Medical-Surgical Nursing HESI Exam Test Question and Answers
Communication Strategies
Answer: A. Assess client for hearing deficits or hearing loss
B. Determine whether the client understands questions
C. Take time to ask yes/no questions if the client is having difficulty communicating
D. Observe client's nonverbal communication cues (grimacing indicating pain, fear in a child)
E. When possible, provide continuity of care by assigning the same nurse
F. Encourage presence of family members to reassure client
Primary prevention
Answer: Intended to reduce health risks and increase healthy behaviors
e.g. Providing immunizations, teaching nutrition classes, and requiring smoke-free zones
Secondary prevention
Answer: Intended to detect disease (through screening) and treat the disease as early as possible
e.g. Colonoscopy allows colon cancer to be detected so that an intervention can be initiated as early as
possible
Tertiary prevention
Answer: Intended to prevent disability and complications and to provide for a peaceful death. Tertiary
prevention includes rehabilitation
e.g. Rehabilitation after a stroke or hip replacement surgery, hospice care
Herbal medication: Bitter orange
Answer: Application: Weight reduction
Mechanism of action: CNS stimulant catecholaminergic
Side effects: High BP and tachycardia in healthy adults with normal BP
Drug interaction: It can interact with many drugs
Efficacy: Unproven
Herbal medication: Black cohosh
Answer: Application: Alleviate hot flashes of menopause
Mechanism of action: Acts on neurotransmitter systems; binds with serotonin receptor subtypes
Side effects: No evidence of severe side effects
Herbal medication: Echinacea
Answer: Application: Reduction in duration of common cold
,Mechanism of action: Stimulation of immune cell function and cytokine production
Side effects: Allergic reactions
Drug interaction: Potential inhibition of CYP450 isoforms
Efficacy: Proven
Herbal medication: Ephedra
Answer: Application: Reduction of fatigue; weight reduction
Mechanism of action: CNS stimulation; CNS stimulant catecholaminergic
Side effects: Excessive adrenergic stimulation, HTN, MI, stroke, extensive CNS stimulation, agitation,
sleep disturbances, psychosis
Drug interaction: Synergistic interaction with methylxanthines, synergistic interaction with monoamine
oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), inhibition of antihypertensive effects
Efficacy: Proven
Herbal medication: Garlic
Answer: Application: Reduction of hyperlipidemia
Mechanism of action: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor
Side effects: Odor, diaphoresis, bleeding
Drug interactions: Potentiation of anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications, decreased plasma levels
of protease inhibitor drug saquinavir
Herbal medication: Ginger
Answer: Application: Treatment of nausea in motion sickness and pregnancy
Mechanism of action: Serotonin antagonist
Side effects: No major adverse side effects
Drug interaction: Potential potentiation of anticoagulant antiplatelet drugs (controversial)
Efficacy: Proven
Herbal medication: Gingko
Answer: Application: Enhancement of mental performance
Mechanism of action: Vasodilator
Side effects: No major adverse side effects
, Drug interaction: Synergistic interaction with other stimulants (e.g. caffeine)
Efficacy: Unproven
Herbal medication: Ginseng
Answer: Application: Treatment of erectile dysfunction; reduction of fatigue; enhancement of mental
performance
Mechanism of action: Antiandrogen
Side effects: No major adverse side effects
Drug interaction: No consistent reports
Efficacy: Supportive
Herbal medication: Hoodia gordonii (aka Hoodia, Veldkos, Slimming cactus, Trichocaulon gordonii,
Stapelia gordonii)
Answer: Application: Weight reduction
Mechanism of action: P57, the main ingredient cannot actively reach the brain to suppress the appetite
Side effects: May be mildly toxic (confirmed in mice but not humans), increased heart rate, possible
hepatotoxic as evidenced by increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in healthy women
Efficacy: Unproven
Herbal medication: Kava
Answer: Application: Treatment of anxiety
Mechanism of action: Modulatory effect at GABA receptors
Side effects: Hepatotoxicity
Drug interaction: Inhibition of CYP4502EI, potentiation of other sedatives (benzodiazepines), inhibition
of effects of levodopa in Parkinson disease clients
Efficacy: Proven
Herbal medication: Red yeast rice
Answer: Application: Reduction of hyperlipidemia
Mechanism of action: Precise mechanism of action unknown, Lovastin is principal active ingredient, 7
other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins)
