HESI Practice Exam
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1. Which assessment is most important for Respiratory effort.
the nurse to perform on a client who is
hospitalized for Guillain-Barre syndrome Guillain-Barre syndrome causes paralysis or
that is rapidly progressing? weakness that typically starts at the feet and
progresses upwards. As the condition pro-
Respiratory effort. gresses, the nurse must ensure that the client
Unsteady gait. is able to breathe effectively.
Intensity of pain.
Ability to eat.
2. A male client comes into the clinic with a Collect a culture of the penile discharge.
history of penile discharge with painful,
burning urination. Which action should Penile discharge with painful urination is com-
the nurse implement? monly associated with gonorrhea. The nurse
should collect a culture of the penile discharge
Collect a culture of the penile discharge. to determine the cause of these symptoms.
Palpate the inguinal lymph nodes gen- The cause must be determined or confirmed
tly. through culture to identify the organism and
Observe for scrotal swelling and red- ensure effective treatment.
ness.
Express the discharge to determine col-
or.
3. A client with history of atrial fibrillation Check for a pulse deficit.
is admitted to the telemetry unit with
sudden onset of shortness of breath. The A client with a past history of atrial fibrillation
nurse observes a new irregular heart may return to that rhythm. Any signs of atrial
rhythm and should perform which as- fibrillation, such as sudden onset shortness
sessment at this time? of breath, requires further investigation. The
nurse should assess this client for a pulse
Check for a pulse deficit. deficit because this condition occurs with atrial
Palpate the apical impulse. fibrillation.
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Inspect jugular vein pulse.
Examine for a carotid bruit.
4. Which client should be further assessed A 24-year-old with shoulder and lower ab-
for an ectopic pregnancy? dominal quadrant pain.
A 24-year-old with shoulder and lower A 24-year-old with sudden onset of lower ab-
abdominal quadrant pain. dominal quadrant pain should be assessed for
A 33-year-old with intermittent lower ab- an ectopic pregnancy. The pain can also be re-
dominal cramping. ferred to the shoulder and may be associated
A 20-year-old with fever and right lower with vaginal bleeding.
abdominal colic.
A 40-year-old with jaundice and right
lower abdominal pain.
5. Which dietary assessment finding is Drinks a six pack of beer every day.
most important for the nurse to address
when caring for a client with diabetic Drinking six beers every day is the dietary
nephropathy? assessment finding most important for the
nurse to address when caring for a client with
Drinks a six pack of beer every day. diabetic nephropathy. The usual can of beer
Enjoys a hamburger once a month. is 12 ounces (355 mL). Clients with diabetes
Eats fortified breakfast cereal daily. are recommended to drink no more than 12
Consumes beans and rice every day. ounces of beer per day because beer contains
carbohydrates that can create unhealthy fluc-
tuations in blood glucose and promote poor
glucose control. Nephropathy is exacerbated
by poor blood glucose control.
6. Which assessment finding is of greatest Cough brought on by swallowing.
concern to the nurse who is caring for a
client with stomatitis? A cough brought on by swallowing is a sign
of dysphagia, which is a finding of particular
, HESI Practice Exam
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Cough brought on by swallowing. concern in a client with stomatitis. Dysphagia
Sore throat caused by speaking. can cause numerous problems, including air-
Painful and dry oral cavity. way obstruction, and should be reported to
Unintended weight loss. the healthcare provider immediately.
7. The nurse is teaching a client diag- Altered sexual response.
nosed with peripheral arterial disease.
Which genitourinary system complica- Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a cardio-
tion should the nurse include in the vascular condition characterized by narrowing
teaching? of the arteries and reduced blood flow to the
extremities. PAD is known to alter the blood
Altered sexual response. flow to the male's penis and is associated with
Sterility. erectile dysfunction in men.
Urinary incontinence.
Decreased pelvic muscle tone.
8. A 40-year-old female client has a histo- Oral contraceptives.
ry of smoking. Which finding should the
nurse identify as a risk factor for myocar- Women older than 35 years old who smoke
dial infarction? and take oral contraceptives have an increased
risk of myocardial infarction or stroke.
Oral contraceptives.
