MED-SURG HESI Exam
MED-SURG HESI Exam Practice 2025
An adult client who is hospitalized after surgery reports sudden onset of chest pain and
dyspnea. The client appears anxious, restless, and mildly cyanotic. The nurse should
further assess the client for which condition?
Pulmonary embolism.
Heart failure.
Tuberculosis.
Bronchitis. - Answer-Pulmonary embolism.
Post-surgical clients are at an increased risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which may
result in pulmonary embolism if the clot breaks off and travels to the lungs. Signs and
symptoms of pulmonary embolism include chest pain, dyspnea, anxiety, restlessness,
and - in severe cases - cyanosis.
Jarvis, Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th ed., p.493
Which information should the nurse obtain when performing an initial assessment of a
client who presents to the emergency department with a painful ankle injury? (Select all
that apply.)
Quality of the pain.
Signs of inflammation.
Ankle range of motion.
Muscle strength testing.
Visible deformities of the joint. - Answer-Quality of the pain.
,MED-SURG HESI Exam
Signs of inflammation.
Ankle range of motion.
Visible deformities of the joint.
Initial assessment of a joint injury is performed to determine the extent of the damage.
The nurse's initial assessment of a painful ankle injury should include pain quality, the
presence of deformities, evidence of inflammation, and range of motion.
Jarvis Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th ed. p. 586-8
Which description of pain is consistent with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis?
Joint pain is worse in the morning 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.
Joint pain is worse during the day and involves unilateral joints. - Answer-Joint pain is
worse in the morning and involves symmetric joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes joint pain and swelling.
RA is characterized by pain that is worse when arising and involves symmetric joints.
Jarvis. (2016), Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th Ed., Chapter 22; p. 586
Which physical assessment finding should the nurse anticipate in a client with long-term
gastroesophagealreflux disease (GERD)?
Hoarseness.
Dry mouth.
Mouth ulcers.
,MED-SURG HESI Exam
Weight loss. - Answer-Hoarseness.
Dyspepsia and regurgitation are the main symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD); however, hoarseness is one of the most common long-term symptoms of GERD
due to the irritation of the reflux of gastric secretions.
Ignatavicius, (2016). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative care, eight
edition., Ch. 49, p. 1111.
A client presents with chronic venous insufficiency. Which assessment finding should the
nurse anticipate?
Bilateral lower leg stasis dermatitis.
Clubbing of fingers and toes.
Intermittent claudication.
Peripheral cyanosis. - Answer-Bilateral lower leg stasis dermatitis.
Clients who suffer from chroninc venous insufficiency often develop statsis dermatitis in
the lower extremities. Statis dermatitis appear as brownish-red discoloration on the
lower extremities at the ankles which can develop into stasis ulcers due to the pooling of
the venous blood flow back to the heart.
Ignatavicius, (2013). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative care, 7th
ed.., Ch. 33, p. 803.
A client has been hospitalized with a femur fracture and is being treated with traction.
Which action by the nurse is the priority when caring for this client?
, MED-SURG HESI Exam
Assess neurovascular status.
Change the client's position.
Inspect the traction equipment.
Review pain medication orders. - Answer-Assess neurovascular status.
The use of traction for long bone fractures reduces the potential for damage to the
surrounding tissues. Reports of increased pain may indicate circulatory compromise or
tissue damage (compartment syndrome). Assessing the client's neurovascular status is
the nurse's highest priority.
Ignatavicius, (2016). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative care, eight
edition., Ch. 51, pp. 1051-80.
Which statement made by a client with chronic pancreatitis indicates that further
education is needed?
I will cut back on smoking cigarettes daily.
I will avoid drinking caffeinated beverages.
I will rest frequently and avoid vigorous exercise.
I will eat a bland, low-fat, high-protein diet. - Answer-I will cut back on smoking
cigarettes daily.
To prevent exacerbations of chronic pancreatitis, clients should be instructed to avoid
nicotine entirely. Additional teaching includes avoiding caffeinated beverages, resting
frequently as needed, and eating a bland diet low fat and high in protein.Ignatavicius,
(2016). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative care, 8th ed., Ch. 59, pp.
