Evolve Elsevier HESI Medical-Surgical Nursing
Exam Prep 2025/2026 – 200 Verified Practice
Questions with Correct Answers & Detailed
Rationales | Covers Patient Care, Disease
Management, Medications, Surgical Procedures, and
Critical Thinking Scenarios
Question 1
A patient with a history of heart failure is admitted with shortness of breath. What is the
priority nursing assessment?
A) Assess for edema
B) Monitor respiratory status
C) Evaluate oxygen saturation
D) Check blood pressure
Answer: B) Monitor respiratory status
Rationale: Shortness of breath may indicate worsening heart failure, making respiratory
assessment a priority.
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a patient with a newly diagnosed deep vein thrombosis (DVT). What
is the most important nursing intervention?
A) Encourage ambulation
B) Apply heat to the affected area
C) Increase fluid intake
D) Monitor for signs of infection
Answer: A) Encourage ambulation
Rationale: Ambulation helps prevent further clot formation and promotes circulation.
Question 3
A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is experiencing an
exacerbation. What should the nurse prioritize in the care plan?
A) Maintain airway patency
B) Increase fluid intake
C) Administer bronchodilators
D) Educate about smoking cessation
Answer: A) Maintain airway patency
Rationale: Ensuring airway patency is crucial in managing COPD exacerbations.
,Question 4
A patient is being treated for pneumonia. What is the best method for the nurse to
assess the effectiveness of the treatment?
A) Monitor temperature
B) Assess lung sounds
C) Evaluate oxygen saturation
D) Check white blood cell count
Answer: B) Assess lung sounds
Rationale: Improvement in lung sounds indicates effective treatment for pneumonia.
Question 5
A nurse is caring for a patient who has had a stroke. Which intervention should the
nurse implement first?
A) Assess the patient's neurological status
B) Administer prescribed medications
C) Provide a soft diet
D) Educate the patient about stroke prevention
Answer: A) Assess the patient's neurological status
Rationale: Immediate neurological assessment is critical to determine the extent of the
stroke and guide treatment.
Question 6
A patient with diabetes is scheduled for surgery. What is the most important
preoperative consideration?
A) Check blood glucose levels
B) Assess for signs of infection
C) Educate about postoperative care
D) Ensure consent is signed
Answer: A) Check blood glucose levels
Rationale: Maintaining normal blood glucose levels is crucial for surgical outcomes in
diabetic patients.
Question 7
A patient is receiving heparin therapy. What should the nurse monitor to assess for
potential complications?
,A) Blood pressure
B) Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
C) Platelet count
D) Hemoglobin levels
Answer: B) Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
Rationale: Monitoring aPTT is essential to ensure that heparin therapy is effective and
to prevent bleeding complications.
Question 8
A patient with heart failure is experiencing increased fatigue. What is the priority nursing
action?
A) Assess dietary intake
B) Evaluate for signs of fluid overload
C) Check daily weight
D) Encourage rest
Answer: B) Evaluate for signs of fluid overload
Rationale: Increased fatigue may indicate fluid overload, which can worsen heart
failure symptoms.
Question 9
A nurse is preparing to discharge a patient with a new diagnosis of hypertension. What
should the nurse include in the teaching plan?
A) Lifestyle modifications
B) Medication adherence only
C) Importance of high sodium diet
D) Regular follow-up appointments are not necessary
Answer: A) Lifestyle modifications
Rationale: Education on lifestyle changes is essential for managing hypertension
effectively.
Question 10
A patient with renal failure is on a potassium-restricted diet. Which food should the
nurse educate the patient to avoid?
A) Apples
B) Bananas
, C) Carrots
D) Rice
Answer: B) Bananas
Rationale: Bananas are high in potassium and should be avoided by patients on a
potassium-restricted diet.
Question 11
A patient with a history of asthma is experiencing wheezing and shortness of breath.
What is the priority intervention?
A) Administer a bronchodilator
B) Encourage deep breathing
C) Administer corticosteroids
D) Assess oxygen saturation
Answer: A) Administer a bronchodilator
Rationale: Bronchodilators are the first line of treatment to relieve wheezing and
improve airflow.
Question 12
A nurse is caring for a patient with a gastrointestinal bleed. What is the most important
nursing assessment?
A) Monitor vital signs
B) Assess bowel sounds
C) Evaluate abdominal pain
D) Check for melena
Answer: A) Monitor vital signs
Rationale: Vital signs can indicate hemodynamic stability and the severity of the bleed.
Question 13
A patient with pneumonia is being treated with antibiotics. What is the best indicator of
treatment effectiveness?
