Answer Guide Med Surg HESI
Med Surg HESI
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_95k64v
1. Which statement made by a client with To prevent exacerbations of chronic pancre-
chronic pancreatitis indicates that further atitis, clients should be instructed to avoid
education is needed? nicotine entirely. Additional teaching includes
avoiding caffeinated beverages, resting fre-
I will cut back on smoking cigarettes daily. quently as needed, and eating a bland diet
Correct low fat and high in protein.
I will avoid drinking caffeinated bever-
ages.
I will rest frequently and avoid vigorous
exercise. Incorrect
I will eat a bland, low-fat, high-protein
diet.
2. How should the nurse position the elec- In MCL I monitoring, the positive electrode is
trodes for modified chest lead one (MCL placed on the client's mid-chest to the right
I) telemetry monitoring? of the sternum, and the negative electrode
is placed on the upper left part of the chest.
Negative polarity left shoulder, positive The ground may be placed anywhere, but is
polarity right chest nipple line, ground usually placed on the lower left portion of the
left chest nipple line. Correct chest.
3. In preparing to administer intravenous Albumin should be infused within four hours
albumin to a client following surgery, because it does not contain any preserva-
which are the priority nursing interven- tives. Any fluid remaining after four hours
tions? (Select all that apply.) should be discarded. A large gauge catheter
Set the infusion pump to infuse the albu- allows for fast infusion rate, which may be
min within four hours. Correct necessary. Hemodilution may decrease he-
Compare the client's blood type with the moglobin (HgB) and hematocrit (HCT) levels,
label on the albumin. so the HgB and HCT levels should be moni-
Assign a UAP to monitor blood pressure tored while monitoring for bleeding because
q15 minutes. of the increased blood volume and blood
Administer through a large gauge pressure.
1 4/16/2026
, Answer Guide Med Surg HESI
Med Surg HESI
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_95k64v
catheter. Correct
Monitor hemoglobin and hematocrit lev-
els. Correct
Assess for increased bleeding after ad-
ministration. Correct
4. A client who has heart failure is admitted Hypokalemia (normal 3.5 to 5 mEq/L [3.5
with a serum potassium level of 2.9 mEq/L to 5 mmol/L]) causes changes in myocardial
(2.9 mmol/L). Which action is most impor- irritability and ECG waveform, so it is most
tant for the nurse to implement? important for the nurse to initiate continuous
Give 20 mEq of potassium chloride. cardiac monitoring to identify ventricular ec-
Initiate continuous cardiac monitoring. topy or other life-threatening dysrhythmias.
Correct After cardiac monitoring is initiated, then the
Arrange a consultation with the dietician. potassium chloride should be given so that
Teach about the side effects of diuretics. the effects of potassium replacement on the
cardiac rhythm can be monitored.
5. After checking the urinary drainage sys- After surgery, an adult who weighs 132
tem for kinks in the tubing, the nurse de- pounds (60 kg) should produce about 60 mL
termines that a client who has returned of urine hourly (1 mL/kg/hour). Dark, con-
from the post-anesthesia care has a dark, centrated, and low volume of urine output
concentrated urinary output of 54 mL for should be reported to the surgeon.
the last 2 hours. Which priority nursing
action should be implemented?
Report the findings to the surgeon. Cor-
rect
Irrigate the indwelling urinary catheter.
Apply manual pressure to the bladder.
Increase the IV flow rate for 15 minutes.
Incorrect
6.
2 4/16/2026
, Answer Guide Med Surg HESI
Med Surg HESI
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_95k64v
Two days postoperative, a male client re- For a client exhibiting symptoms of deep vein
ports aching pain in his left leg. The nurse thrombosis (DVT), a complication of immo-
assesses redness and warmth on the low- bility, the initial care includes bedrest and
er left calf. Which intervention would be elevation of the extremity.
most helpful to this client?
Apply sequential compression devices
(SCDs) bilaterally.
Assess for a positive Homan's sign in each
leg. Incorrect
Pad all bony prominences on the affected
leg.
Advise the client to remain in bed with the
leg elevated. Correct
7. Which description of pain is consistent Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune
with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis? disease that causes joint pain and swelling.