1084-98.
MED-SURG HESI Exam Practice 2025
An adult client who is hospitalized after surgery reports sudden onset of chest pain and
dyspnea. The client appears anxious, restless, and mildly cyanotic. The nurse should
further assess the client for which condition?
Pulmonary embolism.
Heart failure.
Tuberculosis.
Bronchitis. - Answer-Pulmonary embolism.
Post-surgical clients are at an increased risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which may
result in pulmonary embolism if the clot breaks off and travels to the lungs. Signs and
symptoms of pulmonary embolism include chest pain, dyspnea, anxiety, restlessness,
and - in severe cases - cyanosis.
Jarvis, Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th ed., p.493
Which information should the nurse obtain when performing an initial assessment of a
client who presents to the emergency department with a painful ankle injury? (Select all
that apply.)
Quality of the pain.
Signs of inflammation.
Ankle range of motion.
Muscle strength testing.
Visible deformities of the joint. - Answer-Quality of the pain.
,MED-SURG HESI Exam
Signs of inflammation.
Ankle range of motion.
Visible deformities of the joint.
Initial assessment of a joint injury is performed to determine the extent of the damage.
The nurse's initial assessment of a painful ankle injury should include pain quality, the
presence of deformities, evidence of inflammation, and range of motion.
Jarvis Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th ed. p. 586-8
Which description of pain is consistent with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis?
Joint pain is worse in the morning 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.
Joint pain is worse during the day and involves unilateral joints. - Answer-Joint pain is
worse in the morning and involves symmetric joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes joint pain and swelling.
RA is characterized by pain that is worse when arising and involves symmetric joints.
Jarvis. (2016), Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th Ed., Chapter 22; p. 586
Which physical assessment finding should the nurse anticipate in a client with long-term
gastroesophagealreflux disease (GERD)?
Hoarseness.
Dry mouth.
Mouth ulcers.
,MED-SURG HESI Exam
Weight loss. - Answer-Hoarseness.
Dyspepsia and regurgitation are the main symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD); however, hoarseness is one of the most common long-term symptoms of GERD
due to the irritation of the reflux of gastric secretions.
Ignatavicius, (2016). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative care, eight
edition., Ch. 49, p. 1111.
A client presents with chronic venous insufficiency. Which assessment finding should the
nurse anticipate?
Bilateral lower leg stasis dermatitis.
Clubbing of fingers and toes.
Intermittent claudication.
Peripheral cyanosis. - Answer-Bilateral lower leg stasis dermatitis.
Clients who suffer from chroninc venous insufficiency often develop statsis dermatitis in
the lower extremities. Statis dermatitis appear as brownish-red discoloration on the
lower extremities at the ankles which can develop into stasis ulcers due to the pooling of
the venous blood flow back to the heart.
Ignatavicius, (2013). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative care, 7th
ed.., Ch. 33, p. 803.
A client has been hospitalized with a femur fracture and is being treated with traction.
Which action by the nurse is the priority when caring for this client?
, MED-SURG HESI Exam
Assess neurovascular status.
Change the client's position.
Inspect the traction equipment.
Review pain medication orders. - Answer-Assess neurovascular status.
The use of traction for long bone fractures reduces the potential for damage to the
surrounding tissues. Reports of increased pain may indicate circulatory compromise or
tissue damage (compartment syndrome). Assessing the client's neurovascular status is
the nurse's highest priority.
Ignatavicius, (2016). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative care, eight
edition., Ch. 51, pp. 1051-80.
Which statement made by a client with chronic pancreatitis indicates that further
education is needed?
I will cut back on smoking cigarettes daily.
I will avoid drinking caffeinated beverages.
I will rest frequently and avoid vigorous exercise.
I will eat a bland, low-fat, high-protein diet. - Answer-I will cut back on smoking
cigarettes daily.
To prevent exacerbations of chronic pancreatitis, clients should be instructed to avoid
nicotine entirely. Additional teaching includes avoiding caffeinated beverages, resting
frequently as needed, and eating a bland diet low fat and high in protein.Ignatavicius,
(2016). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative care, 8th ed., Ch. 59, pp.
1084-98.
