NSG 223 Med Surg 2 HESI Final
Answers | 2025 New Update with
complete solutions. GRADED A+
1. What does ARDS initially resemble?
Answer: B) Severe pulmonary edema. ARDS is characterized by
rapid onset of dyspnea, arterial hypoxemia that doesn't improve
with oxygen, and bilateral infiltrates on a chest x-ray, which
resembles congestive pulmonary edema .
2. A patient with a pulmonary embolism has which ABG
finding?
Answer: Respiratory acidosis and hypoxia .
3. What is the priority intervention for a client with a
pulmonary embolism?
Answer: Oxygen administration to maintain ventilation .
4. What is the primary goal when using Positive End-
Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) for a patient on a ventilator?
Answer: To increase functional residual capacity and reverse
alveolar collapse by keeping alveoli open, which improves arterial
oxygenation .
5. A patient is in the recovery phase of ARDS. What finding
does the nurse expect?
, Answer: Hypoxemia gradually resolves, the chest x-ray improves,
and the lungs become more compliant .
6. What is the most critical assessment in the early detection
of compartment syndrome for a patient with a leg cast?
Answer: Pain assessment. Unrelieved or increasing pain is an early
sign .
7. A nurse is caring for a client with a spontaneous
pneumothorax who asks, "Why did they put this tube into my
chest?" What is the best response?
Answer: "The purpose of the chest tube is to remove air from the
pleural space" .
8. A client with a new colostomy is performing a return
demonstration of the irrigation. Which action indicates the
need for more teaching?
Answer: Hanging the irrigation bag on the door clothes hook
during fluid insertion .
9. What is the priority nursing action for a client who
develops dyspnea and violent coughing with right-sided chest
pain after inguinal surgery?
Answer: Elevate the head of the bed .
10. What is the best response when a burn client asks the
nurse not to remove loosened bits of skin during dressing
changes?
, Answer: "The tissue is no longer living, and as long as it is
present, real healing cannot start." Removing devitalized tissue
prevents infection and promotes healing .
Questions 11-20: Cardiovascular System
11. A client arrives in the ER with chest heaviness. The nurse
identifies which ECG characteristic as abnormal?
Answer: ST segment elevation. This is indicative of an ST-
elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and should be reported
immediately .
12. What is the primary surgical intervention for a myocardial
infarction?
Answer: Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). The goal is to
get the patient to the angiogram within 90 minutes .
13. A patient is diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. What is an
appropriate nursing intervention?
Answer: Position the patient sitting up with legs hanging down to
pull fluid downward and reduce preload .
14. What medication should be administered for the pain of
an MI?
Answer: Morphine .
15. What is cardioversion?
, Answer: A procedure that restores a normal heartbeat when it's
irregular or too fast, most commonly used to treat atrial
fibrillation .
16. A client with left ventricular heart failure would likely
state:
Answer: "I have trouble breathing when I walk rapidly" .
17. A patient's labs show a WBC of 1.4 x 10^3. What is the
priority nursing intervention?
Answer: Implement infection control measures, such as restricting
fresh flowers, as this indicates a high risk for infection .
18. Which chemotherapy agent is known for being
cardiotoxic?
Answer: Doxorubicin. The nurse should monitor for and report
any ECG changes .
19. A patient prescribed tamoxifen should be educated to
report which sign/symptom immediately?
Answer: Signs of a thromboembolic event, such as shortness of
breath or abnormal menstrual bleeding .
20. What is the antidote or action for Reteplase?
Answer: Dissolves the clot that caused the MI .
Questions 21-30: Neurological, Renal, & Endocrine
Answers | 2025 New Update with
complete solutions. GRADED A+
1. What does ARDS initially resemble?
Answer: B) Severe pulmonary edema. ARDS is characterized by
rapid onset of dyspnea, arterial hypoxemia that doesn't improve
with oxygen, and bilateral infiltrates on a chest x-ray, which
resembles congestive pulmonary edema .
2. A patient with a pulmonary embolism has which ABG
finding?
Answer: Respiratory acidosis and hypoxia .
3. What is the priority intervention for a client with a
pulmonary embolism?
Answer: Oxygen administration to maintain ventilation .
4. What is the primary goal when using Positive End-
Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) for a patient on a ventilator?
Answer: To increase functional residual capacity and reverse
alveolar collapse by keeping alveoli open, which improves arterial
oxygenation .
5. A patient is in the recovery phase of ARDS. What finding
does the nurse expect?
, Answer: Hypoxemia gradually resolves, the chest x-ray improves,
and the lungs become more compliant .
6. What is the most critical assessment in the early detection
of compartment syndrome for a patient with a leg cast?
Answer: Pain assessment. Unrelieved or increasing pain is an early
sign .
7. A nurse is caring for a client with a spontaneous
pneumothorax who asks, "Why did they put this tube into my
chest?" What is the best response?
Answer: "The purpose of the chest tube is to remove air from the
pleural space" .
8. A client with a new colostomy is performing a return
demonstration of the irrigation. Which action indicates the
need for more teaching?
Answer: Hanging the irrigation bag on the door clothes hook
during fluid insertion .
9. What is the priority nursing action for a client who
develops dyspnea and violent coughing with right-sided chest
pain after inguinal surgery?
Answer: Elevate the head of the bed .
10. What is the best response when a burn client asks the
nurse not to remove loosened bits of skin during dressing
changes?
, Answer: "The tissue is no longer living, and as long as it is
present, real healing cannot start." Removing devitalized tissue
prevents infection and promotes healing .
Questions 11-20: Cardiovascular System
11. A client arrives in the ER with chest heaviness. The nurse
identifies which ECG characteristic as abnormal?
Answer: ST segment elevation. This is indicative of an ST-
elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and should be reported
immediately .
12. What is the primary surgical intervention for a myocardial
infarction?
Answer: Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). The goal is to
get the patient to the angiogram within 90 minutes .
13. A patient is diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. What is an
appropriate nursing intervention?
Answer: Position the patient sitting up with legs hanging down to
pull fluid downward and reduce preload .
14. What medication should be administered for the pain of
an MI?
Answer: Morphine .
15. What is cardioversion?
, Answer: A procedure that restores a normal heartbeat when it's
irregular or too fast, most commonly used to treat atrial
fibrillation .
16. A client with left ventricular heart failure would likely
state:
Answer: "I have trouble breathing when I walk rapidly" .
17. A patient's labs show a WBC of 1.4 x 10^3. What is the
priority nursing intervention?
Answer: Implement infection control measures, such as restricting
fresh flowers, as this indicates a high risk for infection .
18. Which chemotherapy agent is known for being
cardiotoxic?
Answer: Doxorubicin. The nurse should monitor for and report
any ECG changes .
19. A patient prescribed tamoxifen should be educated to
report which sign/symptom immediately?
Answer: Signs of a thromboembolic event, such as shortness of
breath or abnormal menstrual bleeding .
20. What is the antidote or action for Reteplase?
Answer: Dissolves the clot that caused the MI .
Questions 21-30: Neurological, Renal, & Endocrine
