Med-Surg HESI Test Questions 2024/2025 and
Answers A Graded
A .female .client .with .a .nasogastric .tube .attached .to .low .suction .states .that .she .is .nauseated. .The
.nurse .assesses .that .there .has .been .no .drainage .through .the .nasogastric .tube .in .the .last .2 .hours.
.Which .action .should .the .nurse .take .first? .- .(correct .answer) .-Reposition .the .client .on .her .side. .The
.priority .is .to .determined .if .the .tube .is .functioning .correctly, .which .would .relieve .the .client's
.nausea. .The .least .invasive .intervention .is .to .reposition .the .client .(B), .should .be .attempted .first,
.followed .by .(A .& .C) .if .these .are .unsuccessful .then .(D).
When .assigning .clients .on .a .medical-surgical .floor .to .a .RN .and .a .LPN, .it .is .best .for .the .charge .nurse
.to .assign .which .client .to .the .LPN?
A. .A .child .with .bacterial .meningitis .with .recent .seizures.
B. .An .older .adult .client .with .pneumonia .and .viral .meningitis.
C. .A .female .client .in .isolation .wiht .meningococcal .meningitis.
D. .A .male .client .1 .day .post-op .after .drainage .of .a .brain .abscess. .- .(correct .answer) .-B. .Is .the .most
.stable. .A, .C, .D .have .an .increased .risk .for .elevated .ICP.
Which .description .of .symptoms .is .characteristic .of .a .client .diagnosed .with .trigeminal .neuralgia .(tic
.douloureux)?
A. .Tinnitus, .vertigo, .and .hearing .difficulties.
B. .Sudden, .stabbing, .severe .pain .over .the .lip .and .chin.
C. .Unilateral .facial .weakness .and .paralysis.
,D. .Difficulty .in .talking, .chewing, .and .swallowing. .- .(correct .answer) .-B. .Trigeminal .neuralgia .is
.characterized .by .paroxysms .of .pain, .similar .to .an .electric .shock, .in .the .area .innervated .by .one .or
.more .branches .of .the .trigeminal .nerve.
A. .Characteristic .of .Meniere's
C. .Characteristic .of .Bell .palsey
D. .Characteristic .of .disorders .of .the .hypoglossal .(12th .cranial .nerve)
Which .abnormal .lab .finding .indicates .that .a .client .with .diabetes .needs .further .evaluation .for
.diabetic .nephropathy?
A. .Hypokalemia
B. .Microalbuminauria
C. .Elevated .serum .lipids
D. .Ketonuria .- .(correct .answer) .-B. .Microalbuminuria .is .the .earliest .sign .of .nephropathy .and
.indicates .the .need .for .follow-up .evaluation. .Hyperkalemia .(A) .is .associated .with .end .stage .renal
.disease .caused .by .diabetic .nephropathy. .(C) .may .be .elevated .in .end .stage .renal .disease. .(D) .may
.signal .the .onset .of .DKA.
An .older .male .client .comes .to .the .geriatric .screening .clinic .complaining .of .pain .in .his .left .calf. .The
.nurse .notices .a .reddened .area .on .the .calf .of .his .right .leg .that .is .warm .to .touch .and .the .nurse
.suspects .that .the .client .may .have .thrombophlebitis. .Which .addition .assessment .is .most .important
.for .the .nurse .to .perform?
A. .Measure .calf .circumference.
B. .Auscultate .the .client's .breath .sounds.
C. .Observe .for .ecchymosis .and .petechiae.
D. .Obtain .the .client's .blood .pressure. .- .(correct .answer) .-B. .Since .the .client .may .have .a .pulmonary
.embolus .secondary .to .the .thrombophlebitis. .
A. .Would .support .the .nurses .assessment.
C. .Least .helpful .since .bruising .is .not .associated .with .thrombophlebitis.
,D. .Less .important .then .auscultation.
The .nurse .know .that .a .client .taking .diuretics .must .be .assessed .for .the .development .of .hypokalemia,
.and .that .hypokalemia .will .create .changes .in .the .client's .normal .ECG .tracing. .Which .ECG .change
.would .be .an .expected .finding .in .the .client .with .hypokalemia?
