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HESI Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam
Practice Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
___________________________________________________________________
1. A client with heart failure reports increasing shortness of breath and has
bilateral crackles. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Encourage oral fluids
B. Place the client in a high-Fowler’s position
C. Obtain the client’s daily weight
D. Administer a prescribed oral diuretic
Answer: B. Place the client in a high-Fowler’s position
Rationale: Positioning the client upright promotes maximum lung expansion and
decreases venous return, helping relieve pulmonary congestion and improve
oxygenation.
2. A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is receiving
oxygen. Which oxygen-delivery method is most appropriate for a client who
requires a precise low concentration?
A. Nonrebreather mask
B. Simple face mask
,C. Venturi mask
D. Face tent
Answer: C. Venturi mask
Rationale: A Venturi mask delivers a precise, controlled oxygen concentration
and is commonly used when careful oxygen administration is needed for clients
with COPD.
3. A client with diabetes mellitus is awake, diaphoretic, shaky, and has a blood
glucose level of 52 mg/dL. What should the nurse do first?
A. Administer regular insulin
B. Give 15 g of rapid-acting carbohydrate
C. Encourage the client to ambulate
D. Administer glucagon intramuscularly
Answer: B. Give 15 g of rapid-acting carbohydrate
Rationale: An alert client experiencing hypoglycemia should receive
approximately 15 g of rapidly absorbed carbohydrate, followed by reassessment
of blood glucose.
4. A client is admitted with suspected myocardial infarction. Which laboratory
value is most specific for myocardial injury?
A. Myoglobin
B. Creatine kinase
C. Troponin
D. Lactate dehydrogenase
Answer: C. Troponin
Rationale: Cardiac troponins are highly specific markers of myocardial injury and
are commonly used to evaluate suspected acute myocardial infarction.
5. A client with a newly inserted chest tube has continuous bubbling in the
water-seal chamber. What does this finding most likely indicate?
,A. Normal lung re-expansion
B. An air leak
C. Fluid overload
D. Tube obstruction
Answer: B. An air leak
Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber usually indicates an
air leak somewhere in the chest-tube system and requires assessment of the
tubing and insertion site.
6. A client with chronic kidney disease has a serum potassium level of 6.2
mEq/L. Which finding requires immediate attention?
A. Muscle weakness
B. Mild nausea
C. Increased thirst
D. Dry skin
Answer: A. Muscle weakness
Rationale: Severe hyperkalemia can cause muscle weakness and potentially life-
threatening cardiac dysrhythmias, making it an urgent condition.
7. A client with a small bowel obstruction has persistent vomiting. Which
electrolyte imbalance should the nurse anticipate?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypercalcemia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hypermagnesemia
Answer: C. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Repeated vomiting causes gastrointestinal potassium losses and can
lead to hypokalemia.
8. A client with cirrhosis develops ascites. Which intervention is most
appropriate?
, A. Encourage a high-sodium diet
B. Monitor abdominal girth regularly
C. Encourage increased fluid intake
D. Place the client in Trendelenburg position
Answer: B. Monitor abdominal girth regularly
Rationale: Serial abdominal-girth measurements help evaluate changes in
ascites and the effectiveness of treatment.
9. A client with a history of peptic ulcer disease suddenly develops severe
abdominal pain and a rigid abdomen. Which complication should the nurse
suspect?
A. Constipation
B. Perforation
C. Gastroesophageal reflux
D. Pancreatitis
Answer: B. Perforation
Rationale: Sudden severe abdominal pain with a rigid or board-like abdomen is
characteristic of possible gastrointestinal perforation and requires immediate
intervention.
10.A client with acute pancreatitis reports severe epigastric pain radiating to
the back. Which position may provide the greatest comfort?
A. Supine with legs extended
B. Prone with the head flat
C. Sitting and leaning forward
D. Trendelenburg
Answer: C. Sitting and leaning forward
Rationale: Sitting upright and leaning forward can decrease abdominal
discomfort associated with acute pancreatitis.
