HESI TEST VERSION 1
1. The nurse assesses a patient with shortness of breath for evidence of long-standing
hypoxemia by inspecting:
A. Chest excursion
B. Spinal curvatures
C. The respiratory pattern
D. The fingernail and its base CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: D. The fingernail and its
base Clubbing, a sign of long-standing hypoxemia, is evidenced by an increase in the
angle between the base of the nail and the fingernail to 180 degrees or more, usually
accompanied by an increase in the depth, bulk, and sponginess of the end of the finger.
2. The nurse is caring for a patient with COPD and pneumonia who has an order for
arterial blood gases to be drawn. Which of the following is the minimum length of time
the nurse should plan to hold pressure on the puncture site?
A. 2 minutes
B. 5 minutes
C. 10 minutes
D. 15 minutes CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: B 5 minutes Following obtaining an
arterial blood gas, the nurse should hold pressure on the puncture site for 5 minutes by
the clock to be sure that bleeding has stopped. An artery is an elastic vessel under higher
pressure than veins, and significant blood loss or hematoma formation could occur if the
time is
insufficient.
3. The nurse notices clear nasal drainage in a patient newly admitted with facial trauma,
including a nasal fracture. The nurse should:
A. test the drainage for the presence of glucose.
B. suction the nose to maintain airway clearance.
C. document the findings and continue monitoring.
D. apply a drip pad and reassure the patient this is normal. CORRECT ANSWER:
ANS: A. test the drainage for the presence of glucose. Clear nasal drainage suggests
leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).The drainage should be tested for the presence of
glucose, which would indicate the presence of CSF.
4. When caring for a patient who is 3 hours postoperative laryngectomy, the nurse's
highest priority assessment would be:
A. Airway patency
B. Patient comfort
C. Incisional drainage
D. Blood pressure and heart rate CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: A. Airway patency
Remember ABCs with prioritization. Airway patency is always the highest priority and is
essential for a patient undergoing surgery surrounding the upper respiratory system.
,5. When initially teaching a patient the supraglottic swallow following a radical neck
dissection, with which of the following foods should the nurse begin?
A. Cola
B. Applesauce
C. French fries
D. White grape juice CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: A. Cola When learning the
supraglottic swallow, it may be helpful to start with carbonated beverages because the
effervescence provides clues about the liquid's position. Thin, watery fluids should be
avoided because they are difficult to swallow and increase the risk of aspiration.
Nonpourable pureed foods, such as applesauce, would decrease the risk of aspiration,
but carbonated beverages are the better choice to start with.
6. The nurse is caring for a patient admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. Upon
assessment, the nurse notes a temperature of 101.4° F, a productive cough with yellow
sputum and a respiratory rate of 20.Which of the following nursing diagnosis is most
appropriate based upon this assessment?
A. Hyperthermia related to infectious illness
B. Ineffective thermoregulation related to chilling
C. Ineffective breathing pattern related to pneumonia
D. Ineffective airway clearance related to thick secretions CORRECT ANSWER: ANS:
A.
Hyperthermia related to infectious illness Because the patient has spiked a temperature
and has a diagnosis of pneumonia, the logical nursing diagnosis is hyperthermia related
to infectious illness. There is no evidence of a chill, and her breathing pattern is within
normal limits at 20 breaths per minute. There is no evidence of ineffective airway
clearance from the information given because the patient is expectorating sputum.
7. Which of the following physical assessment findings in a patient with pneumonia best
supports the nursing diagnosis of ineffective airway clearance?
A. Oxygen saturation of 85%
B. Respiratory rate of 28
C. Presence of greenish sputum
D. Basilar crackles CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: D. Basilar crackles The presence of
adventitious breath sounds indicates that there is accumulation of secretions in the
lower airways. This would be consistent with a nursing diagnosis of ineffective airway
clearance because the patient is retaining secretions.
8. Which of the following clinical manifestations would the nurse expect to find during
assessment of a patient admitted with pneumococcal pneumonia?
A. Hyperresonance on percussion
B. Fine crackles in all lobes on auscultation
C. Increased vocal fremitus on palpation
D. Vesicular breath sounds in all lobes CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: C. Increased vocal
fremitus on palpation. A typical physical examination finding for a patient with
pneumonia is increased vocal fremitus on palpation. Other signs of pulmonary
consolidation include dullness to percussion, bronchial breath sounds, and crackles in
the affected area.
,9. Which of the following nursing interventions is of the highest priority in helping a
patient expectorate thick secretions related to pneumonia?