Joint pain is worse in the morning and RA is characterized by pain that is worse when
involves symmetric joints. Correct arising and involves symmetric joints.
Joint pain is better in the morning and
worsens throughout the day.
Joint pain is consistent throughout the
day and is relieved by pain medication.
Incorrect
Joint pain is worse during the day and
involves unilateral joints.
8. A client's susceptibility to ulcerative colitis Ulcerative colitis is 4 to 5 times more com-
is most likely due to which aspect in the mon among individuals of Jewish European
client's history? or Ashkenazi ancestry.
Jewish European ancestry. Correct
H. pylori bowel infection.
3 4/16/2026
, Answer Guide Med Surg HESI
Med Surg HESI
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_95k64v
Family history of irritable bowel syn-
drome.
Age between 25 and 55 years.
9. While working in the emergency room, A tuberculin skin test is effective 4 to 6 weeks
the nurse is exposed to a client with active after an exposure, so the individual with a
tuberculosis. When should the nurse plan known exposure should wait 4 to 6 weeks
to obtain a tuberculin skin test? before having a tuberculin skin test.
Immediately after the exposure.
Within one week of the exposure.
Four to six weeks after the exposure. Cor-
rect
Three months after the exposure.
10. The nurse knows that lab values some- As older adults age, the protein found in
times vary for the older client. Which urine slightly rises as a result of kidney
data would the nurse expect to find changes, and the serum glucose increases
when reviewing laboratory values of an slightly, also due to changes in the kidney.
80-year-old male?
Increased WBC, decreased RBC.
Increased serum bilirubin, slightly in-
creased liver enzymes.
Increased protein in the urine, slightly in-
creased serum glucose levels. Correct
Decreased serum sodium, an increased
urine specific gravity.
11. The nurse is assessing a client's labora- Tumor lysis symdrome (TLS) results in hyper-
tory values following administration of kalemia, hypocalcemia, hyperuricemia, and
chemotherapy. Which lab value leads the hyperphosphatemia. A serum calcium level of
nurse to suspect that the client is experi- 5, which is low, is an indicator of possible
encing tumor lysis syndrome (TLS)? tumor lysis syndrome.
4 4/16/2026
Med Surg HESI
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_95k64v
1. Which statement made by a client with To prevent exacerbations of chronic pancre-
chronic pancreatitis indicates that further atitis, clients should be instructed to avoid
education is needed? nicotine entirely. Additional teaching includes
avoiding caffeinated beverages, resting fre-
I will cut back on smoking cigarettes daily. quently as needed, and eating a bland diet
Correct low fat and high in protein.
I will avoid drinking caffeinated bever-
ages.
I will rest frequently and avoid vigorous
exercise. Incorrect
I will eat a bland, low-fat, high-protein
diet.
2. How should the nurse position the elec- In MCL I monitoring, the positive electrode is
trodes for modified chest lead one (MCL placed on the client's mid-chest to the right
I) telemetry monitoring? of the sternum, and the negative electrode
is placed on the upper left part of the chest.
Negative polarity left shoulder, positive The ground may be placed anywhere, but is
polarity right chest nipple line, ground usually placed on the lower left portion of the
left chest nipple line. Correct chest.
3. In preparing to administer intravenous Albumin should be infused within four hours
albumin to a client following surgery, because it does not contain any preserva-
which are the priority nursing interven- tives. Any fluid remaining after four hours
tions? (Select all that apply.) should be discarded. A large gauge catheter
Set the infusion pump to infuse the albu- allows for fast infusion rate, which may be
min within four hours. Correct necessary. Hemodilution may decrease he-
Compare the client's blood type with the moglobin (HgB) and hematocrit (HCT) levels,
label on the albumin. so the HgB and HCT levels should be moni-
Assign a UAP to monitor blood pressure tored while monitoring for bleeding because
q15 minutes. of the increased blood volume and blood
Administer through a large gauge pressure.
