Med-Surg II HESI Exam
Comprehensive Resource To Help You Ace 2026-2027 Exams
Includes Frequently Tested Questions With ELABORATED
100% Correct COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Guaranteed Pass First Attempt!! Current Update!!
1. A client with a large goiter is scheduled for a subtotal thyroidectomy to treat thyrotoxicosis.
Saturated solution of potassium iodide (SSKI) is prescribed preoperatively for the client. The
expected outcome of using this drug is that it helps:
1. Slow progression of exophthalmos.
2. Reduce the vascularity of the thyroid gland.
3. Decrease the body's ability to store thyroxine.
4. Increase the body's ability to excrete thyroxine. - Correct Answer: 2. Reduce the
vascularity of the thyroid gland.
SSKI is frequently administered before a thyroidectomy because it helps decrease the
vascularity of the thyroid gland. A highly vascular thyroid gland is very friable, a condition that
presents a hazard during surgery. Preparation of the client for surgery includes depleting the
gland of thyroid hormone and decreasing vascularity.
SSKI does not decrease the progression of exophthalmos, and it does not decrease the body's
ability to store thyroxine or increase the body's ability to excrete thyroxine.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Apply
2. The nurse is administering a saturated solution of potassium iodide (SSKI). The nurse
should:
1. Pour the solution over ice chips.
,2. Mix the solution with an antacid.
3. Dilute the solution with water, milk, or fruit juice and have the client drink it with a straw.
4. Disguise the solution in a pureed fruit or vegetable. - Correct Answer: 3. Dilute the
solution with water, milk, or fruit juice and have the client drink it with a straw.
SSKI should be diluted well in milk, water, juice, or a carbonated beverage before administration
to help disguise the strong, bitter taste. Also, this drug is irritating
to mucosa if taken undiluted. The client should sip the diluted preparation through a drinking
straw to help prevent staining of the teeth. Pouring the solution over ice chips will not
sufficiently dilute the SSKI or cover the taste. Antacids are not used to dilute or cover the taste
of SSKI. Mixing in a puree would put the SSKI in contact with the teeth.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Apply
3. Following a subtotal thyroidectomy, the nurse asks the client to speak
immediately upon regaining consciousness. The nurse does this to monitor for signs of which of
the following?
1. Internal hemorrhage.
2. Decreasing level of consciousness.
3. Laryngeal nerve damage.
4. Upper airway obstruction. - Correct Answer: 3. Laryngeal nerve damage.
Laryngeal nerve damage is a potential complication of thyroid surgery because of the proximity
of the thyroid gland to the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Asking the
client to speak helps assess for signs of laryngeal nerve damage. Persistent or worsening
hoarseness and weak voice are signs of laryngeal nerve damage and should
be reported to the physician immediately. Internal hemorrhage is detected by changes in vital
signs. The client's level of consciousness can be partially assessed by asking her to speak, but
,that is not the primary reason for doing so in this situation. Upper airway obstruction is
detected by color and respiratory rate and pattern.
CN: Reduction of risk potential; CL: Analyze
4. 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. - Correct Answer: 4. Perform a tracheotomy
5. 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. - Correct Answer: 2. Notify the physician
6. 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. - Correct Answer: 2. Calcium gluconate
7. 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. - Correct Answer: Weight gain
8. 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. - Correct Answer: 4. Decreased activity due to fatigue
9. 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. - Correct Answer: 4. Most likely related to low thyroid hormone levels and will
improve with treatment.
10. 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.
Comprehensive Resource To Help You Ace 2026-2027 Exams
Includes Frequently Tested Questions With ELABORATED
100% Correct COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Guaranteed Pass First Attempt!! Current Update!!
1. A client with a large goiter is scheduled for a subtotal thyroidectomy to treat thyrotoxicosis.
Saturated solution of potassium iodide (SSKI) is prescribed preoperatively for the client. The
expected outcome of using this drug is that it helps:
1. Slow progression of exophthalmos.
2. Reduce the vascularity of the thyroid gland.
3. Decrease the body's ability to store thyroxine.
4. Increase the body's ability to excrete thyroxine. - Correct Answer: 2. Reduce the
vascularity of the thyroid gland.
SSKI is frequently administered before a thyroidectomy because it helps decrease the
vascularity of the thyroid gland. A highly vascular thyroid gland is very friable, a condition that
presents a hazard during surgery. Preparation of the client for surgery includes depleting the
gland of thyroid hormone and decreasing vascularity.
SSKI does not decrease the progression of exophthalmos, and it does not decrease the body's
ability to store thyroxine or increase the body's ability to excrete thyroxine.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Apply
2. The nurse is administering a saturated solution of potassium iodide (SSKI). The nurse
should:
1. Pour the solution over ice chips.
,2. Mix the solution with an antacid.
3. Dilute the solution with water, milk, or fruit juice and have the client drink it with a straw.
4. Disguise the solution in a pureed fruit or vegetable. - Correct Answer: 3. Dilute the
solution with water, milk, or fruit juice and have the client drink it with a straw.
SSKI should be diluted well in milk, water, juice, or a carbonated beverage before administration
to help disguise the strong, bitter taste. Also, this drug is irritating
to mucosa if taken undiluted. The client should sip the diluted preparation through a drinking
straw to help prevent staining of the teeth. Pouring the solution over ice chips will not
sufficiently dilute the SSKI or cover the taste. Antacids are not used to dilute or cover the taste
of SSKI. Mixing in a puree would put the SSKI in contact with the teeth.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Apply
3. Following a subtotal thyroidectomy, the nurse asks the client to speak
immediately upon regaining consciousness. The nurse does this to monitor for signs of which of
the following?
1. Internal hemorrhage.
2. Decreasing level of consciousness.
3. Laryngeal nerve damage.
4. Upper airway obstruction. - Correct Answer: 3. Laryngeal nerve damage.
Laryngeal nerve damage is a potential complication of thyroid surgery because of the proximity
of the thyroid gland to the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Asking the
client to speak helps assess for signs of laryngeal nerve damage. Persistent or worsening
hoarseness and weak voice are signs of laryngeal nerve damage and should
be reported to the physician immediately. Internal hemorrhage is detected by changes in vital
signs. The client's level of consciousness can be partially assessed by asking her to speak, but
,that is not the primary reason for doing so in this situation. Upper airway obstruction is
detected by color and respiratory rate and pattern.
CN: Reduction of risk potential; CL: Analyze
4. 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. - Correct Answer: 4. Perform a tracheotomy
5. 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. - Correct Answer: 2. Notify the physician
6. 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. - Correct Answer: 2. Calcium gluconate
7. 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. - Correct Answer: Weight gain
8. 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. - Correct Answer: 4. Decreased activity due to fatigue
9. 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. - Correct Answer: 4. Most likely related to low thyroid hormone levels and will
improve with treatment.
10. 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.