Senile osteopenia.
Levothyroxine therapy.
Pernicious anemia.
9. A client has been told that there is Decreased color perception.
cataract formation over both eyes. Which
finding should the nurse expect when Decreased color perception occurs with
assessing the client? cataract formation. Cataract formation is also
associated with blurred vision and a global
Decreased color perception. loss of vision so gradual that the client may not
Presence of floaters. be aware of it.
, HESI Practice Exam
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Loss of central vision.
Reduced peripheral vision.
10. Which assessment finding should most New onset of coughing.
concern the nurse who is monitoring a
client two hours after a thoracentesis? A pneumothorax (partial or complete lung col-
lapse) is the potential complication of a tho-
New onset of coughing. racentesis. Manifestations of a pneumothorax
Low resting heart rate. include new onset of a nagging cough, tachy-
Distended neck veins. cardia, and an increased shallow respiration
Decreased shallow respirations. rate.
11. While caring for a client who has Monitor infusing IV fluids and any replace-
esophageal varices, which nursing inter- ment blood products.
vention is most important for the regis-
tered nurse (RN) to implement? Maintaining hemodynamic stability in a
client with esophageal varicescan precipitatea
Monitor infusing IV fluids and any re- life-threatening crisis if esophageal varies leak
placement blood products. or rupture and can result in hemorrhage. The
Prepare for esophagogastroduo- priority is assessing and monitoring infusions
denoscopy (EGD). of IV fluids and any replacement blood prod-
Maintain the client on strict bedrest. ucts.
Insert a nasogastric tube (NGT) for inter-
mittent suction.
12. The registered nurse (RN) is caring for Urine output of 40 mL/hour.
a client who developed oliguria and was
diagnosed with sepsis and dehydration A decrease in urinary output is a sign of de-
48 hours ago. Which assessment finding hydration. When the urine output returns to a
indicates to the RN that the client is sta- normal range, 40 mL/hour, the client's kidneys
bilizing? are perfusing adequately and indicates the
client's status is stablizing.
Urine output of 40 mL/hour.
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_93odu0
1. Which assessment is most important for Respiratory effort.
the nurse to perform on a client who is
hospitalized for Guillain-Barre syndrome Guillain-Barre syndrome causes paralysis or
that is rapidly progressing? weakness that typically starts at the feet and
progresses upwards. As the condition pro-
Respiratory effort. gresses, the nurse must ensure that the client
Unsteady gait. is able to breathe effectively.
Intensity of pain.
Ability to eat.
2. A male client comes into the clinic with a Collect a culture of the penile discharge.
history of penile discharge with painful,
burning urination. Which action should Penile discharge with painful urination is com-
the nurse implement? monly associated with gonorrhea. The nurse
should collect a culture of the penile discharge
Collect a culture of the penile discharge. to determine the cause of these symptoms.
Palpate the inguinal lymph nodes gen- The cause must be determined or confirmed
tly. through culture to identify the organism and
Observe for scrotal swelling and red- ensure effective treatment.
ness.
Express the discharge to determine col-
or.
3. A client with history of atrial fibrillation Check for a pulse deficit.
is admitted to the telemetry unit with
sudden onset of shortness of breath. The A client with a past history of atrial fibrillation
nurse observes a new irregular heart may return to that rhythm. Any signs of atrial
rhythm and should perform which as- fibrillation, such as sudden onset shortness
sessment at this time? of breath, requires further investigation. The
nurse should assess this client for a pulse
Check for a pulse deficit. deficit because this condition occurs with atrial
Palpate the apical impulse. fibrillation.
, HESI Practice Exam
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_93odu0
Inspect jugular vein pulse.
Examine for a carotid bruit.
4. Which client should be further assessed A 24-year-old with shoulder and lower ab-
for an ectopic pregnancy? dominal quadrant pain.
A 24-year-old with shoulder and lower A 24-year-old with sudden onset of lower ab-
abdominal quadrant pain. dominal quadrant pain should be assessed for
A 33-year-old with intermittent lower ab- an ectopic pregnancy. The pain can also be re-
dominal cramping. ferred to the shoulder and may be associated
A 20-year-old with fever and right lower with vaginal bleeding.
abdominal colic.