Side effects: Unknown adverse effects
Communication Strategies
Answer: A. Assess client for hearing deficits or hearing loss
B. Determine whether the client understands questions
C. Take time to ask yes/no questions if the client is having difficulty communicating
D. Observe client's nonverbal communication cues (grimacing indicating pain, fear in a child)
E. When possible, provide continuity of care by assigning the same nurse
F. Encourage presence of family members to reassure client
Primary prevention
Answer: Intended to reduce health risks and increase healthy behaviors
e.g. Providing immunizations, teaching nutrition classes, and requiring smoke-free zones
Secondary prevention
Answer: Intended to detect disease (through screening) and treat the disease as early as possible
e.g. Colonoscopy allows colon cancer to be detected so that an intervention can be initiated as early as
possible
Tertiary prevention
Answer: Intended to prevent disability and complications and to provide for a peaceful death. Tertiary
prevention includes rehabilitation
e.g. Rehabilitation after a stroke or hip replacement surgery, hospice care
Herbal medication: Bitter orange
Answer: Application: Weight reduction
Mechanism of action: CNS stimulant catecholaminergic
Side effects: High BP and tachycardia in healthy adults with normal BP
Drug interaction: It can interact with many drugs
Efficacy: Unproven
Herbal medication: Black cohosh
Answer: Application: Alleviate hot flashes of menopause
Mechanism of action: Acts on neurotransmitter systems; binds with serotonin receptor subtypes
Side effects: No evidence of severe side effects
Herbal medication: Echinacea
Answer: Application: Reduction in duration of common cold
,Mechanism of action: Stimulation of immune cell function and cytokine production
Side effects: Allergic reactions
Drug interaction: Potential inhibition of CYP450 isoforms
Efficacy: Proven
Herbal medication: Ephedra
Answer: Application: Reduction of fatigue; weight reduction
Mechanism of action: CNS stimulation; CNS stimulant catecholaminergic
Side effects: Excessive adrenergic stimulation, HTN, MI, stroke, extensive CNS stimulation, agitation,
sleep disturbances, psychosis
Drug interaction: Synergistic interaction with methylxanthines, synergistic interaction with monoamine
oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), inhibition of antihypertensive effects
Efficacy: Proven
Herbal medication: Garlic
Answer: Application: Reduction of hyperlipidemia
Mechanism of action: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor
Side effects: Odor, diaphoresis, bleeding
Drug interactions: Potentiation of anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications, decreased plasma levels
of protease inhibitor drug saquinavir
Herbal medication: Ginger
Answer: Application: Treatment of nausea in motion sickness and pregnancy
Mechanism of action: Serotonin antagonist
Side effects: No major adverse side effects
Drug interaction: Potential potentiation of anticoagulant antiplatelet drugs (controversial)
Efficacy: Proven
Herbal medication: Gingko
Answer: Application: Enhancement of mental performance
Mechanism of action: Vasodilator
Side effects: No major adverse side effects
, Drug interaction: Synergistic interaction with other stimulants (e.g. caffeine)
Efficacy: Unproven
Herbal medication: Ginseng
Answer: Application: Treatment of erectile dysfunction; reduction of fatigue; enhancement of mental
performance
Mechanism of action: Antiandrogen
Side effects: No major adverse side effects
Drug interaction: No consistent reports
Efficacy: Supportive
Herbal medication: Hoodia gordonii (aka Hoodia, Veldkos, Slimming cactus, Trichocaulon gordonii,
Stapelia gordonii)
Answer: Application: Weight reduction
Mechanism of action: P57, the main ingredient cannot actively reach the brain to suppress the appetite
Side effects: May be mildly toxic (confirmed in mice but not humans), increased heart rate, possible
hepatotoxic as evidenced by increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in healthy women
Efficacy: Unproven
Herbal medication: Kava
Answer: Application: Treatment of anxiety
Mechanism of action: Modulatory effect at GABA receptors
Side effects: Hepatotoxicity
Drug interaction: Inhibition of CYP4502EI, potentiation of other sedatives (benzodiazepines), inhibition
of effects of levodopa in Parkinson disease clients
Efficacy: Proven
Herbal medication: Red yeast rice
Answer: Application: Reduction of hyperlipidemia
Mechanism of action: Precise mechanism of action unknown, Lovastin is principal active ingredient, 7
other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins)
Side effects: Unknown adverse effects