A. Humidify the oxygen as able
B. Increase fluid intake to 3L/day if tolerated.
C. Administer cough suppressant q4hr.
D. Teach patient to splint the affected area. CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: B. Increase
fluid intake to 3L/day if tolerated. Although several interventions may help the patient
expectorate mucus, the highest priority should be on increasing fluid intake, which will
liquefy the secretions so that the patient can expectorate them more easily. Humidifying
the oxygen is also helpful, but is not the primary intervention. Teaching the patient to
splint the affected area may also be helpful, but does not liquefy the secretions so that
they can be removed.
10. During discharge teaching for a 65-year-old patient with emphysema and
pneumonia, which of the following vaccines should the nurse recommend the patient
receive?
A. S. aureus
B. H. influenzae
C. Pneumococcal
D. Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: C. Pneumococcal The
pneumococcal vaccineis important for patients with a history of heart or lung disease,
recovering from a severe illness, age 65 or over, or living in a long-term care facility
11. The nurse evaluates that discharge teaching for a patient hospitalized with
pneumonia has been most effective when the patient states which of the following
measures to prevent a relapse?
A. "I will increase my food intake to 2400 calories a day to keep my immune
system well."
B. "I must use home oxygen therapy for 3 months and then will have a chest
x-ray to reevaluate."
C. "I will seek immediate medical treatment for any upper respiratory infections."
D. "I should continue to do deep-breathing and coughing exercises for at least 6 weeks."
CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: D. "I should continue to do deep-breathing and coughing
exercises for at least 6 weeks." It is important for the patient to continue with coughing
and deep breathing exercises for 6 to 8 weeks until all of the infection has cleared from
the lungs. A patient should seek medical treatment for upper respiratory infections
thapersist for more than 7 days. Increased fluid intake, not caloric intake, is required to
liquefy secretions. Home O2 is not a requirement unless the patient's oxygenation
saturation is below normal.
12. After admitting a patient to the medical unit with a diagnosis of pneumonia, the
nurse will verify that which of the following physician orders have been completed
before administering a dose of cefotetan (Cefotan) to the patient?
A. Serum laboratory studies ordered for AM
B. Pulmonary function evaluation
C. Orthostatic blood pressures
, D. Sputum culture and sensitivity CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: D. Sputum culture and
sensitivity The nurse should ensure that the sputum for culture and sensitivity was sent
to the laboratory before administering the cefotetan. It is important that the organisms
are correctly identified (by the culture) before their numbers are affected by the
antibiotic; the test will also determine whether the proper antibiotic has been ordered
(sensitivity testing). Although antibiotic administration should not be unduly delayed
while waiting for the patient to expectorate sputum, all of the other options will not be
affected by the administration of antibiotics
13. Which of the following nursing interventions is most appropriate to enhance
oxygenation in a patient with unilateral malignant lung disease?
A. Positioning patient on right side.
B. Maintaining adequate fluid intake
C. Performing postural drainage every 4 hours
D. Positioning patient with "good lung down" CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: D.
Positioning patient with "good lung down" Therapeutic positioning identifies the best
position for the patient assuring stable oxygenation status. Research indicates that
positioning the patient with the unaffected lung (good lung) dependent best promotes
oxygenation in patients with unilateral lung disease. For bilateral lung disease, the right
lung down has best ventilation and perfusion. Increasing fluid intake and performing
postural drainage will facilitate airway clearance, but positioning is most appropriate to
enhance oxygenation
14. A 71-year-old patient is admitted with acute respiratory distress related
to cor pulmonale. Which of the following nursing interventions is most appropriate
during admission of this patient?
A. Delay any physical assessment of the patient and review with the family the
patient's history of respiratory problems. B. Perform a comprehensive health
history with the patient to review prior respiratory problems.
C. Perform a physical assessment of the respiratory system and ask specific
questions related to this episode of respiratory distress.
D. Complete a full physical examination to determine the effect of the respiratory
distress on other body functions. CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: C. Perform a physical
assessment of the respiratory system and ask specific questions related to this episode of
respiratory distress. Because the patient is having respiratory difficulty, the nurse
should ask specific questions about this episode and perform a physical assessment of
this system. Further history taking and physical examination of other body systems can
proceed once the patient's acute respiratory distress is being managed
15. When planning appropriate nursing interventions for a patient with metastatic lung
cancer and a 60-pack-year history of cigarette smoking, the nurse recognizes that the
smoking has most likely decreased the patient's underlying respiratory defenses because
of impairment of which of the following?
