HESI ~ MED SURG NEWEST 2024 -2025 EXAM/
COMPLETE 200 ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
GRADED A+
1. In the case of pulmonary embolus from deep vein thrombosis, which of the following
actions should the nurse take first?
A. Notify the physician.
B. Administer a nitroglycerin tablet sublingually.
C. Conduct a thorough assessment of the chest pain.
D. Sit the patient up in bed as tolerated and apply oxygen. - ANSWER - D. Sit the patient
up in bed as tolerated and apply oxygen.The patient's clinical picture is consistent
with pulmonary embolus, and the first action the nurse takes should be to assist the
patient. For this reason, the nurse should sit the patient up as tolerated and apply
oxygen before notifying the physician.
2. The nurse is caring for a postoperative patient with sudden onset of respiratory
distress. The physician orders a STAT ventilation-perfusion scan. Which of the following
explanations should the nurse provide to the patient about the procedure?
A. This test involves injection of a radioisotope to outline the blood vessels in the lungs,
followed by inhalation of a radioisotope gas.
B. This test will use special technology to examine cross sections of the chest with use
of a contrast dye.
C. This test will use magnetic fields to produce images of the lungs and chest.
D. This test involves injecting contrast dye into a blood vessel to outline the blood
vessels of the lungs. - ANSWER - A. This test involves injection of a radioisotope to
outline the blood vessels in the lungs, followed by inhalation of a radioisotope gas.A
ventilation-perfusion scan has two parts. In the perfusion portion, a radioisotope is
pg. 1
,injected into the blood and the pulmonary vasculature is outlined. In the ventilation part,
the patient inhales a radioactive gas that outlines the alveoli.
3.During assessment of a 45-year-old patient with asthma, the nurse notes wheezing
and dyspnea. The nurse interprets that these symptoms are related to which of the
following pathophysiologic changes?
A. Laryngospasm
B. Overdistention of the alveoli
C. Narrowing of the airway
D. Pulmonary edema - ANSWER - C. Narrowing of the airwayNarrowing of the airway
leads to reduced airflow, making it difficult for the patient to breathe and producing the
characteristic wheezing.
4. A 45-year-old man with asthma is brought to the emergency department by
automobile. He is short of breath and appears frightened. During the initial nursing
assessment, which of the following clinical manifestations might be present as an early
symptom during an exacerbation of asthma?
A. Anxiety
B. Cyanosis
C. Hypercapnia
D. Bradycardia - ANSWER - A. Anxiety An early symptom during an asthma attack is
anxiety because he is acutely aware of the inability to get sufficient air to breathe. He
will be hypoxic early on with decreased PaCO2 and increased pH as he is
hyperventilating.
5. The nurse is assigned to care for a patient who has anxiety and an exacerbation of
asthma. Which of the following is the primary reason for the nurse to carefully inspect
the chest wall of this patient?
A. Observe for signs of diaphoresis
B. Allow time to calm the patient
C. Monitor the patient for bilateral chest expansion
D. Evaluate the use of intercostal muscles - ANSWER - D. Evaluate the use of
intercostal muscles The nurse physically inspects the chest wall to evaluate the use
pg. 2
, of intercostal (accessory) muscles, which gives an indication of the degree of
respiratory distress experienced by the patient.
6. Which of the following positions is most appropriate for the nurse to place a patient
experiencing an asthma exacerbation?
A. Supine
B. Lithotomy
C. High-Fowler's
D. Reverse Trendelenburg - ANSWER - C. High-Fowler'sThe patient experiencing an
asthma attack should be placed in high-Fowler's position to allow for optimal chest
expansion and enlist the aid of gravity during inspiration.
7. The nurse is caring for a patient with an acute exacerbation of asthma. Following
initial treatment, which of the following findings indicates to the nurse that the patient's
respiratory status is improving?
A. Wheezing becomes louder
B. Vesicular breath sounds decrease
C. Aerosol bronchodilators stimulate coughing
D. The cough remains nonproductive - ANSWER - A. Wheezing becomes louder The
primary problem during an exacerbation of asthma is narrowing of the airway and
subsequent diminished air exchange. As the airways begin to dilate, wheezing gets
louder because of better air exchange.