A. .Tall, .spiked .T .waves
B. .A .prolonged .QT .interval
C. .A .widening .QRS .complex
D. .Presence .of .a .U .wave .- .(correct .answer) .-D. .A .U .wave .is .a .positive .deflection .following .the .T
.wave .and .is .often .present .with .hypokalemia. .A, .B, .C .indicate .hyperkalemia.
An .older .client .is .admitted .with .a .diagnosis .of .bacterial .pneumonia. .The .nurse's .assessment .of .the
.client .will .most .likely .reveal .which .S/SX?
A. .Leukocytosis .and .febrile.
B. .Polycythemia .and .crackles.
C. .Pharyngitis .and .sputum .production.
D. .Confusion .and .tachycardia. .- .(correct .answer) .-D. .The .onset .of .pneumonia .is .the .older .may .be
.signaled .by .general .deterioration, .confusion, .increased .heart .rate .or .increased .respiratory .rate. .
(A, .B, .C) .are .often .absent .in .the .older .with .bacterial .pneumonia.
The .nurse .observes .ventricular .fibrillation .on .telemetry .and .upon .entering .the .clients .bathroom
.finds .the .client .unconscious .on .the .floor. .What .intervention .should .the .nurse .implement .first?
A. .Administer .an .antidysrhythmic .medication.
B. .Start .cardiopulmonary .resuscitation.
C. .Defibrillate .the .client .at .200 .joules.
, D. .Assess .the .client's .pulse .oximetry. .- .(correct .answer) .-B. .Ventricular .fibrillation .is .a .life-
threatening .dysrhythmia .and .CPR .should .be .started .immediately. .A .& .C .are .appropriate .but .B .is .the
.priority. .D .does .not .address .the .seriousness .of .the .situation.
An .older .female .client .with .dementia .is .transferred .from .a .long .term .care .unit .to .an .acute .care
.unit. .The .client's .children .express .concern .that .their .mother's .confusion .is .worsening. .How .should
.the .nurse .respond?
A. ."It .is .to .be .expected .that .older .people .will .experience .progressive .confusion."
B. ."Confusion .in .an .older .person .often .follows .relocation .to .new .surroundings."
C. ."The .dementia .is .progressing .rapidly, .but .we .will .do .everything .we .can .to .keep .your .mother
.safe."
D. ."The .acute .care .staff .is .not .as .experienced .as .the .long-term .care .staff .at .dealing .with .dementia."
.- .(correct .answer) .-B. .Relocation .often .results .in .confusion .among .older .clients .and .is .stressful .to
.clients .of .all .ages. .(A) .is .an .inaccurate .stereotype. .(C) .is .most .likely .false .there .are .many .factors
.that .cause .increased .temporary .confusion. .(D) .may .be .true .but .does .not .offer .the .family .a .sense .of
.security .about .the .care.
The .nurse .plans .to .help .an .18-year-old .developmentally .disabled .female .client .ambulate .on .the .first
.postoperative .day. .When .the .nurse .tells .her .it .is .time .to .get .out .of .bed, .the .client .becomes .angry
.and .yells .at .the .nurse. ."Get .out .of .here! .I'll .get .up .when .I'm .ready." .Which .response .should .the
.nurse .provide?
A. ."Your .healthcare .provider .has .prescribed .ambulation .on .the .first .postoperative .day."
B. ."You .must .ambulate .to .avoid .serious .complications .that .are .much .more .painful."
C. ."I .know .how .you .feel; .you're .angry .about .having .to .do .this, .but .it .is .required."
D. ."I'll .be .back .in .30 .minutes .to .help .you .get .out .of .bed .and .walk .around .the .room." .- .(correct
.answer) .-D. .Returning .in .30 .minutes .provides .a .cooling .off .period, .is .firm, .direct, .nonthreatening,
.and .avoids .argument .with .the .client. .B .is .threatening. .C. .assumes .what .the .client .is .feeling. .A.
.avoids .the .nurse's .responsibility .to .ambulate .the .client.
