HESI MED-SURG practice exam 2025
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
An adult client who is hospitalized after surgery reports sudden onset of chest pain
and dyspnea. The client appears anxious, restless, and mildly cyanotic. The nurse
should further assess the client for which condition?
Pulmonary embolism.
Heart failure.
Tuberculosis.
Bronchitis. - ✔✔Pulmonary embolism.
Post-surgical clients are at an increased risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which
may result in pulmonary embolism if the clot breaks off and travels to the lungs.
Signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism include chest pain, dyspnea, anxiety,
restlessness, and - in severe cases - cyanosis.
Jarvis, Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th ed., p.493
Which information should the nurse obtain when performing an initial assessment
of a client who presents to the emergency department with a painful ankle injury?
(Select all that apply.)
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY SOPHIA BENNETT, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Quality of the pain.
Signs of inflammation.
Ankle range of motion.
Muscle strength testing.
Visible deformities of the joint. - ✔✔Quality of the pain.
Signs of inflammation.
Ankle range of motion.
Visible deformities of the joint.
Initial assessment of a joint injury is performed to determine the extent of the
damage. The nurse's initial assessment of a painful ankle injury should include pain
quality, the presence of deformities, evidence of inflammation, and range of motion.
Jarvis Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th ed. p. 586-8
Which description of pain is consistent with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis?
Joint pain is worse in the morning and involves symmetric joints.
Joint pain is better in the morning and worsens throughout the day.
Joint pain is consistent throughout the day and is relieved by pain medication.
Joint pain is worse during the day and involves unilateral joints. - ✔✔Joint pain is
worse in the morning and involves symmetric joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes joint pain and
swelling. RA is characterized by pain that is worse when arising and involves
symmetric joints.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY SOPHIA BENNETT, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,Jarvis. (2016), Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th Ed., Chapter 22; p.
586
Which physical assessment finding should the nurse anticipate in a client with long-
term gastroesophagealreflux disease (GERD)?
Hoarseness.
Dry mouth.
Mouth ulcers.
Weight loss. - ✔✔Hoarseness.
Dyspepsia and regurgitation are the main symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux
disease (GERD); however, hoarseness is one of the most common long-term
symptoms of GERD due to the irritation of the reflux of gastric secretions.
Ignatavicius, (2016). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative care,
eight edition., Ch. 49, p. 1111.
A client presents with chronic venous insufficiency. Which assessment finding
should the nurse anticipate?
Bilateral lower leg stasis dermatitis.
Clubbing of fingers and toes.
Intermittent claudication.
Peripheral cyanosis. - ✔✔Bilateral lower leg stasis dermatitis.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY SOPHIA BENNETT, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, Clients who suffer from chroninc venous insufficiency often develop statsis
dermatitis in the lower extremities. Statis dermatitis appear as brownish-red
discoloration on the lower extremities at the ankles which can develop into stasis
ulcers due to the pooling of the venous blood flow back to the heart.
Ignatavicius, (2013). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative care,
7th ed.., Ch. 33, p. 803.
A client has been hospitalized with a femur fracture and is being treated with
traction. Which action by the nurse is the priority when caring for this client?
Assess neurovascular status.
Change the client's position.
Inspect the traction equipment.
Review pain medication orders. - ✔✔Assess neurovascular status.
The use of traction for long bone fractures reduces the potential for damage to the
surrounding tissues. Reports of increased pain may indicate circulatory compromise
or tissue damage (compartment syndrome). Assessing the client's neurovascular
status is the nurse's highest priority.
Ignatavicius, (2016). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative care,
eight edition., Ch. 51, pp. 1051-80.
Which statement made by a client with chronic pancreatitis indicates that further
education is needed?
I will cut back on smoking cigarettes daily.
I will avoid drinking caffeinated beverages.
I will rest frequently and avoid vigorous exercise.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY SOPHIA BENNETT, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
An adult client who is hospitalized after surgery reports sudden onset of chest pain
and dyspnea. The client appears anxious, restless, and mildly cyanotic. The nurse
should further assess the client for which condition?
Pulmonary embolism.
Heart failure.
Tuberculosis.
Bronchitis. - ✔✔Pulmonary embolism.
Post-surgical clients are at an increased risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which
may result in pulmonary embolism if the clot breaks off and travels to the lungs.
Signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism include chest pain, dyspnea, anxiety,
restlessness, and - in severe cases - cyanosis.
Jarvis, Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th ed., p.493
Which information should the nurse obtain when performing an initial assessment
of a client who presents to the emergency department with a painful ankle injury?
(Select all that apply.)
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY SOPHIA BENNETT, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Quality of the pain.
Signs of inflammation.
Ankle range of motion.
Muscle strength testing.
Visible deformities of the joint. - ✔✔Quality of the pain.
Signs of inflammation.
Ankle range of motion.
Visible deformities of the joint.
Initial assessment of a joint injury is performed to determine the extent of the
damage. The nurse's initial assessment of a painful ankle injury should include pain
quality, the presence of deformities, evidence of inflammation, and range of motion.
Jarvis Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th ed. p. 586-8
Which description of pain is consistent with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis?
Joint pain is worse in the morning and involves symmetric joints.
Joint pain is better in the morning and worsens throughout the day.
Joint pain is consistent throughout the day and is relieved by pain medication.
Joint pain is worse during the day and involves unilateral joints. - ✔✔Joint pain is
worse in the morning and involves symmetric joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes joint pain and
swelling. RA is characterized by pain that is worse when arising and involves
symmetric joints.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY SOPHIA BENNETT, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,Jarvis. (2016), Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th Ed., Chapter 22; p.
586
Which physical assessment finding should the nurse anticipate in a client with long-
term gastroesophagealreflux disease (GERD)?
Hoarseness.
Dry mouth.
Mouth ulcers.
Weight loss. - ✔✔Hoarseness.
Dyspepsia and regurgitation are the main symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux
disease (GERD); however, hoarseness is one of the most common long-term
symptoms of GERD due to the irritation of the reflux of gastric secretions.
Ignatavicius, (2016). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative care,
eight edition., Ch. 49, p. 1111.
A client presents with chronic venous insufficiency. Which assessment finding
should the nurse anticipate?
Bilateral lower leg stasis dermatitis.
Clubbing of fingers and toes.
Intermittent claudication.
Peripheral cyanosis. - ✔✔Bilateral lower leg stasis dermatitis.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY SOPHIA BENNETT, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, Clients who suffer from chroninc venous insufficiency often develop statsis
dermatitis in the lower extremities. Statis dermatitis appear as brownish-red
discoloration on the lower extremities at the ankles which can develop into stasis
ulcers due to the pooling of the venous blood flow back to the heart.
Ignatavicius, (2013). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative care,
7th ed.., Ch. 33, p. 803.
A client has been hospitalized with a femur fracture and is being treated with
traction. Which action by the nurse is the priority when caring for this client?
Assess neurovascular status.
Change the client's position.
Inspect the traction equipment.
Review pain medication orders. - ✔✔Assess neurovascular status.
The use of traction for long bone fractures reduces the potential for damage to the
surrounding tissues. Reports of increased pain may indicate circulatory compromise
or tissue damage (compartment syndrome). Assessing the client's neurovascular
status is the nurse's highest priority.
Ignatavicius, (2016). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative care,
eight edition., Ch. 51, pp. 1051-80.
Which statement made by a client with chronic pancreatitis indicates that further
education is needed?
I will cut back on smoking cigarettes daily.
I will avoid drinking caffeinated beverages.
I will rest frequently and avoid vigorous exercise.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY SOPHIA BENNETT, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
