©EMILLECT 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
HESI Critical Care Exam Practice
Questions and Answers
A 56-year-old female client is receiving intracavitary radiation via a radium implant. Which
nurse should be assigned to care for this client?
A. The nurse who is caring for another client receiving intracavitary radiation.
B. A nurse with Marfan's syndrome who is postmenopausal.
C. A nurse with oncology experience who may be pregnant.
D. The nurse who is caring for another client who has Clostridium difficile. - ANSWER✔✔-B. A nurse with
Marfan's syndrome who is postmenopausal.
RATIONALE:
A client receiving intracavity radiation poses a radiation hazard as long as the intracavity
radiation source is in place. A nurse's ability to care of this client is not affected by Marfan's
syndrome (B), which is a hereditary disorder of connective tissues, bones, muscles, ligaments
Page 1/110
, ©EMILLECT 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
and skeletal structures. The goal is to limit any one staff member's exposure to the calculated
time span based on the half-life of radium, such as the number of minutes at the bedside per day,
so (A) should not be assigned. (C) should not be exposed to the radiation due to the possible
effect on the fetus. A radiation exposure decreases the immune response in the client who should
not be exposed to the potential inadvertent transmission of an infectious organism (D).
1.A client who has active tuberculosis (TB) is admitted to the medical unit. What action is most
important for the nurse to implement?
A. Fit the client with a respirator mask.
B. Assign the client to a negative air-flow room.
C. Don a clean gown for client care.
D. Place an isolation cart in the hallway - ANSWER✔✔-Assign the client to a negative air-flow room
RATIONALE:
Active tuberculosis requires implementation of airborne precautions, so the client should be
assigned to a negative pressure air-flow room (D). Although (A and C) should be implemented
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, ©EMILLECT 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
for clients in isolation with contact precautions, it is most important that air flow from the room
is minimized when the client has TB. (B) should be implemented when the client leaves the
isolation environment.
2.A client is receiving atenolol (Tenormin) 25 mg PO after a myocardial infarction. The nurse
determines the client's apical pulse is 65 beats per minute. What action should the nurse
implement
next?
A. Measure the blood pressure.
B. Reassess the apical pulse.
C. Notify the healthcare provider.
D. Administer the medication. - ANSWER✔✔-Administer the medication
RATIONALE:
Atenolol, a beta-blocker, blocks the beta receptors of the sinoatrial node to reduce the heart rate,
so the medication should be administered (C) because the client's apical pulse is greater than 60.
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, ©EMILLECT 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
(A, B, and D) are not indicated at this time.
3.The nurse is assessing a client and identifies a bruit over the thyroid. This finding is consistent
with which interpretation?
A. Hypothyroidism.
B. Thyroid cyst.
C. Thyroid cancer.
D. Hyperthyroidism - ANSWER✔✔-Hyperthyroidism
Rationale:Hyperthyroidism (D) is an enlargement of the thyroid gland, often referred to as a goiter, and a
bruit may be auscultated over the goiter due to an increase in glandular vascularity which
increases as the thyroid gland becomes hyperactive. A bruit is not common with (A, B, and C).
A 6-year-old child is alert but quiet when brought to the emergency center with periorbital ecchymosis
and ecchymosis behind the ears. The nurse suspects potential child abuse and continues to assess the
child for additional manifestations of a basilar skull fracture. What
assessment finding would be consistent with a basilar skull fracture?
A. Hematemesis and abdominal distention.
Page 4/110
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
HESI Critical Care Exam Practice
Questions and Answers
A 56-year-old female client is receiving intracavitary radiation via a radium implant. Which
nurse should be assigned to care for this client?
A. The nurse who is caring for another client receiving intracavitary radiation.
B. A nurse with Marfan's syndrome who is postmenopausal.
C. A nurse with oncology experience who may be pregnant.
D. The nurse who is caring for another client who has Clostridium difficile. - ANSWER✔✔-B. A nurse with
Marfan's syndrome who is postmenopausal.
RATIONALE:
A client receiving intracavity radiation poses a radiation hazard as long as the intracavity
radiation source is in place. A nurse's ability to care of this client is not affected by Marfan's
syndrome (B), which is a hereditary disorder of connective tissues, bones, muscles, ligaments
Page 1/110
, ©EMILLECT 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
and skeletal structures. The goal is to limit any one staff member's exposure to the calculated
time span based on the half-life of radium, such as the number of minutes at the bedside per day,
so (A) should not be assigned. (C) should not be exposed to the radiation due to the possible
effect on the fetus. A radiation exposure decreases the immune response in the client who should
not be exposed to the potential inadvertent transmission of an infectious organism (D).
1.A client who has active tuberculosis (TB) is admitted to the medical unit. What action is most
important for the nurse to implement?
A. Fit the client with a respirator mask.
B. Assign the client to a negative air-flow room.
C. Don a clean gown for client care.
D. Place an isolation cart in the hallway - ANSWER✔✔-Assign the client to a negative air-flow room
RATIONALE:
Active tuberculosis requires implementation of airborne precautions, so the client should be
assigned to a negative pressure air-flow room (D). Although (A and C) should be implemented
Page 2/110
, ©EMILLECT 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
for clients in isolation with contact precautions, it is most important that air flow from the room
is minimized when the client has TB. (B) should be implemented when the client leaves the
isolation environment.
2.A client is receiving atenolol (Tenormin) 25 mg PO after a myocardial infarction. The nurse
determines the client's apical pulse is 65 beats per minute. What action should the nurse
implement
next?
A. Measure the blood pressure.
B. Reassess the apical pulse.
C. Notify the healthcare provider.
D. Administer the medication. - ANSWER✔✔-Administer the medication
RATIONALE:
Atenolol, a beta-blocker, blocks the beta receptors of the sinoatrial node to reduce the heart rate,
so the medication should be administered (C) because the client's apical pulse is greater than 60.
Page 3/110
, ©EMILLECT 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
(A, B, and D) are not indicated at this time.
3.The nurse is assessing a client and identifies a bruit over the thyroid. This finding is consistent
with which interpretation?
A. Hypothyroidism.
B. Thyroid cyst.
C. Thyroid cancer.
D. Hyperthyroidism - ANSWER✔✔-Hyperthyroidism
Rationale:Hyperthyroidism (D) is an enlargement of the thyroid gland, often referred to as a goiter, and a
bruit may be auscultated over the goiter due to an increase in glandular vascularity which
increases as the thyroid gland becomes hyperactive. A bruit is not common with (A, B, and C).
A 6-year-old child is alert but quiet when brought to the emergency center with periorbital ecchymosis
and ecchymosis behind the ears. The nurse suspects potential child abuse and continues to assess the
child for additional manifestations of a basilar skull fracture. What
assessment finding would be consistent with a basilar skull fracture?
A. Hematemesis and abdominal distention.
Page 4/110
