HESI Med Surg 1 Exam (2025/2026 Edition) | Verified
Exam Questions & Answers | 100% Accuracy | Graded A+
The HESI Med Surg 1 Exam (2025/2026 Edition) provides a verified and comprehensive
review of essential medical-surgical nursing topics aligned with the latest NCLEX-RN standards.
This edition includes accurate, up-to-date exam-style questions that assess critical thinking,
clinical reasoning, and nursing judgment across all body systems. Each answer is expert-verified
and supported with clear explanations to ensure complete understanding and mastery of core
nursing concepts.
Introduction
This 2025/2026 verified HESI Med Surg 1 Exam resource is designed to help nursing students
prepare for real-world testing conditions. The content covers priority nursing interventions,
patient safety, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and interdisciplinary care. Major focus areas
include cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, endocrine, renal, and
neurological systems. Each question is built to enhance clinical decision-making skills,
ensuring readiness for both classroom and clinical practice evaluations. The HESI Med Surg 1
Exam typically consists of 55 questions, and this guide provides a full set of 55 questions to
mirror the exam structure.
Answer Format
All correct answers are highlighted in bold and green, followed by detailed rationales
explaining the reasoning behind each correct response. Explanations emphasize nursing
priorities, evidence-based interventions, and NCLEX-style critical thinking
strategies. This edition is Graded A+ | 100% Verified | Updated for 2025/2026 — ideal
for nursing students aiming for top exam performance and clinical confidence.
Cardiovascular System (10 Questions)
1. A patient with chest pain is admitted to the telemetry unit. What is the
priority nursing action?
a) Administer aspirin 325 mg orally
b) Obtain a 12-lead ECG
c) Start oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula
d) Draw blood for troponin levels
b) Obtain a 12-lead ECG
Rationale: Chest pain may indicate myocardial infarction (MI). Obtaining a 12-lead ECG is the
priority to assess for ST-elevation or ischemic changes, guiding further treatment. Oxygen,
aspirin, and troponin levels follow after the ECG confirms the diagnosis.
, 2. A patient with heart failure is prescribed furosemide (Lasix). What
should the nurse monitor?
a) Blood glucose levels
b) Serum potassium levels
c) Thyroid function tests
d) Liver enzymes
b) Serum potassium levels
Rationale: Furosemide, a loop diuretic, causes potassium loss, increasing the risk of
hypokalemia. Monitoring serum potassium is critical to prevent arrhythmias, especially in heart
failure patients.
3. A patient with hypertension is started on lisinopril. What side effect
should the nurse educate the patient about?
a) Weight gain
b) Dry cough
c) Constipation
d) Insomnia
b) Dry cough
Rationale: Lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor, commonly causes a dry cough due to bradykinin
accumulation. Patients should report persistent cough for possible medication adjustment.
4. A patient with atrial fibrillation is prescribed warfarin. What lab value
should the nurse monitor?
a) PT/INR
b) Platelet count
c) Hemoglobin A1c
d) Serum creatinine
a) PT/INR
Rationale: Warfarin requires monitoring of PT/INR (therapeutic range 2.0–3.0 for atrial
fibrillation) to ensure effective anticoagulation and prevent bleeding or clotting risks.
5. A patient post-myocardial infarction reports sudden shortness of breath.
What should the nurse suspect?
a) Pneumonia
b) Pulmonary edema
c) Asthma exacerbation
d) Anxiety attack
b) Pulmonary edema
Rationale: Sudden shortness of breath post-MI suggests pulmonary edema due to left
ventricular failure. This is a medical emergency requiring immediate intervention (e.g.,
diuretics, oxygen).
6. A patient with chest pain receives nitroglycerin sublingually. When
should the nurse administer a second dose?
a) After 10 minutes
Exam Questions & Answers | 100% Accuracy | Graded A+
The HESI Med Surg 1 Exam (2025/2026 Edition) provides a verified and comprehensive
review of essential medical-surgical nursing topics aligned with the latest NCLEX-RN standards.
This edition includes accurate, up-to-date exam-style questions that assess critical thinking,
clinical reasoning, and nursing judgment across all body systems. Each answer is expert-verified
and supported with clear explanations to ensure complete understanding and mastery of core
nursing concepts.
Introduction
This 2025/2026 verified HESI Med Surg 1 Exam resource is designed to help nursing students
prepare for real-world testing conditions. The content covers priority nursing interventions,
patient safety, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and interdisciplinary care. Major focus areas
include cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, endocrine, renal, and
neurological systems. Each question is built to enhance clinical decision-making skills,
ensuring readiness for both classroom and clinical practice evaluations. The HESI Med Surg 1
Exam typically consists of 55 questions, and this guide provides a full set of 55 questions to
mirror the exam structure.
Answer Format
All correct answers are highlighted in bold and green, followed by detailed rationales
explaining the reasoning behind each correct response. Explanations emphasize nursing
priorities, evidence-based interventions, and NCLEX-style critical thinking
strategies. This edition is Graded A+ | 100% Verified | Updated for 2025/2026 — ideal
for nursing students aiming for top exam performance and clinical confidence.
Cardiovascular System (10 Questions)
1. A patient with chest pain is admitted to the telemetry unit. What is the
priority nursing action?
a) Administer aspirin 325 mg orally
b) Obtain a 12-lead ECG
c) Start oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula
d) Draw blood for troponin levels
b) Obtain a 12-lead ECG
Rationale: Chest pain may indicate myocardial infarction (MI). Obtaining a 12-lead ECG is the
priority to assess for ST-elevation or ischemic changes, guiding further treatment. Oxygen,
aspirin, and troponin levels follow after the ECG confirms the diagnosis.
, 2. A patient with heart failure is prescribed furosemide (Lasix). What
should the nurse monitor?
a) Blood glucose levels
b) Serum potassium levels
c) Thyroid function tests
d) Liver enzymes
b) Serum potassium levels
Rationale: Furosemide, a loop diuretic, causes potassium loss, increasing the risk of
hypokalemia. Monitoring serum potassium is critical to prevent arrhythmias, especially in heart
failure patients.
3. A patient with hypertension is started on lisinopril. What side effect
should the nurse educate the patient about?
a) Weight gain
b) Dry cough
c) Constipation
d) Insomnia
b) Dry cough
Rationale: Lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor, commonly causes a dry cough due to bradykinin
accumulation. Patients should report persistent cough for possible medication adjustment.
4. A patient with atrial fibrillation is prescribed warfarin. What lab value
should the nurse monitor?
a) PT/INR
b) Platelet count
c) Hemoglobin A1c
d) Serum creatinine
a) PT/INR
Rationale: Warfarin requires monitoring of PT/INR (therapeutic range 2.0–3.0 for atrial
fibrillation) to ensure effective anticoagulation and prevent bleeding or clotting risks.
5. A patient post-myocardial infarction reports sudden shortness of breath.
What should the nurse suspect?
a) Pneumonia
b) Pulmonary edema
c) Asthma exacerbation
d) Anxiety attack
b) Pulmonary edema
Rationale: Sudden shortness of breath post-MI suggests pulmonary edema due to left
ventricular failure. This is a medical emergency requiring immediate intervention (e.g.,
diuretics, oxygen).
6. A patient with chest pain receives nitroglycerin sublingually. When
should the nurse administer a second dose?
a) After 10 minutes
