HESI Med-Surg I Final Exam2025–
CompleteQuestions with Correct
Answers and Detailed Rationales
The nurseassessesa patientwithshortnessof breathfor evidenceof long-standing
hypoxemiaby inspecting:
A. Chest excursion
B. Spinal curvatures
C. The respiratorypattern
D. The fingernail and its base
- answer-D. The fingernail and its base Clubbing, a sign
of long-standing hypoxemia, is evidenced by an increase in the angle between the base
of the nail and the fingernail to 180 degreesor more, usually accompaniedby an
increasein thedepth,bulk, and sponginessof theend of the finger.
2. The nurseis caring for a patientwith COPD and pneumoniawhohas an orderfor
arterialbloodgases to be drawn. Which of the following is the minimum length of
time the nurse should plan to hold pressure on the puncture site?
A. 2 minutes
B. 5 minutes
C. 10 minutes
D. 15 minutes- answer-B. 5 minutes Following obtaining an arterial blood gas, the
nurse should hold pressureon thepuncturesitefor 5 minutesby theclock to be sure
thatbleedinghas stopped.An artery isan elasticvesselunderhigherpressurethan
veins,and significantbloodloss or hematomaformation could occur if the time is
insufficient.
3. The nursenoticesclearnasaldrainagein a patientnewlyadmittedwithfacial
trauma,including a nasal fracture. The nurse should:
, A. testthedrainagefor thepresenceof glucose.
B. suctionthenoseto maintainairwayclearance.
C. documentthefindings and continuemonitoring.
apply a drip pad and reassure the patient this is normal.
- answer-A. test the drainage for the
presenceof glucose.Clear nasaldrainagesuggestsleakageof cerebrospinalfluid (CSF). The
drainageshouldbe testedfor thepresenceof glucose,whichwouldindicatethepresenceof
CSF.
4. Whencaring for a patientwhois 3 hourspostoperativelaryngectomy,
thenurse'shighest priorityassessmentwouldbe:
A. Airwaypatency
B. Patientcomfort
C. Incisional drainage
D. Blood pressure and heart rate
- answer-A. Airway patency Remember ABCs
with prioritization. Airway
patencyis alwaysthehighestpriority and is essential
for a patientundergoingsurgery surroundingthe upperrespiratorysystem.
5. Wheninitially teachinga patientthesupraglotticswallowfollowinga
radicalneck dissection, withwhichof thefollowingfoodsshouldthenurse
begin?
A. Cola
B. Applesauce
C. French fries
D. White grape juice- answer-A. ColaWhen learning the supraglottic swallow, it
may be helpfulto start with carbonated beverages
becausethe effervescence
providescluesaboutthe liquid's position.
Thin, watery fluids should be avoided
because they are difficult to swallow
and increase the risk
of aspiration.
Nonpourablepureedfoods,such as applesauce,woulddecreasetherisk of
aspiration,but carbonatedbeveragesare thebetterchoiceto startwith.
CompleteQuestions with Correct
Answers and Detailed Rationales
The nurseassessesa patientwithshortnessof breathfor evidenceof long-standing
hypoxemiaby inspecting:
A. Chest excursion
B. Spinal curvatures
C. The respiratorypattern
D. The fingernail and its base
- answer-D. The fingernail and its base Clubbing, a sign
of long-standing hypoxemia, is evidenced by an increase in the angle between the base
of the nail and the fingernail to 180 degreesor more, usually accompaniedby an
increasein thedepth,bulk, and sponginessof theend of the finger.
2. The nurseis caring for a patientwith COPD and pneumoniawhohas an orderfor
arterialbloodgases to be drawn. Which of the following is the minimum length of
time the nurse should plan to hold pressure on the puncture site?
A. 2 minutes
B. 5 minutes
C. 10 minutes
D. 15 minutes- answer-B. 5 minutes Following obtaining an arterial blood gas, the
nurse should hold pressureon thepuncturesitefor 5 minutesby theclock to be sure
thatbleedinghas stopped.An artery isan elasticvesselunderhigherpressurethan
veins,and significantbloodloss or hematomaformation could occur if the time is
insufficient.
3. The nursenoticesclearnasaldrainagein a patientnewlyadmittedwithfacial
trauma,including a nasal fracture. The nurse should:
, A. testthedrainagefor thepresenceof glucose.
B. suctionthenoseto maintainairwayclearance.
C. documentthefindings and continuemonitoring.
apply a drip pad and reassure the patient this is normal.
- answer-A. test the drainage for the
presenceof glucose.Clear nasaldrainagesuggestsleakageof cerebrospinalfluid (CSF). The
drainageshouldbe testedfor thepresenceof glucose,whichwouldindicatethepresenceof
CSF.
4. Whencaring for a patientwhois 3 hourspostoperativelaryngectomy,
thenurse'shighest priorityassessmentwouldbe:
A. Airwaypatency
B. Patientcomfort
C. Incisional drainage
D. Blood pressure and heart rate
- answer-A. Airway patency Remember ABCs
with prioritization. Airway
patencyis alwaysthehighestpriority and is essential
for a patientundergoingsurgery surroundingthe upperrespiratorysystem.
5. Wheninitially teachinga patientthesupraglotticswallowfollowinga
radicalneck dissection, withwhichof thefollowingfoodsshouldthenurse
begin?
A. Cola
B. Applesauce
C. French fries
D. White grape juice- answer-A. ColaWhen learning the supraglottic swallow, it
may be helpfulto start with carbonated beverages
becausethe effervescence
providescluesaboutthe liquid's position.
Thin, watery fluids should be avoided
because they are difficult to swallow
and increase the risk
of aspiration.
Nonpourablepureedfoods,such as applesauce,woulddecreasetherisk of
aspiration,but carbonatedbeveragesare thebetterchoiceto startwith.