8. The nurse identifies the nursing diagnosis of activity intolerance for a patient with
asthma. The nurse assesses for which of the following etiologic factor for this nursing
diagnosis in patients with asthma?
A. Anxiety and restlessness
B. Effects of medications
C. Fear of suffocation
D. Work of breathing - ANSWER - D. Work of breathingWhen the patient does not have
sufficient gas exchange to engage in activity, the etiologic factor is often the work of
pg. 3
, breathing. When patients with asthma do not have effective respirations, they use all
available energy to breathe and have little left over for purposeful activity.
9. The nurse is assigned to care for a patient in the emergency department admitted
with an exacerbation of asthma. The patient has received a β-adrenergic bronchodilator
and supplemental oxygen. If the patient's condition does not improve, the nurse should
anticipate which of the following is likely to be the next step in treatment?
A. Pulmonary function testing
B. Systemic corticosteroids
C. Biofeedback therapy
D. Intravenous fluids - ANSWER - B. Systemic corticosteroids Systemic corticosteroids
speed the resolution of asthma exacerbations and are indicated if the initial response
to the β-adrenergic bronchodilator is insufficient.
10. A patient with acute exacerbation of COPD needs to receive precise amounts of
oxygen. Which of the following types of equipment should the nurse prepare to use?
A. Venturi mask
B. Partial non-rebreather mask
C. Oxygen tent
D. Nasal cannula - ANSWER - A. Venturi mask The Venturi mask delivers precise
concentrations of oxygen and should be selected whenever this is a priority concern.
The other methods are less precise in terms of amount of oxygen delivered.
11.While obtaining the admission assessment data, which of the following
characteristics would a nurse expect a patient with anemia to report?
A. Palpitations
B. Blurred vision
C. Increased appetite
D. Feeling of warm flushing sensation - ANSWER - A. Palpitations Patients
experiencing moderate anemia (hemoglobin [Hb] 6 to 10 g/dL) may experience
dyspnea (shortness of breath), palpitations, diaphoresis (profound perspiration) with
exertion, and chronic fatigue. Blurred vision is associated in patients experiencing
profound anemia states. Anorexia is common in patients with severe anemia, as well.
pg. 4
COMPLETE 200 ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
GRADED A+
1. In the case of pulmonary embolus from deep vein thrombosis, which of the following
actions should the nurse take first?
A. Notify the physician.
B. Administer a nitroglycerin tablet sublingually.
C. Conduct a thorough assessment of the chest pain.
D. Sit the patient up in bed as tolerated and apply oxygen. - ANSWER - D. Sit the patient
up in bed as tolerated and apply oxygen.The patient's clinical picture is consistent
with pulmonary embolus, and the first action the nurse takes should be to assist the
patient. For this reason, the nurse should sit the patient up as tolerated and apply
oxygen before notifying the physician.
2. The nurse is caring for a postoperative patient with sudden onset of respiratory
distress. The physician orders a STAT ventilation-perfusion scan. Which of the following
explanations should the nurse provide to the patient about the procedure?
A. This test involves injection of a radioisotope to outline the blood vessels in the lungs,
followed by inhalation of a radioisotope gas.
B. This test will use special technology to examine cross sections of the chest with use
of a contrast dye.
C. This test will use magnetic fields to produce images of the lungs and chest.
D. This test involves injecting contrast dye into a blood vessel to outline the blood
vessels of the lungs. - ANSWER - A. This test involves injection of a radioisotope to
outline the blood vessels in the lungs, followed by inhalation of a radioisotope gas.A
ventilation-perfusion scan has two parts. In the perfusion portion, a radioisotope is
pg. 1
,injected into the blood and the pulmonary vasculature is outlined. In the ventilation part,
the patient inhales a radioactive gas that outlines the alveoli.
3.During assessment of a 45-year-old patient with asthma, the nurse notes wheezing
and dyspnea. The nurse interprets that these symptoms are related to which of the
following pathophysiologic changes?
A. Laryngospasm
B. Overdistention of the alveoli
C. Narrowing of the airway
D. Pulmonary edema - ANSWER - C. Narrowing of the airwayNarrowing of the airway
leads to reduced airflow, making it difficult for the patient to breathe and producing the
characteristic wheezing.
