HESI RN MEDICAL SURGICAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST 2026-
2027 NEW VERSION
The nurse is preparing a teaching plan for a client who is newly diagnosed with Type
1 diabetes mellitus. Which signs and symptoms should the nurse describe when
teaching the client about hypoglycemia?
A) Sweating, trembling, tachycardia.
B) Polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia.
C) Nausea, vomiting, anorexia.
D) Fruity breath, tachypnea, chest pain. - answer>>>A) Sweating, trembling,
tachycardia.
Rationale: Sweating, dizziness, and trembling are signs of hypoglycemic reactions
related to the release of epinephrine as a compensatory response to the low blood
sugar (A). (B, C, and D) do not describe common symptoms of hypoglycemia.
Which reaction should the nurse identify in a client who is responding to stimulation
of the sympathetic nervous system?
A) Pupil constriction.
B) Increased heart rate.
C) Bronchial constriction.
D) Decreased blood pressure. - answer>>>B) Increased heart rate.
Rationale: Any stressor that is perceived as threatening to homeostasis acts to
stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and manifests as a flight-or-fight
response, which includes an increase in heart rate (B). (A, C, and D) are responses of
the parasympathetic nervous system.
, -
Which client should the nurse recognize as most likely to experience sleep apnea?
A) Middle-aged female who takes a diuretic nightly.
B) Obese older male client with a short, thick neck.
C) Adolescent female with a history of tonsillectomy.
D) School-aged male with a history of hyperactivity disorder. - answer>>>B) Obese
older male client with a short, thick neck.
Rationale: Sleep apnea is characterized by lack of respirations for 10 seconds or
more during sleep and is due to the loss of pharyngeal tone which allows the
pharynx to collapse during inspiration and obstructs air flow through the nose and
mouth. With obstructive sleep apnea, the client is often obese or has a short, thick
neck as in (B). (A, C, and D) are not typically prone to sleep apnea.
To decrease the risk of acid-base imbalance, what goal must the client with diabetes
mellitus strive for?
A) Checking blood glucose levels once daily
B) Drinking 3 L of fluid per day
C) Eating regularly, every 4 to 8 hours
D) Maintaining blood glucose level within normal limits - answer>>>D) Maintaining
blood glucose level within normal limits
Rationale: Maintaining blood glucose levels within normal limits is the best way to
decrease the risk of acid-base imbalance. A) Blood glucose levels must be checked
several times a day. B) Drinking 3 L of fluid per day is not necessary to maintain acid-
base balance. C) Eating regularly is a way to achieve acid-base balance but is not the
goal itself.
,After the fourth dose of gentamicin sulfate (Garamycin) IV, the nurse plans to draw
blood samples to determine peak and trough levels. When are the best times to
draw these samples?
A) 15 minutes before and 15 minutes after the next dose.
B) One hour before and one hour after the next dose.
C) 5 minutes before and 30 minutes after the next dose.
D) 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after the next dose. - answer>>>C) 5 minutes
before and 30 minutes after the next dose.
Rationale: Peak drug serum levels are achieved 30 minutes after IV administration of
aminoglycosides. The best time to draw a trough is the closest time to the next
administration (C). (A, B, and D) are not as good a time to draw the trough as (C). (B
and D) are not the best times to draw the peak of an aminoglycoside that has been
administered IV.
The nurse is caring for a client with an oxygen saturation of 88% and accessory
muscle use. The nurse provides oxygen and anticipates which of these physician
orders?
A) Administration of IV sodium bicarbonate
B) Computed tomography (CT) of the chest, stat
C) Intubation and mechanical ventilation
D) Administration of concentrated potassium chloride solution - answer>>>C)
Intubation and mechanical ventilation
Rationale: Support with mechanical ventilation may be needed for clients who
cannot keep their oxygen saturation at 90% or who have respiratory muscle fatigue.
A) Sodium bicarbonate is used to treat metabolic acidosis; this client displays
hypoxemia. B) Although the underlying reason for this client's hypoxemia may
eventually require a diagnostic study, the priority is to restore oxygenation. D) No
, -
indication suggests that this client has hypokalemia. Signs of hypoxemia and work of
breathing are present, requiring correction with intubation and mechanical
ventilation.
A male client receives a local anesthetic during surgery. During the post-operative
assessment, the nurse notices the client is slurring his speech. Which action should
the nurse take?
A) Determine the client is anxious and allow him to sleep.
B) Evaluate his blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory status.
C) Review the client's pre-operative history for alcohol abuse.
D) Continue to monitor the client for reactivity to anesthesia. - answer>>>B)
Evaluate his blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory status.
Rationale: Slurred speech in the post-operative client who received a local
anesthetic is an atypical finding and may indicate neurological deficits that require
further assessment, so obtaining the client's vital signs (B) will provide information
about possible cardiovascular complications, such as stroke. The client's anxiety (A),
a history of alcohol abuse (D), or local anesthesia (D) are unrelated to the client's
sudden onset of slurred speech.
When providing discharge teaching for a client with osteoporosis, the nurse should
reinforce which home care activity?
A) A diet low in phosphates.
B) Skin inspection for bruising.
C) Exercise regimen, including swimming.
D) Elimination of hazards to home safety. - answer>>>D) Elimination of hazards to
home safety.
