lOMoARcPSD|26582732
HESI Critical Care Exam Questions
With Answers And Rationales 2025
1. A Client With Asthma Receives A Prescription For High Blood Pressure During A Clinic
Visit. Which Prescription Should The Nurse Anticipate The Client To Receive That Is Least
Likely To Exacerbate Asthma?
A. Carteolol (Ocupress).
B. Propranolol Hydrochloride (Inderal).
C. Pindolol (Visken). Incorrect
D. Metoprolol Tartrate (Lopressor). Correct
The Best Antihypertensive Agent For Clients With Asthma Is Metoprolol (Lopressor) (C), A
Beta2 Blocking Agent Which Is Also Cardioselective And Less Likely To Cause
Bronchoconstriction. Pindolol (A) Is A Beta2 Blocker That Can Cause Bronchoconstriction And
Increase Asthmatic Symptoms. Although Carteolol (B) Is A Beta Blocking Agent And An
Effective Antihypertensive Agent Used In Managing Angina, It Can Increase A Client's Risk For
Bronchoconstriction Due To Its Nonselective Beta Blocker Action. Propranolol (D) Also Blocks
The Beta2 Receptors In The Lungs, Causing Bronchoconstriction, And Is Not Indicated In
Clients With Asthma And Other Obstructive Pulmonary Disorders.
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2. A Male Client Who Has Been Taking Propranolol (Inderal) For 18 Months Tells The
Nurse That The Healthcare Provider Discontinued The Medication Because His Blood Pressure
Has Been Normal For The Past Three Months. Which Instruction Should The Nurse Provide?
A. Obtain Another Antihypertensive Prescription To Avoid Withdrawal Symptoms.
B. Stop The Medication And Keep An Accurate Record Of Blood Pressure.
C. Report Any Uncomfortable Symptoms After Stopping The Medication.
D. Ask The Healthcare Provider About Tapering The Drug Dose Over The Next
Week. Correct Although The Healthcare Provider Discontinued The Propranolol, Measures
To Prevent Rebound Cardiac Excitation, Such As Progressively Reducing The Dose Over
One To Two Weeks (C), Should Be Recommended To Prevent Rebound Tachycardia,
Hypertension, And Ventricular Dysrhythmias. Abrupt Cessation (A And B) Of The Beta-
Blocking Agent May Precipitate Tachycardia And Rebound Hypertension, So Gradual
Weaning Should Be Recommended. (D) Is Not Indicated.
3. A Client Who Is Taking Clonidine (Catapres, Duraclon) Reports Drowsiness. Which
Additional Assessment Should The Nurse Make?
A. Has The Client Experienced Constipation Recently?
B. Did The Client Miss Any Doses Of The Medication?
C. How Long Has The Client Been Taking The Medication? Correct
D. Does The Client Use Any Tobacco Products?
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Drowsiness Can Occur In The Early Weeks Of Treatment With Clonidine And With Continued
Use Becomes Less Intense, So The Length Of Time The Client Has Been On The Medication
(A) Provides Information To Direct Additional Instruction. (B, C, And D) Are Not Relevant.
4.ID: 6974873590
The Nurse Is Preparing To Administer Atropine, An Anticholinergic, To A Client Who Is
Scheduled For A Cholecystectomy. The Client Asks The Nurse To Explain The Reason For The
Prescribed Medication.
What Response Is Best For The Nurse To Provide?
A. Provide A More Rapid Induction Of Anesthesia.
B. Induce Relaxation Before Induction Of Anesthesia.
C. Decrease The Risk Of Bradycardia During Surgery. Correct
D. Minimize The Amount Of Analgesia Needed Postoperatively.
Atropine May Be Prescribed Preoperatively To Increase The Automaticity Of The Sinoatrial
Node And Prevent A Dangerous Reduction In Heart Rate (B) During Surgical Anesthesia. (A, C
And D) Do Not Address The Therapeutic Action Of Atropine Use Perioperatively.
5.ID: 6974876286
An 80-Year-Old Client Is Given Morphine Sulphate For Postoperative Pain. Which Concomitant
Medication Should The Nurse Question That Poses A Potential Development Of Urinary
Retention In This Geriatric Client?
A. Antacids.
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B. Tricyclic Antidepressants. Correct C.
Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory
Agents.
D. Insulin.
Drugs With Anticholinergic Properties, Such As Tricyclic Antidepressants (C), Can Exacerbate
Urinary Retention Associated With Opioids In The Older Client. Although Tricyclic
Antidepressants And Antihistamines With Opioids Can Exacerbate Urinary Retention, The
Concurrent Use Of (A And B) With Opioids Do Not. Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Agents (D)
Can Increase The Risk For Bleeding, But Do Not Increase Urinary Retention With Opioids (D).
6.ID: 6974873559
A Client With Osteoarthritis Is Given A New Prescription For A Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory
Drug (NSAID). The Client Asks The Nurse, "How Is This Medication Different From The
Acetaminophen I Have Been Taking?" Which Information About The Therapeutic Action Of
Nsaids Should The Nurse Provide?
A. Are Less Expensive.
B. Provide Antiinflammatory Response. Correct
C. Increase Hepatotoxic Side Effects.
D. Cause Gastrointestinal Bleeding.
Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs (Nsaids) Have Antiinflammatory Properties (B), Which
Relieves Pain Associated With Osteoarthritis And Differs From Acetaminophen, A Non-
Narcotic Analgesic And Antipyretic. (A) Does Not Teach The Client About The Medication's
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HESI Critical Care Exam Questions
With Answers And Rationales 2025
1. A Client With Asthma Receives A Prescription For High Blood Pressure During A Clinic
Visit. Which Prescription Should The Nurse Anticipate The Client To Receive That Is Least
Likely To Exacerbate Asthma?