Answers A Graded
A .female .client .with .a .nasogastric .tube .attached .to .low .suction .states .that .she .is .nauseated. .The
.nurse .assesses .that .there .has .been .no .drainage .through .the .nasogastric .tube .in .the .last .2 .hours.
.Which .action .should .the .nurse .take .first? .- .(correct .answer) .-Reposition .the .client .on .her .side. .The
.priority .is .to .determined .if .the .tube .is .functioning .correctly, .which .would .relieve .the .client's
.nausea. .The .least .invasive .intervention .is .to .reposition .the .client .(B), .should .be .attempted .first,
.followed .by .(A .& .C) .if .these .are .unsuccessful .then .(D).
When .assigning .clients .on .a .medical-surgical .floor .to .a .RN .and .a .LPN, .it .is .best .for .the .charge .nurse
.to .assign .which .client .to .the .LPN?
A. .A .child .with .bacterial .meningitis .with .recent .seizures.
B. .An .older .adult .client .with .pneumonia .and .viral .meningitis.
C. .A .female .client .in .isolation .wiht .meningococcal .meningitis.
D. .A .male .client .1 .day .post-op .after .drainage .of .a .brain .abscess. .- .(correct .answer) .-B. .Is .the .most
.stable. .A, .C, .D .have .an .increased .risk .for .elevated .ICP.
Which .description .of .symptoms .is .characteristic .of .a .client .diagnosed .with .trigeminal .neuralgia .(tic
.douloureux)?
A. .Tinnitus, .vertigo, .and .hearing .difficulties.
B. .Sudden, .stabbing, .severe .pain .over .the .lip .and .chin.
C. .Unilateral .facial .weakness .and .paralysis.
,D. .Difficulty .in .talking, .chewing, .and .swallowing. .- .(correct .answer) .-B. .Trigeminal .neuralgia .is
.characterized .by .paroxysms .of .pain, .similar .to .an .electric .shock, .in .the .area .innervated .by .one .or
.more .branches .of .the .trigeminal .nerve.
A. .Characteristic .of .Meniere's
C. .Characteristic .of .Bell .palsey
D. .Characteristic .of .disorders .of .the .hypoglossal .(12th .cranial .nerve)
Which .abnormal .lab .finding .indicates .that .a .client .with .diabetes .needs .further .evaluation .for
.diabetic .nephropathy?
A. .Hypokalemia
B. .Microalbuminauria
C. .Elevated .serum .lipids
D. .Ketonuria .- .(correct .answer) .-B. .Microalbuminuria .is .the .earliest .sign .of .nephropathy .and
.indicates .the .need .for .follow-up .evaluation. .Hyperkalemia .(A) .is .associated .with .end .stage .renal
.disease .caused .by .diabetic .nephropathy. .(C) .may .be .elevated .in .end .stage .renal .disease. .(D) .may
.signal .the .onset .of .DKA.
An .older .male .client .comes .to .the .geriatric .screening .clinic .complaining .of .pain .in .his .left .calf. .The
.nurse .notices .a .reddened .area .on .the .calf .of .his .right .leg .that .is .warm .to .touch .and .the .nurse
.suspects .that .the .client .may .have .thrombophlebitis. .Which .addition .assessment .is .most .important
.for .the .nurse .to .perform?
A. .Measure .calf .circumference.
B. .Auscultate .the .client's .breath .sounds.
C. .Observe .for .ecchymosis .and .petechiae.
D. .Obtain .the .client's .blood .pressure. .- .(correct .answer) .-B. .Since .the .client .may .have .a .pulmonary
.embolus .secondary .to .the .thrombophlebitis. .
A. .Would .support .the .nurses .assessment.
C. .Least .helpful .since .bruising .is .not .associated .with .thrombophlebitis.
,D. .Less .important .then .auscultation.
The .nurse .know .that .a .client .taking .diuretics .must .be .assessed .for .the .development .of .hypokalemia,
.and .that .hypokalemia .will .create .changes .in .the .client's .normal .ECG .tracing. .Which .ECG .change
.would .be .an .expected .finding .in .the .client .with .hypokalemia?