4. A 45-year-old man with asthma is brought to the emergency department by
automobile. He is short of breath and appears frightened. During the initial nursing
assessment, which of the following clinical manifestations might be present as an early
symptom during an exacerbation of asthma?
A. Anxiety
B. Cyanosis
C. Hypercapnia
D. Bradycardia - ANSWER - A. Anxiety An early symptom during an asthma attack is
anxiety because he is acutely aware of the inability to get sufficient air to breathe. He
will be hypoxic early on with decreased PaCO2 and increased pH as he is
hyperventilating.
5. The nurse is assigned to care for a patient who has anxiety and an exacerbation of
asthma. Which of the following is the primary reason for the nurse to carefully inspect
the chest wall of this patient?
A. Observe for signs of diaphoresis
B. Allow time to calm the patient
C. Monitor the patient for bilateral chest expansion
D. Evaluate the use of intercostal muscles - ANSWER - D. Evaluate the use of
intercostal muscles The nurse physically inspects the chest wall to evaluate the use
pg. 2
, of intercostal (accessory) muscles, which gives an indication of the degree of
respiratory distress experienced by the patient.
6. Which of the following positions is most appropriate for the nurse to place a patient
experiencing an asthma exacerbation?
A. Supine
B. Lithotomy
C. High-Fowler's
D. Reverse Trendelenburg - ANSWER - C. High-Fowler'sThe patient experiencing an
asthma attack should be placed in high-Fowler's position to allow for optimal chest
expansion and enlist the aid of gravity during inspiration.
7. The nurse is caring for a patient with an acute exacerbation of asthma. Following
initial treatment, which of the following findings indicates to the nurse that the patient's
respiratory status is improving?
A. Wheezing becomes louder
B. Vesicular breath sounds decrease
C. Aerosol bronchodilators stimulate coughing
D. The cough remains nonproductive - ANSWER - A. Wheezing becomes louder The
primary problem during an exacerbation of asthma is narrowing of the airway and
subsequent diminished air exchange. As the airways begin to dilate, wheezing gets
louder because of better air exchange.
8. The nurse identifies the nursing diagnosis of activity intolerance for a patient with
asthma. The nurse assesses for which of the following etiologic factor for this nursing
diagnosis in patients with asthma?
A. Anxiety and restlessness
B. Effects of medications
C. Fear of suffocation
D. Work of breathing - ANSWER - D. Work of breathingWhen the patient does not have
sufficient gas exchange to engage in activity, the etiologic factor is often the work of
pg. 3
, breathing. When patients with asthma do not have effective respirations, they use all
available energy to breathe and have little left over for purposeful activity.
9. The nurse is assigned to care for a patient in the emergency department admitted
with an exacerbation of asthma. The patient has received a β-adrenergic bronchodilator
and supplemental oxygen. If the patient's condition does not improve, the nurse should
anticipate which of the following is likely to be the next step in treatment?
A. Pulmonary function testing
B. Systemic corticosteroids
C. Biofeedback therapy
D. Intravenous fluids - ANSWER - B. Systemic corticosteroids Systemic corticosteroids
speed the resolution of asthma exacerbations and are indicated if the initial response
to the β-adrenergic bronchodilator is insufficient.
10. A patient with acute exacerbation of COPD needs to receive precise amounts of
oxygen. Which of the following types of equipment should the nurse prepare to use?
A. Venturi mask
B. Partial non-rebreather mask
C. Oxygen tent
D. Nasal cannula - ANSWER - A. Venturi mask The Venturi mask delivers precise
concentrations of oxygen and should be selected whenever this is a priority concern.
The other methods are less precise in terms of amount of oxygen delivered.
11.While obtaining the admission assessment data, which of the following
characteristics would a nurse expect a patient with anemia to report?
A. Palpitations
B. Blurred vision
C. Increased appetite
D. Feeling of warm flushing sensation - ANSWER - A. Palpitations Patients
experiencing moderate anemia (hemoglobin [Hb] 6 to 10 g/dL) may experience
dyspnea (shortness of breath), palpitations, diaphoresis (profound perspiration) with
exertion, and chronic fatigue. Blurred vision is associated in patients experiencing
profound anemia states. Anorexia is common in patients with severe anemia, as well.
pg. 4