HESI Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam
Practice Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
___________________________________________________________________
1. A client with heart failure reports increasing shortness of breath and has
bilateral crackles. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Encourage oral fluids
B. Place the client in a high-Fowler’s position
C. Obtain the client’s daily weight
D. Administer a prescribed oral diuretic
Answer: B. Place the client in a high-Fowler’s position
Rationale: Positioning the client upright promotes maximum lung expansion and
decreases venous return, helping relieve pulmonary congestion and improve
oxygenation.
2. A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is receiving
oxygen. Which oxygen-delivery method is most appropriate for a client who
requires a precise low concentration?
A. Nonrebreather mask
B. Simple face mask
,C. Venturi mask
D. Face tent
Answer: C. Venturi mask
Rationale: A Venturi mask delivers a precise, controlled oxygen concentration
and is commonly used when careful oxygen administration is needed for clients
with COPD.
3. A client with diabetes mellitus is awake, diaphoretic, shaky, and has a blood
glucose level of 52 mg/dL. What should the nurse do first?
A. Administer regular insulin
B. Give 15 g of rapid-acting carbohydrate
C. Encourage the client to ambulate
D. Administer glucagon intramuscularly
Answer: B. Give 15 g of rapid-acting carbohydrate
Rationale: An alert client experiencing hypoglycemia should receive
approximately 15 g of rapidly absorbed carbohydrate, followed by reassessment
of blood glucose.
4. A client is admitted with suspected myocardial infarction. Which laboratory
value is most specific for myocardial injury?
A. Myoglobin
B. Creatine kinase
C. Troponin
D. Lactate dehydrogenase
Answer: C. Troponin
Rationale: Cardiac troponins are highly specific markers of myocardial injury and
are commonly used to evaluate suspected acute myocardial infarction.
5. A client with a newly inserted chest tube has continuous bubbling in the
water-seal chamber. What does this finding most likely indicate?
,A. Normal lung re-expansion
B. An air leak
C. Fluid overload
D. Tube obstruction
Answer: B. An air leak
Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber usually indicates an
air leak somewhere in the chest-tube system and requires assessment of the
tubing and insertion site.
6. A client with chronic kidney disease has a serum potassium level of 6.2
mEq/L. Which finding requires immediate attention?
A. Muscle weakness
B. Mild nausea
C. Increased thirst
D. Dry skin
Answer: A. Muscle weakness
Rationale: Severe hyperkalemia can cause muscle weakness and potentially life-
threatening cardiac dysrhythmias, making it an urgent condition.
7. A client with a small bowel obstruction has persistent vomiting. Which
electrolyte imbalance should the nurse anticipate?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypercalcemia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hypermagnesemia
Answer: C. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Repeated vomiting causes gastrointestinal potassium losses and can
lead to hypokalemia.
8. A client with cirrhosis develops ascites. Which intervention is most
appropriate?
, A. Encourage a high-sodium diet
B. Monitor abdominal girth regularly
C. Encourage increased fluid intake
D. Place the client in Trendelenburg position
Answer: B. Monitor abdominal girth regularly
Rationale: Serial abdominal-girth measurements help evaluate changes in
ascites and the effectiveness of treatment.
9. A client with a history of peptic ulcer disease suddenly develops severe
abdominal pain and a rigid abdomen. Which complication should the nurse
suspect?
A. Constipation
B. Perforation
C. Gastroesophageal reflux
D. Pancreatitis
Answer: B. Perforation
Rationale: Sudden severe abdominal pain with a rigid or board-like abdomen is
characteristic of possible gastrointestinal perforation and requires immediate
intervention.
10.A client with acute pancreatitis reports severe epigastric pain radiating to
the back. Which position may provide the greatest comfort?
A. Supine with legs extended
B. Prone with the head flat
C. Sitting and leaning forward
D. Trendelenburg
Answer: C. Sitting and leaning forward
Rationale: Sitting upright and leaning forward can decrease abdominal
discomfort associated with acute pancreatitis.