A. Reflex bronchoconstriction
B. Ability to filter particles from the air
C. Cough reflex
1. The nurse assesses a patient with shortness of breath for evidence of long-standing
hypoxemia by inspecting:
A. Chest excursion
B. Spinal curvatures
C. The respiratory pattern
D. The fingernail and its base CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: D. The fingernail and its
base Clubbing, a sign of long-standing hypoxemia, is evidenced by an increase in the
angle between the base of the nail and the fingernail to 180 degrees or more, usually
accompanied by an increase in the depth, bulk, and sponginess of the end of the finger.
2. The nurse is caring for a patient with COPD and pneumonia who has an order for
arterial blood gases to be drawn. Which of the following is the minimum length of time
the nurse should plan to hold pressure on the puncture site?
A. 2 minutes
B. 5 minutes
C. 10 minutes
D. 15 minutes CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: B 5 minutes Following obtaining an
arterial blood gas, the nurse should hold pressure on the puncture site for 5 minutes by
the clock to be sure that bleeding has stopped. An artery is an elastic vessel under higher
pressure than veins, and significant blood loss or hematoma formation could occur if the
time is
insufficient.
3. The nurse notices clear nasal drainage in a patient newly admitted with facial trauma,
including a nasal fracture. The nurse should:
A. test the drainage for the presence of glucose.
B. suction the nose to maintain airway clearance.
C. document the findings and continue monitoring.
D. apply a drip pad and reassure the patient this is normal. CORRECT ANSWER:
ANS: A. test the drainage for the presence of glucose. Clear nasal drainage suggests
leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).The drainage should be tested for the presence of
glucose, which would indicate the presence of CSF.
4. When caring for a patient who is 3 hours postoperative laryngectomy, the nurse's
highest priority assessment would be:
A. Airway patency
B. Patient comfort
C. Incisional drainage
D. Blood pressure and heart rate CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: A. Airway patency
Remember ABCs with prioritization. Airway patency is always the highest priority and is
essential for a patient undergoing surgery surrounding the upper respiratory system.
,5. When initially teaching a patient the supraglottic swallow following a radical neck
dissection, with which of the following foods should the nurse begin?
A. Cola
B. Applesauce
C. French fries
D. White grape juice CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: A. Cola When learning the
supraglottic swallow, it may be helpful to start with carbonated beverages because the
effervescence provides clues about the liquid's position. Thin, watery fluids should be
avoided because they are difficult to swallow and increase the risk of aspiration.
Nonpourable pureed foods, such as applesauce, would decrease the risk of aspiration,
but carbonated beverages are the better choice to start with.
6. The nurse is caring for a patient admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. Upon
assessment, the nurse notes a temperature of 101.4° F, a productive cough with yellow
sputum and a respiratory rate of 20.Which of the following nursing diagnosis is most
appropriate based upon this assessment?
A. Hyperthermia related to infectious illness
B. Ineffective thermoregulation related to chilling
C. Ineffective breathing pattern related to pneumonia
D. Ineffective airway clearance related to thick secretions CORRECT ANSWER: ANS:
A.
Hyperthermia related to infectious illness Because the patient has spiked a temperature
and has a diagnosis of pneumonia, the logical nursing diagnosis is hyperthermia related
to infectious illness. There is no evidence of a chill, and her breathing pattern is within
normal limits at 20 breaths per minute. There is no evidence of ineffective airway
clearance from the information given because the patient is expectorating sputum.
7. Which of the following physical assessment findings in a patient with pneumonia best
supports the nursing diagnosis of ineffective airway clearance?
A. Oxygen saturation of 85%
B. Respiratory rate of 28
C. Presence of greenish sputum
D. Basilar crackles CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: D. Basilar crackles The presence of
adventitious breath sounds indicates that there is accumulation of secretions in the
lower airways. This would be consistent with a nursing diagnosis of ineffective airway
clearance because the patient is retaining secretions.
8. Which of the following clinical manifestations would the nurse expect to find during
assessment of a patient admitted with pneumococcal pneumonia?
A. Hyperresonance on percussion
B. Fine crackles in all lobes on auscultation
C. Increased vocal fremitus on palpation
D. Vesicular breath sounds in all lobes CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: C. Increased vocal
fremitus on palpation. A typical physical examination finding for a patient with
pneumonia is increased vocal fremitus on palpation. Other signs of pulmonary
consolidation include dullness to percussion, bronchial breath sounds, and crackles in
the affected area.
,9. Which of the following nursing interventions is of the highest priority in helping a
patient expectorate thick secretions related to pneumonia?
