HESI EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND SURE ANSWERS
The nurse is reviewing a patient's list of nursing diagnoses in the medical record. The most recent
nursing diagnosis is diarrhea related to intestinal colitis. Why is this an incorrectly stated diagnosis
statement? - ANSWER-It identifies the medical diagnosis instead of the patient's response to the
diagnosis
Nurses in the presurgical unit are preparing patients with different medical conditions for surgical
procedures. The nurse knows to expect which type of medical condition to cause an increased risk of
infection and delayed wound healing after surgery? - ANSWER-Bone marrow depression
-Immunological disorder, the nurse will expect an increased risk of infection and delayed wound
healing after surgery.
The nurse is given a form with preset standard findings for recording a progress note. The nurse
reports the findings in the following way: "Physical Exam: All systems within normal except left lower
extremity, casted d/t to heel fracture. Review of Systems: All normal except pain in the left foot."
What kind of documentation and informatics is this? - ANSWER-Charting by exception
-uses forms that have predefined normal findings, the nurse only documents findings that are not
standard. Unless documented, all other findings are assumed to be normal
The nurse is interviewing a patient with cognitive impairment. Which strategy should the nurse
avoid while communicating with this patient? - ANSWER-Using detailed explanations while asking
questions to help the patient understand
The caregiver of a patient with terminal illness is receiving respite care. Which type of primary and
preventive care services offers this kind of care? - ANSWER-Block and parish nursing
-a preventative and primary care service that provides services in respite care, homemaker aides,
spiritual health, help with errands, and transportation
-respite care provides short term relief or time off for people providing home care to an ill, disables,
or frail older adult
A patient is diagnosed with metabolic acidosis. Which physiological conditions can be identified as
causes for the patient's condition? - ANSWER-Ketoacidosis -may have increased metabolic acid
Oliguric renal disease - may not be able to excrete al the acid from the body
, A patient visited the primary health care provider complaining of pain and tenderness in the joints of
fingers of the left hand. The primary health care provider observed rheumatoid nodules. Which
nursing interventions are beneficial? - ANSWER-Administering ordered analgesics
-arthritic joint pain is caused by inflammation (chronic)
-analgesics relieve pain
A surgeon obtains patient consent for an appendectomy. While operating, the surgeon also removes
the patient's gallbladder. This mistake could be classified as which type of tort? - ANSWER-Battery
Torts are intentional or unintentional mistakes that are infringements of civil law
surgeon did not get consent to remove bladder
The nurse is attending to an elderly patient scheduled for a hernia operation. The nurse understands
that due to aging, the patient may have rigidity of the blood vessel walls and a reduction in
sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation to the heart. What risk would be increased I this
patient following surgery? - ANSWER-Hemorrhage
Increased systolic blood pressure
Increased diastolic blood pressure
-blood vessel walls become rigid, causing a reduction in sympathetic and parasympathetic
innervation to the heart
Which are defining characteristics of constipation? - ANSWER-Hard or dry stools
pain or straining with defecation
no bowel movement for four days
Which type of loss does a toddler experience associated with separation anxiety from mom when
starting preschool? - ANSWER-Maturational loss
The nurse is caring for a patient with cancer who was previously in a state of denial but has now
accepted the illness. The patient asks the nurse questions about the illness and expresses emotions
openly. What interventions should the nurse perform at this stage? - ANSWER-Involve the family in
teaching information for discharge
Encourage the expression of feelings
Set aside formal times for discussion
AND SURE ANSWERS
The nurse is reviewing a patient's list of nursing diagnoses in the medical record. The most recent
nursing diagnosis is diarrhea related to intestinal colitis. Why is this an incorrectly stated diagnosis
statement? - ANSWER-It identifies the medical diagnosis instead of the patient's response to the
diagnosis
Nurses in the presurgical unit are preparing patients with different medical conditions for surgical
procedures. The nurse knows to expect which type of medical condition to cause an increased risk of
infection and delayed wound healing after surgery? - ANSWER-Bone marrow depression
-Immunological disorder, the nurse will expect an increased risk of infection and delayed wound
healing after surgery.
The nurse is given a form with preset standard findings for recording a progress note. The nurse
reports the findings in the following way: "Physical Exam: All systems within normal except left lower
extremity, casted d/t to heel fracture. Review of Systems: All normal except pain in the left foot."
What kind of documentation and informatics is this? - ANSWER-Charting by exception
-uses forms that have predefined normal findings, the nurse only documents findings that are not
standard. Unless documented, all other findings are assumed to be normal
The nurse is interviewing a patient with cognitive impairment. Which strategy should the nurse
avoid while communicating with this patient? - ANSWER-Using detailed explanations while asking
questions to help the patient understand
The caregiver of a patient with terminal illness is receiving respite care. Which type of primary and
preventive care services offers this kind of care? - ANSWER-Block and parish nursing
-a preventative and primary care service that provides services in respite care, homemaker aides,
spiritual health, help with errands, and transportation
-respite care provides short term relief or time off for people providing home care to an ill, disables,
or frail older adult
A patient is diagnosed with metabolic acidosis. Which physiological conditions can be identified as
causes for the patient's condition? - ANSWER-Ketoacidosis -may have increased metabolic acid
Oliguric renal disease - may not be able to excrete al the acid from the body
, A patient visited the primary health care provider complaining of pain and tenderness in the joints of
fingers of the left hand. The primary health care provider observed rheumatoid nodules. Which
nursing interventions are beneficial? - ANSWER-Administering ordered analgesics
-arthritic joint pain is caused by inflammation (chronic)
-analgesics relieve pain
A surgeon obtains patient consent for an appendectomy. While operating, the surgeon also removes
the patient's gallbladder. This mistake could be classified as which type of tort? - ANSWER-Battery
Torts are intentional or unintentional mistakes that are infringements of civil law
surgeon did not get consent to remove bladder
The nurse is attending to an elderly patient scheduled for a hernia operation. The nurse understands
that due to aging, the patient may have rigidity of the blood vessel walls and a reduction in
sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation to the heart. What risk would be increased I this
patient following surgery? - ANSWER-Hemorrhage
Increased systolic blood pressure
Increased diastolic blood pressure
-blood vessel walls become rigid, causing a reduction in sympathetic and parasympathetic
innervation to the heart
Which are defining characteristics of constipation? - ANSWER-Hard or dry stools
pain or straining with defecation
no bowel movement for four days
Which type of loss does a toddler experience associated with separation anxiety from mom when
starting preschool? - ANSWER-Maturational loss
The nurse is caring for a patient with cancer who was previously in a state of denial but has now
accepted the illness. The patient asks the nurse questions about the illness and expresses emotions
openly. What interventions should the nurse perform at this stage? - ANSWER-Involve the family in
teaching information for discharge
Encourage the expression of feelings
Set aside formal times for discussion