A. .Tall, .spiked .T .waves
B. .A .prolonged .QT .interval
C. .A .widening .QRS .complex
D. .Presence .of .a .U .wave .- .(correct .answer) .-D. .A .U .wave .is .a .positive .deflection .following .the .T
.wave .and .is .often .present .with .hypokalemia. .A, .B, .C .indicate .hyperkalemia.
An .older .client .is .admitted .with .a .diagnosis .of .bacterial .pneumonia. .The .nurse's .assessment .of .the
.client .will .most .likely .reveal .which .S/SX?
A. .Leukocytosis .and .febrile.
B. .Polycythemia .and .crackles.
C. .Pharyngitis .and .sputum .production.
D. .Confusion .and .tachycardia. .- .(correct .answer) .-D. .The .onset .of .pneumonia .is .the .older .may .be
.signaled .by .general .deterioration, .confusion, .increased .heart .rate .or .increased .respiratory .rate. .
(A, .B, .C) .are .often .absent .in .the .older .with .bacterial .pneumonia.
The .nurse .observes .ventricular .fibrillation .on .telemetry .and .upon .entering .the .clients .bathroom
.finds .the .client .unconscious .on .the .floor. .What .intervention .should .the .nurse .implement .first?
A. .Administer .an .antidysrhythmic .medication.
B. .Start .cardiopulmonary .resuscitation.
C. .Defibrillate .the .client .at .200 .joules.
, D. .Assess .the .client's .pulse .oximetry. .- .(correct .answer) .-B. .Ventricular .fibrillation .is .a .life-
threatening .dysrhythmia .and .CPR .should .be .started .immediately. .A .& .C .are .appropriate .but .B .is .the
.priority. .D .does .not .address .the .seriousness .of .the .situation.
An .older .female .client .with .dementia .is .transferred .from .a .long .term .care .unit .to .an .acute .care
.unit. .The .client's .children .express .concern .that .their .mother's .confusion .is .worsening. .How .should
.the .nurse .respond?
A. ."It .is .to .be .expected .that .older .people .will .experience .progressive .confusion."
B. ."Confusion .in .an .older .person .often .follows .relocation .to .new .surroundings."
C. ."The .dementia .is .progressing .rapidly, .but .we .will .do .everything .we .can .to .keep .your .mother
.safe."
D. ."The .acute .care .staff .is .not .as .experienced .as .the .long-term .care .staff .at .dealing .with .dementia."
.- .(correct .answer) .-B. .Relocation .often .results .in .confusion .among .older .clients .and .is .stressful .to
.clients .of .all .ages. .(A) .is .an .inaccurate .stereotype. .(C) .is .most .likely .false .there .are .many .factors
.that .cause .increased .temporary .confusion. .(D) .may .be .true .but .does .not .offer .the .family .a .sense .of
.security .about .the .care.
The .nurse .plans .to .help .an .18-year-old .developmentally .disabled .female .client .ambulate .on .the .first
.postoperative .day. .When .the .nurse .tells .her .it .is .time .to .get .out .of .bed, .the .client .becomes .angry
.and .yells .at .the .nurse. ."Get .out .of .here! .I'll .get .up .when .I'm .ready." .Which .response .should .the
.nurse .provide?
A. ."Your .healthcare .provider .has .prescribed .ambulation .on .the .first .postoperative .day."
B. ."You .must .ambulate .to .avoid .serious .complications .that .are .much .more .painful."
C. ."I .know .how .you .feel; .you're .angry .about .having .to .do .this, .but .it .is .required."
D. ."I'll .be .back .in .30 .minutes .to .help .you .get .out .of .bed .and .walk .around .the .room." .- .(correct
.answer) .-D. .Returning .in .30 .minutes .provides .a .cooling .off .period, .is .firm, .direct, .nonthreatening,
.and .avoids .argument .with .the .client. .B .is .threatening. .C. .assumes .what .the .client .is .feeling. .A.
.avoids .the .nurse's .responsibility .to .ambulate .the .client.
