ADVANCED MED SURG HESI COMPREHENSIVE
EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
● A male client comes into the clinic with a history of penile discharge
with painful, burning urination. Which action should the nurse
implement?
A: Collect a culture of the penile discharge.
B: Palpate the inguinal lymph nodes gently.
C: Observe for scrotal swelling and redness.
D: Express the discharge to determine color. Answer: A: Collect a
culture of the penile discharge.
(Penile discharge with painful urination is commonly associated with
gonorrhea. The nurse should collect a culture of the penile discharge to
determine the cause of these symptoms. The cause must be determined
or confirmed through culture to identify the organism and ensure
effective treatment.)
● A client with history of atrial fibrillation is admitted to the telemetry
unit with sudden onset of shortness of breath. The nurse observes a new
irregular heart rhythm and should perform which assessment at this
time?
,A: Check for a pulse deficit.
B: Palpate the apical impulse.
C: Inspect jugular vein pulse.
D: Examine for a carotid bruit. Answer: A: Check for a pulse deficit.
(A client with a past history of atrial fibrillation may return to that
rhythm. Any signs of atrial fibrillation, such as sudden onset shortness of
breath, requires further investigation. The nurse should assess this client
for a pulse deficit because this condition occurs with atrial fibrillation.)
● Which client should be further assessed for an ectopic pregnancy?
A: A 24-year-old with shoulder and lower abdominal quadrant pain.
B: A 33-year-old with intermittent lower abdominal cramping.
C: A 20-year-old with fever and right lower abdominal colic.
D: A 40-year-old with jaundice and right lower abdominal pain.
Answer: A: A 24-year-old with shoulder and lower abdominal quadrant
pain.
(A 24-year-old with sudden onset of lower abdominal quadrant pain
should be assessed for an ectopic pregnancy. The pain can also be
referred to the shoulder and may be associated with vaginal bleeding.)
● Which dietary assessment finding is most important for the nurse to
address when caring for a client with diabetic nephropathy?
,A: Drinks a six pack of beer every day.
B: Enjoys a hamburger once a month.
C: Eats fortified breakfast cereal daily.
D: Consumes beans and rice every day. Answer: A: Drinks a six pack of
beer every day.
(Drinking six beers every day is the dietary assessment finding most
important for the nurse to address when caring for a client with diabetic
nephropathy. The usual can of beer is 12 ounces (355 mL). Clients with
diabetes are recommended to drink no more than 12 ounces of beer per
day because beer contains carbohydrates that can create unhealthy
fluctuations in blood glucose and promote poorglucose control.
Nephropathy is exacerbated by poor blood glucose control.)
● Which assessment finding is of greatest concern to the nurse who is
caring for a client with stomatitis?
A: Cough brought on by swallowing.
B: Sore throat caused by speaking.
C: Painful and dry oral cavity.
D: Unintended weight loss. Answer: A: Cough brought on by
swallowing.
A cough brought on by swallowing is a sign of dysphagia, which is a
finding of particular concern in a client with stomatitis. Dysphagia can
, cause numerous problems, including airway obstruction, and should be
reported to the healthcare provider immediately.
● The nurse is teaching a client diagnosed with peripheral arterial
disease. Which genitourinary system complication should the nurse
include in the teaching?
A: Altered sexual response.
B: Sterility.
C: Urinary incontinence.
D: Decreased pelvic muscle tone. Answer: A: Altered sexual response.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a cardiovascular condition
characterized by narrowing of the arteries and reduced blood flow to the
extremities. PAD is known to alter the blood flow to the male's penis and
is associated with erectile dysfunction in men.
● A 40-year-old female client has a history of smoking. Which finding
should the nurse identify as a risk factor for myocardia infarction?
A: Oral contraceptives.
B: Senile osteopenia.
C: Levothyroxine therapy.
D: Pernicious anemia. Answer: A: Oral contraceptives.
EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
● A male client comes into the clinic with a history of penile discharge
with painful, burning urination. Which action should the nurse
implement?
A: Collect a culture of the penile discharge.
B: Palpate the inguinal lymph nodes gently.
C: Observe for scrotal swelling and redness.
D: Express the discharge to determine color. Answer: A: Collect a
culture of the penile discharge.
(Penile discharge with painful urination is commonly associated with
gonorrhea. The nurse should collect a culture of the penile discharge to
determine the cause of these symptoms. The cause must be determined
or confirmed through culture to identify the organism and ensure
effective treatment.)
● A client with history of atrial fibrillation is admitted to the telemetry
unit with sudden onset of shortness of breath. The nurse observes a new
irregular heart rhythm and should perform which assessment at this
time?
,A: Check for a pulse deficit.
B: Palpate the apical impulse.
C: Inspect jugular vein pulse.
D: Examine for a carotid bruit. Answer: A: Check for a pulse deficit.
(A client with a past history of atrial fibrillation may return to that
rhythm. Any signs of atrial fibrillation, such as sudden onset shortness of
breath, requires further investigation. The nurse should assess this client
for a pulse deficit because this condition occurs with atrial fibrillation.)
● Which client should be further assessed for an ectopic pregnancy?
A: A 24-year-old with shoulder and lower abdominal quadrant pain.
B: A 33-year-old with intermittent lower abdominal cramping.
C: A 20-year-old with fever and right lower abdominal colic.
D: A 40-year-old with jaundice and right lower abdominal pain.
Answer: A: A 24-year-old with shoulder and lower abdominal quadrant
pain.
(A 24-year-old with sudden onset of lower abdominal quadrant pain
should be assessed for an ectopic pregnancy. The pain can also be
referred to the shoulder and may be associated with vaginal bleeding.)
● Which dietary assessment finding is most important for the nurse to
address when caring for a client with diabetic nephropathy?
,A: Drinks a six pack of beer every day.
B: Enjoys a hamburger once a month.
C: Eats fortified breakfast cereal daily.
D: Consumes beans and rice every day. Answer: A: Drinks a six pack of
beer every day.
(Drinking six beers every day is the dietary assessment finding most
important for the nurse to address when caring for a client with diabetic
nephropathy. The usual can of beer is 12 ounces (355 mL). Clients with
diabetes are recommended to drink no more than 12 ounces of beer per
day because beer contains carbohydrates that can create unhealthy
fluctuations in blood glucose and promote poorglucose control.
Nephropathy is exacerbated by poor blood glucose control.)
● Which assessment finding is of greatest concern to the nurse who is
caring for a client with stomatitis?
A: Cough brought on by swallowing.
B: Sore throat caused by speaking.
C: Painful and dry oral cavity.
D: Unintended weight loss. Answer: A: Cough brought on by
swallowing.
A cough brought on by swallowing is a sign of dysphagia, which is a
finding of particular concern in a client with stomatitis. Dysphagia can
, cause numerous problems, including airway obstruction, and should be
reported to the healthcare provider immediately.
● The nurse is teaching a client diagnosed with peripheral arterial
disease. Which genitourinary system complication should the nurse
include in the teaching?
A: Altered sexual response.
B: Sterility.
C: Urinary incontinence.
D: Decreased pelvic muscle tone. Answer: A: Altered sexual response.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a cardiovascular condition
characterized by narrowing of the arteries and reduced blood flow to the
extremities. PAD is known to alter the blood flow to the male's penis and
is associated with erectile dysfunction in men.
● A 40-year-old female client has a history of smoking. Which finding
should the nurse identify as a risk factor for myocardia infarction?
A: Oral contraceptives.
B: Senile osteopenia.
C: Levothyroxine therapy.
D: Pernicious anemia. Answer: A: Oral contraceptives.