A. Carteolol (Ocupress).
B. Propranolol Hydrochloride (Inderal).
C. Pindolol (Visken). Incorrect
D. Metoprolol Tartrate (Lopressor). Correct
The Best Antihypertensive Agent For Clients With Asthma Is Metoprolol (Lopressor) (C), A
Beta2 Blocking Agent Which Is Also Cardioselective And Less Likely To Cause
Bronchoconstriction. Pindolol (A) Is A Beta2 Blocker That Can Cause Bronchoconstriction And
Increase Asthmatic Symptoms. Although Carteolol (B) Is A Beta Blocking Agent And An
Effective Antihypertensive Agent Used In Managing Angina, It Can Increase A Client's Risk For
Bronchoconstriction Due To Its Nonselective Beta Blocker Action. Propranolol (D) Also Blocks
The Beta2 Receptors In The Lungs, Causing Bronchoconstriction, And Is Not Indicated In
Clients With Asthma And Other Obstructive Pulmonary Disorders.
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2. A Male Client Who Has Been Taking Propranolol (Inderal) For 18 Months Tells The
Nurse That The Healthcare Provider Discontinued The Medication Because His Blood Pressure
Has Been Normal For The Past Three Months. Which Instruction Should The Nurse Provide?
A. Obtain Another Antihypertensive Prescription To Avoid Withdrawal Symptoms.
B. Stop The Medication And Keep An Accurate Record Of Blood Pressure.
C. Report Any Uncomfortable Symptoms After Stopping The Medication.
D. Ask The Healthcare Provider About Tapering The Drug Dose Over The Next
Week. Correct Although The Healthcare Provider Discontinued The Propranolol, Measures
To Prevent Rebound Cardiac Excitation, Such As Progressively Reducing The Dose Over
One To Two Weeks (C), Should Be Recommended To Prevent Rebound Tachycardia,
Hypertension, And Ventricular Dysrhythmias. Abrupt Cessation (A And B) Of The Beta-
Blocking Agent May Precipitate Tachycardia And Rebound Hypertension, So Gradual
Weaning Should Be Recommended. (D) Is Not Indicated.
3. A Client Who Is Taking Clonidine (Catapres, Duraclon) Reports Drowsiness. Which
Additional Assessment Should The Nurse Make?
A. Has The Client Experienced Constipation Recently?
B. Did The Client Miss Any Doses Of The Medication?
C. How Long Has The Client Been Taking The Medication? Correct
D. Does The Client Use Any Tobacco Products?
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Drowsiness Can Occur In The Early Weeks Of Treatment With Clonidine And With Continued
Use Becomes Less Intense, So The Length Of Time The Client Has Been On The Medication
(A) Provides Information To Direct Additional Instruction. (B, C, And D) Are Not Relevant.
4.ID: 6974873590
The Nurse Is Preparing To Administer Atropine, An Anticholinergic, To A Client Who Is
Scheduled For A Cholecystectomy. The Client Asks The Nurse To Explain The Reason For The
Prescribed Medication.
What Response Is Best For The Nurse To Provide?
A. Provide A More Rapid Induction Of Anesthesia.
B. Induce Relaxation Before Induction Of Anesthesia.
C. Decrease The Risk Of Bradycardia During Surgery. Correct
D. Minimize The Amount Of Analgesia Needed Postoperatively.
Atropine May Be Prescribed Preoperatively To Increase The Automaticity Of The Sinoatrial
Node And Prevent A Dangerous Reduction In Heart Rate (B) During Surgical Anesthesia. (A, C
And D) Do Not Address The Therapeutic Action Of Atropine Use Perioperatively.
5.ID: 6974876286
An 80-Year-Old Client Is Given Morphine Sulphate For Postoperative Pain. Which Concomitant
Medication Should The Nurse Question That Poses A Potential Development Of Urinary
Retention In This Geriatric Client?
A. Antacids.
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B. Tricyclic Antidepressants. Correct C.
Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory
Agents.
D. Insulin.
Drugs With Anticholinergic Properties, Such As Tricyclic Antidepressants (C), Can Exacerbate
Urinary Retention Associated With Opioids In The Older Client. Although Tricyclic
Antidepressants And Antihistamines With Opioids Can Exacerbate Urinary Retention, The
Concurrent Use Of (A And B) With Opioids Do Not. Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Agents (D)
Can Increase The Risk For Bleeding, But Do Not Increase Urinary Retention With Opioids (D).
6.ID: 6974873559
A Client With Osteoarthritis Is Given A New Prescription For A Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory
Drug (NSAID). The Client Asks The Nurse, "How Is This Medication Different From The
Acetaminophen I Have Been Taking?" Which Information About The Therapeutic Action Of
Nsaids Should The Nurse Provide?
A. Are Less Expensive.
B. Provide Antiinflammatory Response. Correct
C. Increase Hepatotoxic Side Effects.
D. Cause Gastrointestinal Bleeding.
Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs (Nsaids) Have Antiinflammatory Properties (B), Which
Relieves Pain Associated With Osteoarthritis And Differs From Acetaminophen, A Non-
Narcotic Analgesic And Antipyretic. (A) Does Not Teach The Client About The Medication's
Downloaded by NELSON KIIRU ()