A) Improved lung sounds
B) Normalization of white blood cell count
C) Decreased fever
D) Increased appetite
Exam Prep 2025/2026 – 200 Verified Practice
Questions with Correct Answers & Detailed
Rationales | Covers Patient Care, Disease
Management, Medications, Surgical Procedures, and
Critical Thinking Scenarios
Question 1
A patient with a history of heart failure is admitted with shortness of breath. What is the
priority nursing assessment?
A) Assess for edema
B) Monitor respiratory status
C) Evaluate oxygen saturation
D) Check blood pressure
Answer: B) Monitor respiratory status
Rationale: Shortness of breath may indicate worsening heart failure, making respiratory
assessment a priority.
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a patient with a newly diagnosed deep vein thrombosis (DVT). What
is the most important nursing intervention?
A) Encourage ambulation
B) Apply heat to the affected area
C) Increase fluid intake
D) Monitor for signs of infection
Answer: A) Encourage ambulation
Rationale: Ambulation helps prevent further clot formation and promotes circulation.
Question 3
A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is experiencing an
exacerbation. What should the nurse prioritize in the care plan?
A) Maintain airway patency
B) Increase fluid intake
C) Administer bronchodilators
D) Educate about smoking cessation
Answer: A) Maintain airway patency
Rationale: Ensuring airway patency is crucial in managing COPD exacerbations.
,Question 4
A patient is being treated for pneumonia. What is the best method for the nurse to
assess the effectiveness of the treatment?
A) Monitor temperature
B) Assess lung sounds
C) Evaluate oxygen saturation
D) Check white blood cell count
Answer: B) Assess lung sounds
Rationale: Improvement in lung sounds indicates effective treatment for pneumonia.
Question 5
A nurse is caring for a patient who has had a stroke. Which intervention should the
nurse implement first?
A) Assess the patient's neurological status
B) Administer prescribed medications
C) Provide a soft diet
D) Educate the patient about stroke prevention
Answer: A) Assess the patient's neurological status
Rationale: Immediate neurological assessment is critical to determine the extent of the
stroke and guide treatment.
Question 6
A patient with diabetes is scheduled for surgery. What is the most important
preoperative consideration?
A) Check blood glucose levels
B) Assess for signs of infection
C) Educate about postoperative care
D) Ensure consent is signed
Answer: A) Check blood glucose levels
Rationale: Maintaining normal blood glucose levels is crucial for surgical outcomes in
diabetic patients.
Question 7
A patient is receiving heparin therapy. What should the nurse monitor to assess for
potential complications?
,A) Blood pressure
B) Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
C) Platelet count
D) Hemoglobin levels
Answer: B) Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
Rationale: Monitoring aPTT is essential to ensure that heparin therapy is effective and
to prevent bleeding complications.
Question 8
A patient with heart failure is experiencing increased fatigue. What is the priority nursing
action?
A) Assess dietary intake
B) Evaluate for signs of fluid overload
C) Check daily weight
D) Encourage rest
Answer: B) Evaluate for signs of fluid overload
Rationale: Increased fatigue may indicate fluid overload, which can worsen heart
failure symptoms.
Question 9
A nurse is preparing to discharge a patient with a new diagnosis of hypertension. What
should the nurse include in the teaching plan?
A) Lifestyle modifications
B) Medication adherence only
C) Importance of high sodium diet
D) Regular follow-up appointments are not necessary
Answer: A) Lifestyle modifications
Rationale: Education on lifestyle changes is essential for managing hypertension
effectively.
Question 10
A patient with renal failure is on a potassium-restricted diet. Which food should the
nurse educate the patient to avoid?
A) Apples
B) Bananas
, C) Carrots
D) Rice
Answer: B) Bananas
Rationale: Bananas are high in potassium and should be avoided by patients on a
potassium-restricted diet.
Question 11
A patient with a history of asthma is experiencing wheezing and shortness of breath.
What is the priority intervention?
A) Administer a bronchodilator
B) Encourage deep breathing
C) Administer corticosteroids
D) Assess oxygen saturation
Answer: A) Administer a bronchodilator
Rationale: Bronchodilators are the first line of treatment to relieve wheezing and
improve airflow.
Question 12
A nurse is caring for a patient with a gastrointestinal bleed. What is the most important
nursing assessment?
A) Monitor vital signs
B) Assess bowel sounds
C) Evaluate abdominal pain
D) Check for melena
Answer: A) Monitor vital signs
Rationale: Vital signs can indicate hemodynamic stability and the severity of the bleed.
Question 13
A patient with pneumonia is being treated with antibiotics. What is the best indicator of
treatment effectiveness?
A) Improved lung sounds
B) Normalization of white blood cell count
C) Decreased fever
D) Increased appetite
