Medical-Surgical HESI Exam Prep – 160
Practice Questions | Latest Update 2026 |
Graded A+
The nurse reviews the laboratory results of a client during an annual physical
examination and identifies a positive guar test of stool. Which additional serum
laboratory test result should the nurse review?
A. Glucose
B. Platelet count
C. White blood cell count
D. Amylase - correct answerB
A client who had a bliliopancreatic diversion procedure (BDP) 3 months ago is admitted
with severe dehydration. Which assessment finding warrants immediate intervention by
the nurse?
A. Strong would smelling flatus
B. Gastrooccult positive emesis
C. Complaint of poor night vision
D. Loose bowel movements - correct answerB
Patient had atrial fibrillation and then AED was used. One minute later, patient sudden
goes into ventricular tachycardia. What should the nurse do? - correct
answerAdminister Adenosine over 1-2 seconds IV
An older adult with heart failure is hospitalized during an acute exacerbation. To reduce
cardiac workload, which intervention should the nurse include in the client's plan of
care?
A. Assist with ambulation in the hallway
B. Encourage active range of motion exercises
C. Provide a bedside commode for toileting
D. Teach to sleep in side lying position - correct answerC
External fixation device-what should the nurse do first? - correct answerAssess for
peripheral pulse at the foot
An older adult man recently diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) is admitted with shortness fo breath. The nurse observes the client sitting
upright and leaning over the bedside table, using accessory muscles to assist in
breathing. What action should the nurse take?
A. Assist the client to a high Fowler's position in bed
B. Observe the client for the presence of a barrel chest
C. Prepare to transfer the client to a critical care unit
D. Instruct the client in pursed cup breathing techniques - correct answerD
,Cleint with CVA (stroke) has only eaten half of their food. Family is concern about
nutrition. What should the nurse tell the family? - correct answerDemonstrate the use of
visual scanning
A male client with asthma has bronchoconstriction and mucous production due to
exercising. What should the nurse do? - correct answerDetermine if the client is using
an inhaler before exercising
A client with liver abscess and drainage of assess. Which lab value? - correct
answerWhite blood cell count
Suprapubic prostatectomy. Three way catheter, which assessment? - correct
answerUrine leaking meatus
A client with ulcerative colitis is admitted to the medical unit during an acute
exacerbation. The nurse should instruct the unlicensed personnel (UAP) to report which
finding related to the client's bowel movements?
A. Hard pellets of stool
B. Clay-colored stool
C. Stool with fatty streaks
D. Blood in the stool - correct answerC
An adult client is admitted with flank pain and is diagnosed with acute pylenophritis.
What is the priority nursing action?
A. Auscultate for presence of bowel sounds
B. Monitor hemoglobin and hematocrit
C. Encourage turning and deep breathing
D. Administer IV antibiotics as prescribed - correct answerD
An older male client with long-standing lung diseases is admitted tot he medical unit for
treatment of a pulmonary infection. In assessing for signs of increasing hypoxia, which
actions should the nurse include?
A. Monitor dryness of mucous membranes
B. Check for changes in mentation
C. Observe color of skin and nail beds
D. Note appearance of jugular veins
E. Assess breathing patterns - correct answerB, C, E
Traction applied, but client is frustrated because client keeps calling the nurse for help
with repositioning? - correct answerUse a trapeze bar
Multiple sclerosis and urinary retention - correct answerSelf catheterization
Client works as a data desk job with Raynaud's syndrome. What to do to prevent wrist
injury? - correct answerSpace heater
, CKD lab to report - correct answerPotassium 6.5
Client with Gullian Barre is not blinking - correct answerAdminister lubricant
Taking prednisone PO 5 mg. What symtpom - correct answerRapid weight gain
Succinylcholin. High temperature - correct answerIce pack axillary
The nurse drops a sterile package of supplies on the floor in the operating room (OR)
suite. The impervious wrapper. Which action should the nurse implement? - correct
answerOpen content to sterile field of package intact
Client with acute glomerulonephritis - correct answerRestrict sodium
Client ask about biopsy results form cancer cells well differentiated. What response? -
correct answerAsk healthcare provider to gather more information
Right cataract and lens implants. Which intervention should the nurse take first? -
correct answerProvide an eye shield to be worn while sleeping
The UAP reports to the nurse that a client who was admitted with abdominal pain has
just had a large black tarry stool. What intervention should the nurse implement? -
correct answerTest the stool for occult blood
Which action is most important for the nurse to implement to reduce the risk for deep
vein thrombosis in a postoperative client? - correct answerAdvise the client to perform
leg exercises regularly
The nurse is preparing a client for a bronchoposcopy . While obtaining consent, the
client complains of thirst and admits to drinking a small amount fo orange juice two
hours ago. What action should the nurse take? - correct answerDelay procedures for 6
hours
A client uses triamcinolone (kenalog), a corticosteroid ointment, to manage pruritus
caused by a chronic skin rash. The client calls the clinic nurse to report increased
erythema with purulent exudate at the site. What action should the nurse implement? -
correct answerSchedule an appointment for the client to the healthcare provider
The nurse learns in change of shift report that the x-ray report for a newly admit client
indicates consolidation in the left lower lung. What action should the nurse take? -
correct answerAdminister a PRN dose of a bronchodilator
The nurse is monitoring the glucose q4h of an adult woman admitted with DKA. Two
hours after receiving 10 units of regular insulin of glucose of 2555, the client is
Practice Questions | Latest Update 2026 |
Graded A+
The nurse reviews the laboratory results of a client during an annual physical
examination and identifies a positive guar test of stool. Which additional serum
laboratory test result should the nurse review?
