immediately
b. Apply a warm, moist compress to the incision site
c. Increase the intravenous fluid rate by 20 mL/hr
d. Monitor vital signs more frequently
2. ANS = D A client reports left-sided chest pain after playing racquetball. The client is hospi-
talized & diagnosed with left pneumothorax. When assessing the client's left chest
area, the nurse expects to identify which finding?
a. Dull sound on percussion
b. Vocal fremitus on palpation
c. Rales with rhonchi on auscultation
d. Absence of breath sounds on auscultation
3. ANS = C A client is admitted to the hospital with partial- & full-thickness burns of the chest &
face sustained while trying to extinguish a brush fire. Which is the nurse's priority
concern?
a. Loss of skin integrity caused by the burns
b. Potential infection as a result of the burn injury
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c. Inadequate gas exchange caused by smoke inhalation
d. Decreased fluid volume because of the depth of the burns
4. ANS = B During the first 48 hours after a client has sustained a thermal injury, which
conditions should the nurse assess for?
a. Hypokalemia & hyponatremia
b. Hyperkalemia & hyponatremia
c. Hypokalemia & hypernatremia
d. Hyperkalemia & hypernatremia
5. ANS = C A client who had extensive pelvic surgery 24 hours ago becomes cyanotic, is
gasping for breath, & reports right-sided chest pain. What should the nurse do
first?
a. Obtain vital signs
b. Initiate a cardiac arrest code
c. Administer oxygen using a face mask
d. Encourage the use of an incentive spirometer
6. ANS = C A nurse is caring for a client with severe burns. The nurse determines that this
client is at risk for hypovolemic shock. Which physiologic finding supports the
nurse's conclusion?
a. Decreased rate of glomerular filtration
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b. Excessive blood loss through the burned tissues
c. Plasma proteins moving out of the intravascular compartment
d. Sodium retention occurring as a result of the aldosterone mechanism
7. ANS = A The nurse is caring for a client with burns & reviews the client's laboratory results:
BUN 30 mg/dL; Cr 2.4 mg/dL; serum potassium 6.3 mEq/L; pH, 7.1; PO₂ 90 mm
Hg; & Hgb 7.4 g/dL. Which condition does the nurse suspect the client has based
upon these findings?
a. Azotemia
b. Hypokalemia
c. Metabolic alkalosis
d. Respiratory alkalosis
8. ANS = D A nurse is caring for a client who experienced serious burns in a fire. Which
relationship between a client's burned body surface area & fluid loss should the
nurse consider when evaluating fluid loss in a client with burns?
a. Equal
b. Unrelated
c. Inversely related
d. Directly proportional
9. ANS = C A burn client is receiving the open method for wound treatment. Which informa-
tion will the nurse explain to the client?
, Critical Care HESI Practice Questions
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a. Bathing will not be permitted
b. Dressings will be changed daily
c. Personal protective equipment will be worn by staff
d. Room temperature will be kept below 72° F (22.2° C)
10. ANS = A A client presents to the emergency department with weakness & dizziness. The BP
is 90/60 mm Hg, pulse is 92 & weak, & body weight reflects a 3-pound loss in two
days. The weather has been hot. Which condition should the nurse conclude is
the priority for this client?
a. Deficient fluid volume
b. Impaired skin integrity
c. Inadequate nutritional intake
d. Decreased participation in activities
11. ANS = B A client is admitted with severe burns. The nurse is caring for the client 36 hours
after the client's admission & identifies the client's potassium level of 6.0 mEq/L.
Which drink will the nurse recommend be included in the client's diet?
a. Milk
b. Tea
c. Orange juice
d. Tomato juice
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_9re4vx
1. ANS = A The nurse is providing post-procedure care to a client who had a cardiac catheter-
ization. The client begins to manifest signs & symptoms associated with emboliza-
tion. Which action should the nurse take?
a. Notify the primary healthcare provider immediately
b. Apply a warm, moist compress to the incision site
c. Increase the intravenous fluid rate by 20 mL/hr
d. Monitor vital signs more frequently
2. ANS = D A client reports left-sided chest pain after playing racquetball. The client is hospi-
talized & diagnosed with left pneumothorax. When assessing the client's left chest
area, the nurse expects to identify which finding?
a. Dull sound on percussion
b. Vocal fremitus on palpation
c. Rales with rhonchi on auscultation
d. Absence of breath sounds on auscultation
3. ANS = C A client is admitted to the hospital with partial- & full-thickness burns of the chest &
face sustained while trying to extinguish a brush fire. Which is the nurse's priority
concern?
a. Loss of skin integrity caused by the burns
b. Potential infection as a result of the burn injury
, Critical Care HESI Practice Questions
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_9re4vx
c. Inadequate gas exchange caused by smoke inhalation
d. Decreased fluid volume because of the depth of the burns
4. ANS = B During the first 48 hours after a client has sustained a thermal injury, which
conditions should the nurse assess for?
a. Hypokalemia & hyponatremia
b. Hyperkalemia & hyponatremia
c. Hypokalemia & hypernatremia
d. Hyperkalemia & hypernatremia
5. ANS = C A client who had extensive pelvic surgery 24 hours ago becomes cyanotic, is
gasping for breath, & reports right-sided chest pain. What should the nurse do
first?
a. Obtain vital signs
b. Initiate a cardiac arrest code
c. Administer oxygen using a face mask
d. Encourage the use of an incentive spirometer
6. ANS = C A nurse is caring for a client with severe burns. The nurse determines that this
client is at risk for hypovolemic shock. Which physiologic finding supports the
nurse's conclusion?
a. Decreased rate of glomerular filtration
, Critical Care HESI Practice Questions
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_9re4vx
b. Excessive blood loss through the burned tissues
c. Plasma proteins moving out of the intravascular compartment
d. Sodium retention occurring as a result of the aldosterone mechanism
7. ANS = A The nurse is caring for a client with burns & reviews the client's laboratory results:
BUN 30 mg/dL; Cr 2.4 mg/dL; serum potassium 6.3 mEq/L; pH, 7.1; PO₂ 90 mm
Hg; & Hgb 7.4 g/dL. Which condition does the nurse suspect the client has based
upon these findings?
a. Azotemia
b. Hypokalemia
c. Metabolic alkalosis
d. Respiratory alkalosis
8. ANS = D A nurse is caring for a client who experienced serious burns in a fire. Which
relationship between a client's burned body surface area & fluid loss should the
nurse consider when evaluating fluid loss in a client with burns?
a. Equal
b. Unrelated
c. Inversely related
d. Directly proportional
9. ANS = C A burn client is receiving the open method for wound treatment. Which informa-
tion will the nurse explain to the client?
, Critical Care HESI Practice Questions
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_9re4vx
a. Bathing will not be permitted
b. Dressings will be changed daily
c. Personal protective equipment will be worn by staff
d. Room temperature will be kept below 72° F (22.2° C)
10. ANS = A A client presents to the emergency department with weakness & dizziness. The BP
is 90/60 mm Hg, pulse is 92 & weak, & body weight reflects a 3-pound loss in two
days. The weather has been hot. Which condition should the nurse conclude is
the priority for this client?
a. Deficient fluid volume
b. Impaired skin integrity
c. Inadequate nutritional intake
d. Decreased participation in activities
11. ANS = B A client is admitted with severe burns. The nurse is caring for the client 36 hours
after the client's admission & identifies the client's potassium level of 6.0 mEq/L.
Which drink will the nurse recommend be included in the client's diet?
a. Milk
b. Tea
c. Orange juice
d. Tomato juice