A. Humidify the oxygen as able
B. Increase fluid intake to 3L/day if tolerated.
C. Administer cough suppressant q4hr.
D. Teach patient to splint the affected area. CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: B. Increase
fluid intake to 3L/day if tolerated. Although several interventions may help the patient
expectorate mucus, the highest priority should be on increasing fluid intake, which will
liquefy the secretions so that the patient can expectorate them more easily. Humidifying
the oxygen is also helpful, but is not the primary intervention. Teaching the patient to
splint the affected area may also be helpful, but does not liquefy the secretions so that
they can be removed.
10. During discharge teaching for a 65-year-old patient with emphysema and
pneumonia, which of the following vaccines should the nurse recommend the patient
receive?
A. S. aureus
B. H. influenzae
C. Pneumococcal
D. Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: C. Pneumococcal The
pneumococcal vaccineis important for patients with a history of heart or lung disease,
recovering from a severe illness, age 65 or over, or living in a long-term care facility
11. The nurse evaluates that discharge teaching for a patient hospitalized with
pneumonia has been most effective when the patient states which of the following
measures to prevent a relapse?
A. "I will increase my food intake to 2400 calories a day to keep my immune
system well."
B. "I must use home oxygen therapy for 3 months and then will have a chest
x-ray to reevaluate."
C. "I will seek immediate medical treatment for any upper respiratory infections."
D. "I should continue to do deep-breathing and coughing exercises for at least 6 weeks."
CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: D. "I should continue to do deep-breathing and coughing
exercises for at least 6 weeks." It is important for the patient to continue with coughing
and deep breathing exercises for 6 to 8 weeks until all of the infection has cleared from
the lungs. A patient should seek medical treatment for upper respiratory infections
thapersist for more than 7 days. Increased fluid intake, not caloric intake, is required to
liquefy secretions. Home O2 is not a requirement unless the patient's oxygenation
saturation is below normal.
12. After admitting a patient to the medical unit with a diagnosis of pneumonia, the
nurse will verify that which of the following physician orders have been completed
before administering a dose of cefotetan (Cefotan) to the patient?
A. Serum laboratory studies ordered for AM
B. Pulmonary function evaluation
C. Orthostatic blood pressures
, D. Sputum culture and sensitivity CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: D. Sputum culture and
sensitivity The nurse should ensure that the sputum for culture and sensitivity was sent
to the laboratory before administering the cefotetan. It is important that the organisms
are correctly identified (by the culture) before their numbers are affected by the
antibiotic; the test will also determine whether the proper antibiotic has been ordered
(sensitivity testing). Although antibiotic administration should not be unduly delayed
while waiting for the patient to expectorate sputum, all of the other options will not be
affected by the administration of antibiotics
13. Which of the following nursing interventions is most appropriate to enhance
oxygenation in a patient with unilateral malignant lung disease?
A. Positioning patient on right side.
B. Maintaining adequate fluid intake
C. Performing postural drainage every 4 hours
D. Positioning patient with "good lung down" CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: D.
Positioning patient with "good lung down" Therapeutic positioning identifies the best
position for the patient assuring stable oxygenation status. Research indicates that
positioning the patient with the unaffected lung (good lung) dependent best promotes
oxygenation in patients with unilateral lung disease. For bilateral lung disease, the right
lung down has best ventilation and perfusion. Increasing fluid intake and performing
postural drainage will facilitate airway clearance, but positioning is most appropriate to
enhance oxygenation
14. A 71-year-old patient is admitted with acute respiratory distress related
to cor pulmonale. Which of the following nursing interventions is most appropriate
during admission of this patient?
A. Delay any physical assessment of the patient and review with the family the
patient's history of respiratory problems. B. Perform a comprehensive health
history with the patient to review prior respiratory problems.
C. Perform a physical assessment of the respiratory system and ask specific
questions related to this episode of respiratory distress.
D. Complete a full physical examination to determine the effect of the respiratory
distress on other body functions. CORRECT ANSWER: ANS: C. Perform a physical
assessment of the respiratory system and ask specific questions related to this episode of
respiratory distress. Because the patient is having respiratory difficulty, the nurse
should ask specific questions about this episode and perform a physical assessment of
this system. Further history taking and physical examination of other body systems can
proceed once the patient's acute respiratory distress is being managed
15. When planning appropriate nursing interventions for a patient with metastatic lung
cancer and a 60-pack-year history of cigarette smoking, the nurse recognizes that the
smoking has most likely decreased the patient's underlying respiratory defenses because
of impairment of which of the following?
A. Reflex bronchoconstriction
B. Ability to filter particles from the air
C. Cough reflex