AND VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST 2026-
2027 NEW VERSION
The nurse is preparing a teaching plan for a client who is newly diagnosed with Type
1 diabetes mellitus. Which signs and symptoms should the nurse describe when
teaching the client about hypoglycemia?
A) Sweating, trembling, tachycardia.
B) Polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia.
C) Nausea, vomiting, anorexia.
D) Fruity breath, tachypnea, chest pain. - answer>>>A) Sweating, trembling,
tachycardia.
Rationale: Sweating, dizziness, and trembling are signs of hypoglycemic reactions
related to the release of epinephrine as a compensatory response to the low blood
sugar (A). (B, C, and D) do not describe common symptoms of hypoglycemia.
Which reaction should the nurse identify in a client who is responding to stimulation
of the sympathetic nervous system?
A) Pupil constriction.
B) Increased heart rate.
C) Bronchial constriction.
D) Decreased blood pressure. - answer>>>B) Increased heart rate.
Rationale: Any stressor that is perceived as threatening to homeostasis acts to
stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and manifests as a flight-or-fight
response, which includes an increase in heart rate (B). (A, C, and D) are responses of
the parasympathetic nervous system.
, -
Which client should the nurse recognize as most likely to experience sleep apnea?
A) Middle-aged female who takes a diuretic nightly.
B) Obese older male client with a short, thick neck.
C) Adolescent female with a history of tonsillectomy.
D) School-aged male with a history of hyperactivity disorder. - answer>>>B) Obese
older male client with a short, thick neck.
Rationale: Sleep apnea is characterized by lack of respirations for 10 seconds or
more during sleep and is due to the loss of pharyngeal tone which allows the
pharynx to collapse during inspiration and obstructs air flow through the nose and
mouth. With obstructive sleep apnea, the client is often obese or has a short, thick
neck as in (B). (A, C, and D) are not typically prone to sleep apnea.
To decrease the risk of acid-base imbalance, what goal must the client with diabetes
mellitus strive for?
A) Checking blood glucose levels once daily
B) Drinking 3 L of fluid per day
C) Eating regularly, every 4 to 8 hours
D) Maintaining blood glucose level within normal limits - answer>>>D) Maintaining
blood glucose level within normal limits
Rationale: Maintaining blood glucose levels within normal limits is the best way to
decrease the risk of acid-base imbalance. A) Blood glucose levels must be checked
several times a day. B) Drinking 3 L of fluid per day is not necessary to maintain acid-
base balance. C) Eating regularly is a way to achieve acid-base balance but is not the
goal itself.
,After the fourth dose of gentamicin sulfate (Garamycin) IV, the nurse plans to draw
blood samples to determine peak and trough levels. When are the best times to
draw these samples?
A) 15 minutes before and 15 minutes after the next dose.
B) One hour before and one hour after the next dose.
C) 5 minutes before and 30 minutes after the next dose.
D) 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after the next dose. - answer>>>C) 5 minutes
before and 30 minutes after the next dose.
Rationale: Peak drug serum levels are achieved 30 minutes after IV administration of
aminoglycosides. The best time to draw a trough is the closest time to the next
administration (C). (A, B, and D) are not as good a time to draw the trough as (C). (B
and D) are not the best times to draw the peak of an aminoglycoside that has been
administered IV.
The nurse is caring for a client with an oxygen saturation of 88% and accessory
muscle use. The nurse provides oxygen and anticipates which of these physician
orders?
A) Administration of IV sodium bicarbonate
B) Computed tomography (CT) of the chest, stat
C) Intubation and mechanical ventilation
D) Administration of concentrated potassium chloride solution - answer>>>C)
Intubation and mechanical ventilation
Rationale: Support with mechanical ventilation may be needed for clients who
cannot keep their oxygen saturation at 90% or who have respiratory muscle fatigue.
A) Sodium bicarbonate is used to treat metabolic acidosis; this client displays
hypoxemia. B) Although the underlying reason for this client's hypoxemia may
eventually require a diagnostic study, the priority is to restore oxygenation. D) No
, -
indication suggests that this client has hypokalemia. Signs of hypoxemia and work of
breathing are present, requiring correction with intubation and mechanical
ventilation.
A male client receives a local anesthetic during surgery. During the post-operative
assessment, the nurse notices the client is slurring his speech. Which action should
the nurse take?
A) Determine the client is anxious and allow him to sleep.
B) Evaluate his blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory status.
C) Review the client's pre-operative history for alcohol abuse.
D) Continue to monitor the client for reactivity to anesthesia. - answer>>>B)
Evaluate his blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory status.
Rationale: Slurred speech in the post-operative client who received a local
anesthetic is an atypical finding and may indicate neurological deficits that require
further assessment, so obtaining the client's vital signs (B) will provide information
about possible cardiovascular complications, such as stroke. The client's anxiety (A),
a history of alcohol abuse (D), or local anesthesia (D) are unrelated to the client's
sudden onset of slurred speech.
When providing discharge teaching for a client with osteoporosis, the nurse should
reinforce which home care activity?
A) A diet low in phosphates.
B) Skin inspection for bruising.
C) Exercise regimen, including swimming.
D) Elimination of hazards to home safety. - answer>>>D) Elimination of hazards to
home safety.
