MED SURG HESI LATEST EXAM 2026 | ALL
QUESTIONS AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES | VERIFIED ANSWERS | ALREADY
GRADED A+
The nurse assesses a patient with shortness of breath for evidence of long-standing
hypoxemia by inspecting: A. Chest excursion
B. Spinal curvatures
C. The respiratory pattern
D. The fingernail and its base -CORRECT 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 degrees or more, usually
accompanied by an increase in the depth, bulk, and sponginess of the end of the
finger.
2. The nurse is caring for a patient with COPD and pneumonia who has an order for
arterial blood gases 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 -CORRECT ANSWER B. 5 minutes Following obtaining an arterial blood
gas, the nurse should hold pressure on the puncture site for 5 minutes by the clock to
be sure that bleeding has stopped. An artery is an elastic vessel under higher
, pressure than veins, and significant blood loss or hematoma formation could occur if
the time is
insufficient.
3. The nurse notices clear nasal drainage in a patient newly admitted with facial trauma,
including a nasal fracture. The nurse should:
A. test the drainage for the presence of glucose.
B. suction the nose to maintain airway clearance.
C. document the findings and continue monitoring.
D. apply a drip pad and reassure the patient this is normal. -CORRECT ANSWER A.
test the drainage for the presence of glucose. Clear nasal drainage suggests leakage
of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The drainage should be tested for the presence of
glucose, which would indicate the presence of CSF.
4. When caring for a patient who is 3 hours postoperative laryngectomy, the nurse's
highest priority assessment would be:
A. Airway patency
B. Patient comfort
C. Incisional drainage
D. Blood pressure and heart rate -CORRECT ANSWER A. Airway patency Remember
ABCs with prioritization. Airway patency is always the highest priority and is essential
for a patient undergoing surgery surrounding the upper respiratory system.
,5. When initially teaching a patient the supraglottic swallow following a radical neck
dissection, with which of the following foods should the nurse begin?
A. Cola
B. Applesauce
C. French fries
D. White grape juice -CORRECT ANSWER A. ColaWhen learning the supraglottic
swallow, it may be helpful to start with carbonated beverages because the
effervescence provides clues about the liquid's position. Thin, watery fluids should be
avoided because they are difficult to swallow and increase the risk of aspiration.
Nonpourable pureed foods, such as applesauce, would decrease the risk of
aspiration, but carbonated beverages are the better choice to start with.
6. The nurse is caring for a patient admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. Upon
assessment, the nurse notes a temperature of 101.4° F, a productive cough with yellow
sputum and a respiratory rate of 20. Which of the following nursing diagnosis is most
appropriate based upon this assessment? A. Hyperthermia related to infectious illness
B. Ineffective thermoregulation related to chilling
C. Ineffective breathing pattern related to pneumonia
D. Ineffective airway clearance related to thick secretions -CORRECT ANSWER A.
Hyperthermia related to infectious illness Because the patient has spiked a
temperature and has a diagnosis of pneumonia, the logical nursing diagnosis is
hyperthermia related to infectious illness. There is no evidence of a chill, and her
breathing pattern is within normal limits at 20 breaths per minute. There is no
, evidence of ineffective airway clearance from the information given because the
patient is expectorating sputum.
7. Which of the following physical assessment findings in a patient with pneumonia best
supports the nursing diagnosis of ineffective airway clearance? A. Oxygen saturation of
85%
B. Respiratory rate of 28
C. Presence of greenish sputum
D. Basilar crackles -CORRECT ANSWER D. Basilar crackles The presence of
adventitious breath sounds indicates that there is accumulation of secretions in the
lower airways. This would be consistent with a nursing diagnosis of ineffective airway
clearance because the patient is retaining secretions.
8. Which of the following clinical manifestations would the nurse expect to find during
assessment of a patient admitted with pneumococcal pneumonia? A. Hyperresonance
on percussion
B. Fine crackles in all lobes on auscultation
C. Increased vocal fremitus on palpation D. Vesicular breath sounds in all lobes
CORRECT ANSWER C. Increased vocal fremitus on palpation. A typical physical
examination finding for a patient with pneumonia is increased vocal fremitus on
palpation. Other signs of pulmonary consolidation include dullness to percussion,
bronchial breath sounds, and crackles in the affected area.