A. Glucose
B. Platelet count
C. White blood cell count
D. Amylase - correct answerB
A client who had a bliliopancreatic diversion procedure (BDP) 3 months ago is admitted
with severe dehydration. Which assessment finding warrants immediate intervention by
the nurse?
A. Strong would smelling flatus
B. Gastrooccult positive emesis
C. Complaint of poor night vision
D. Loose bowel movements - correct answerB
Patient had atrial fibrillation and then AED was used. One minute later, patient sudden
goes into ventricular tachycardia. What should the nurse do? - correct
answerAdminister Adenosine over 1-2 seconds IV
An older adult with heart failure is hospitalized during an acute exacerbation. To reduce
cardiac workload, which intervention should the nurse include in the client's plan of
care?
A. Assist with ambulation in the hallway
B. Encourage active range of motion exercises
C. Provide a bedside commode for toileting
D. Teach to sleep in side lying position - correct answerC
External fixation device-what should the nurse do first? - correct answerAssess for
peripheral pulse at the foot
An older adult man recently diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) is admitted with shortness fo breath. The nurse observes the client sitting
upright and leaning over the bedside table, using accessory muscles to assist in
breathing. What action should the nurse take?
A. Assist the client to a high Fowler's position in bed
B. Observe the client for the presence of a barrel chest
C. Prepare to transfer the client to a critical care unit
D. Instruct the client in pursed cup breathing techniques - correct answerD
,Cleint with CVA (stroke) has only eaten half of their food. Family is concern about
nutrition. What should the nurse tell the family? - correct answerDemonstrate the use of
visual scanning
A male client with asthma has bronchoconstriction and mucous production due to
exercising. What should the nurse do? - correct answerDetermine if the client is using
an inhaler before exercising
A client with liver abscess and drainage of assess. Which lab value? - correct
answerWhite blood cell count
Suprapubic prostatectomy. Three way catheter, which assessment? - correct
answerUrine leaking meatus
A client with ulcerative colitis is admitted to the medical unit during an acute
exacerbation. The nurse should instruct the unlicensed personnel (UAP) to report which
finding related to the client's bowel movements?
A. Hard pellets of stool
B. Clay-colored stool
C. Stool with fatty streaks
D. Blood in the stool - correct answerC
An adult client is admitted with flank pain and is diagnosed with acute pylenophritis.
What is the priority nursing action?
A. Auscultate for presence of bowel sounds
B. Monitor hemoglobin and hematocrit
C. Encourage turning and deep breathing
D. Administer IV antibiotics as prescribed - correct answerD
An older male client with long-standing lung diseases is admitted tot he medical unit for
treatment of a pulmonary infection. In assessing for signs of increasing hypoxia, which
actions should the nurse include?
A. Monitor dryness of mucous membranes
B. Check for changes in mentation
C. Observe color of skin and nail beds
D. Note appearance of jugular veins
E. Assess breathing patterns - correct answerB, C, E
Traction applied, but client is frustrated because client keeps calling the nurse for help
with repositioning? - correct answerUse a trapeze bar
Multiple sclerosis and urinary retention - correct answerSelf catheterization
Client works as a data desk job with Raynaud's syndrome. What to do to prevent wrist
injury? - correct answerSpace heater
, CKD lab to report - correct answerPotassium 6.5
Client with Gullian Barre is not blinking - correct answerAdminister lubricant
Taking prednisone PO 5 mg. What symtpom - correct answerRapid weight gain
Succinylcholin. High temperature - correct answerIce pack axillary
The nurse drops a sterile package of supplies on the floor in the operating room (OR)
suite. The impervious wrapper. Which action should the nurse implement? - correct
answerOpen content to sterile field of package intact
Client with acute glomerulonephritis - correct answerRestrict sodium
Client ask about biopsy results form cancer cells well differentiated. What response? -
correct answerAsk healthcare provider to gather more information
Right cataract and lens implants. Which intervention should the nurse take first? -
correct answerProvide an eye shield to be worn while sleeping
The UAP reports to the nurse that a client who was admitted with abdominal pain has
just had a large black tarry stool. What intervention should the nurse implement? -
correct answerTest the stool for occult blood
Which action is most important for the nurse to implement to reduce the risk for deep
vein thrombosis in a postoperative client? - correct answerAdvise the client to perform
leg exercises regularly
The nurse is preparing a client for a bronchoposcopy . While obtaining consent, the
client complains of thirst and admits to drinking a small amount fo orange juice two
hours ago. What action should the nurse take? - correct answerDelay procedures for 6
hours
A client uses triamcinolone (kenalog), a corticosteroid ointment, to manage pruritus
caused by a chronic skin rash. The client calls the clinic nurse to report increased
erythema with purulent exudate at the site. What action should the nurse implement? -
correct answerSchedule an appointment for the client to the healthcare provider
The nurse learns in change of shift report that the x-ray report for a newly admit client
indicates consolidation in the left lower lung. What action should the nurse take? -
correct answerAdminister a PRN dose of a bronchodilator
The nurse is monitoring the glucose q4h of an adult woman admitted with DKA. Two
hours after receiving 10 units of regular insulin of glucose of 2555, the client is