A 40-year-old with jaundice and right
lower abdominal pain.
5. Which dietary assessment finding is Drinks a six pack of beer every day.
most important for the nurse to address
when caring for a client with diabetic Drinking six beers every day is the dietary
nephropathy? assessment finding most important for the
nurse to address when caring for a client with
Drinks a six pack of beer every day. diabetic nephropathy. The usual can of beer
Enjoys a hamburger once a month. is 12 ounces (355 mL). Clients with diabetes
Eats fortified breakfast cereal daily. are recommended to drink no more than 12
Consumes beans and rice every day. ounces of beer per day because beer contains
carbohydrates that can create unhealthy fluc-
tuations in blood glucose and promote poor
glucose control. Nephropathy is exacerbated
by poor blood glucose control.
6. Which assessment finding is of greatest Cough brought on by swallowing.
concern to the nurse who is caring for a
client with stomatitis? A cough brought on by swallowing is a sign
of dysphagia, which is a finding of particular
, HESI Practice Exam
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_93odu0
Cough brought on by swallowing. concern in a client with stomatitis. Dysphagia
Sore throat caused by speaking. can cause numerous problems, including air-
Painful and dry oral cavity. way obstruction, and should be reported to
Unintended weight loss. the healthcare provider immediately.
7. The nurse is teaching a client diag- Altered sexual response.
nosed with peripheral arterial disease.
Which genitourinary system complica- Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a cardio-
tion should the nurse include in the vascular condition characterized by narrowing
teaching? of the arteries and reduced blood flow to the
extremities. PAD is known to alter the blood
Altered sexual response. flow to the male's penis and is associated with
Sterility. erectile dysfunction in men.
Urinary incontinence.
Decreased pelvic muscle tone.
8. A 40-year-old female client has a histo- Oral contraceptives.
ry of smoking. Which finding should the
nurse identify as a risk factor for myocar- Women older than 35 years old who smoke
dial infarction? and take oral contraceptives have an increased
risk of myocardial infarction or stroke.
Oral contraceptives.
Senile osteopenia.
Levothyroxine therapy.
Pernicious anemia.
9. A client has been told that there is Decreased color perception.
cataract formation over both eyes. Which
finding should the nurse expect when Decreased color perception occurs with
assessing the client? cataract formation. Cataract formation is also
associated with blurred vision and a global
Decreased color perception. loss of vision so gradual that the client may not
Presence of floaters. be aware of it.
, HESI Practice Exam
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_93odu0
Loss of central vision.
Reduced peripheral vision.
10. Which assessment finding should most New onset of coughing.
concern the nurse who is monitoring a
client two hours after a thoracentesis? A pneumothorax (partial or complete lung col-
lapse) is the potential complication of a tho-
New onset of coughing. racentesis. Manifestations of a pneumothorax
Low resting heart rate. include new onset of a nagging cough, tachy-
Distended neck veins. cardia, and an increased shallow respiration
Decreased shallow respirations. rate.
11. While caring for a client who has Monitor infusing IV fluids and any replace-
esophageal varices, which nursing inter- ment blood products.
vention is most important for the regis-
tered nurse (RN) to implement? Maintaining hemodynamic stability in a
client with esophageal varicescan precipitatea
Monitor infusing IV fluids and any re- life-threatening crisis if esophageal varies leak
placement blood products. or rupture and can result in hemorrhage. The
Prepare for esophagogastroduo- priority is assessing and monitoring infusions
denoscopy (EGD). of IV fluids and any replacement blood prod-
Maintain the client on strict bedrest. ucts.
Insert a nasogastric tube (NGT) for inter-
mittent suction.
12. The registered nurse (RN) is caring for Urine output of 40 mL/hour.
a client who developed oliguria and was
diagnosed with sepsis and dehydration A decrease in urinary output is a sign of de-
48 hours ago. Which assessment finding hydration. When the urine output returns to a
indicates to the RN that the client is sta- normal range, 40 mL/hour, the client's kidneys
bilizing? are perfusing adequately and indicates the
client's status is stablizing.
Urine output of 40 mL/hour.