QUESTIONS AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES | VERIFIED ANSWERS | ALREADY
GRADED A+
The nurse assesses a patient with shortness of breath for evidence of long-standing
hypoxemia by inspecting: A. Chest excursion
B. Spinal curvatures
C. The respiratory pattern
D. The fingernail and its base -CORRECT 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 degrees or more, usually
accompanied by an increase in the depth, bulk, and sponginess of the end of the
finger.
2. The nurse is caring for a patient with COPD and pneumonia who has an order for
arterial blood gases 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 -CORRECT ANSWER B. 5 minutes Following obtaining an arterial blood
gas, the nurse should hold pressure on the puncture site for 5 minutes by the clock to
be sure that bleeding has stopped. An artery is an elastic vessel under higher
, pressure than veins, and significant blood loss or hematoma formation could occur if
the time is
insufficient.
3. The nurse notices clear nasal drainage in a patient newly admitted with facial trauma,
including a nasal fracture. The nurse should:
A. test the drainage for the presence of glucose.
B. suction the nose to maintain airway clearance.
C. document the findings and continue monitoring.
D. apply a drip pad and reassure the patient this is normal. -CORRECT ANSWER A.
test the drainage for the presence of glucose. Clear nasal drainage suggests leakage
of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The drainage should be tested for the presence of
glucose, which would indicate the presence of CSF.
4. When caring for a patient who is 3 hours postoperative laryngectomy, the nurse's
highest priority assessment would be:
A. Airway patency
B. Patient comfort
C. Incisional drainage
D. Blood pressure and heart rate -CORRECT ANSWER A. Airway patency Remember
ABCs with prioritization. Airway patency is always the highest priority and is essential
for a patient undergoing surgery surrounding the upper respiratory system.
,5. When initially teaching a patient the supraglottic swallow following a radical neck
dissection, with which of the following foods should the nurse begin?
A. Cola
B. Applesauce
C. French fries
D. White grape juice -CORRECT ANSWER A. ColaWhen learning the supraglottic
swallow, it may be helpful to start with carbonated beverages because the
effervescence provides clues about the liquid's position. Thin, watery fluids should be
avoided because they are difficult to swallow and increase the risk of aspiration.
Nonpourable pureed foods, such as applesauce, would decrease the risk of
aspiration, but carbonated beverages are the better choice to start with.
6. The nurse is caring for a patient admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. Upon
assessment, the nurse notes a temperature of 101.4° F, a productive cough with yellow
sputum and a respiratory rate of 20. Which of the following nursing diagnosis is most
appropriate based upon this assessment? A. Hyperthermia related to infectious illness
B. Ineffective thermoregulation related to chilling
C. Ineffective breathing pattern related to pneumonia
D. Ineffective airway clearance related to thick secretions -CORRECT ANSWER A.
Hyperthermia related to infectious illness Because the patient has spiked a
temperature and has a diagnosis of pneumonia, the logical nursing diagnosis is
hyperthermia related to infectious illness. There is no evidence of a chill, and her
breathing pattern is within normal limits at 20 breaths per minute. There is no
, evidence of ineffective airway clearance from the information given because the
patient is expectorating sputum.
7. Which of the following physical assessment findings in a patient with pneumonia best
supports the nursing diagnosis of ineffective airway clearance? A. Oxygen saturation of
85%
B. Respiratory rate of 28
C. Presence of greenish sputum
D. Basilar crackles -CORRECT ANSWER D. Basilar crackles The presence of
adventitious breath sounds indicates that there is accumulation of secretions in the
lower airways. This would be consistent with a nursing diagnosis of ineffective airway
clearance because the patient is retaining secretions.
8. Which of the following clinical manifestations would the nurse expect to find during
assessment of a patient admitted with pneumococcal pneumonia? A. Hyperresonance
on percussion
B. Fine crackles in all lobes on auscultation
C. Increased vocal fremitus on palpation D. Vesicular breath sounds in all lobes
CORRECT ANSWER C. Increased vocal fremitus on palpation. A typical physical
examination finding for a patient with pneumonia is increased vocal fremitus on
palpation. Other signs of pulmonary consolidation include dullness to percussion,
bronchial breath sounds, and crackles in the affected area.