1 4/16/2026
, Answer Guide Med Surg HESI
Med Surg HESI
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_95k64v
catheter. Correct
Monitor hemoglobin and hematocrit lev-
els. Correct
Assess for increased bleeding after ad-
ministration. Correct
4. A client who has heart failure is admitted Hypokalemia (normal 3.5 to 5 mEq/L [3.5
with a serum potassium level of 2.9 mEq/L to 5 mmol/L]) causes changes in myocardial
(2.9 mmol/L). Which action is most impor- irritability and ECG waveform, so it is most
tant for the nurse to implement? important for the nurse to initiate continuous
Give 20 mEq of potassium chloride. cardiac monitoring to identify ventricular ec-
Initiate continuous cardiac monitoring. topy or other life-threatening dysrhythmias.
Correct After cardiac monitoring is initiated, then the
Arrange a consultation with the dietician. potassium chloride should be given so that
Teach about the side effects of diuretics. the effects of potassium replacement on the
cardiac rhythm can be monitored.
5. After checking the urinary drainage sys- After surgery, an adult who weighs 132
tem for kinks in the tubing, the nurse de- pounds (60 kg) should produce about 60 mL
termines that a client who has returned of urine hourly (1 mL/kg/hour). Dark, con-
from the post-anesthesia care has a dark, centrated, and low volume of urine output
concentrated urinary output of 54 mL for should be reported to the surgeon.
the last 2 hours. Which priority nursing
action should be implemented?
Report the findings to the surgeon. Cor-
rect
Irrigate the indwelling urinary catheter.
Apply manual pressure to the bladder.
Increase the IV flow rate for 15 minutes.
Incorrect
6.
2 4/16/2026
, Answer Guide Med Surg HESI
Med Surg HESI
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_95k64v
Two days postoperative, a male client re- For a client exhibiting symptoms of deep vein
ports aching pain in his left leg. The nurse thrombosis (DVT), a complication of immo-
assesses redness and warmth on the low- bility, the initial care includes bedrest and
er left calf. Which intervention would be elevation of the extremity.
most helpful to this client?
Apply sequential compression devices
(SCDs) bilaterally.
Assess for a positive Homan's sign in each
leg. Incorrect
Pad all bony prominences on the affected
leg.
Advise the client to remain in bed with the
leg elevated. Correct
7. Which description of pain is consistent Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune
with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis? disease that causes joint pain and swelling.
Joint pain is worse in the morning and RA is characterized by pain that is worse when
involves symmetric joints. Correct arising and involves symmetric joints.
Joint pain is better in the morning and
worsens throughout the day.
Joint pain is consistent throughout the
day and is relieved by pain medication.
Incorrect
Joint pain is worse during the day and
involves unilateral joints.
8. A client's susceptibility to ulcerative colitis Ulcerative colitis is 4 to 5 times more com-
is most likely due to which aspect in the mon among individuals of Jewish European
client's history? or Ashkenazi ancestry.
Jewish European ancestry. Correct
H. pylori bowel infection.
3 4/16/2026
, Answer Guide Med Surg HESI
Med Surg HESI
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_95k64v
Family history of irritable bowel syn-
drome.
Age between 25 and 55 years.
9. While working in the emergency room, A tuberculin skin test is effective 4 to 6 weeks
the nurse is exposed to a client with active after an exposure, so the individual with a
tuberculosis. When should the nurse plan known exposure should wait 4 to 6 weeks
to obtain a tuberculin skin test? before having a tuberculin skin test.
Immediately after the exposure.
Within one week of the exposure.
Four to six weeks after the exposure. Cor-
rect
Three months after the exposure.
10. The nurse knows that lab values some- As older adults age, the protein found in
times vary for the older client. Which urine slightly rises as a result of kidney
data would the nurse expect to find changes, and the serum glucose increases
when reviewing laboratory values of an slightly, also due to changes in the kidney.
80-year-old male?
Increased WBC, decreased RBC.
Increased serum bilirubin, slightly in-
creased liver enzymes.
Increased protein in the urine, slightly in-
creased serum glucose levels. Correct
Decreased serum sodium, an increased
urine specific gravity.
11. The nurse is assessing a client's labora- Tumor lysis symdrome (TLS) results in hyper-
tory values following administration of kalemia, hypocalcemia, hyperuricemia, and
chemotherapy. Which lab value leads the hyperphosphatemia. A serum calcium level of
nurse to suspect that the client is experi- 5, which is low, is an indicator of possible
encing tumor lysis syndrome (TLS)? tumor lysis syndrome.
4 4/16/2026
