HESI RN MED-SURGE ACTUAL EXAM
SCRIPT 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS GUARANTEED PASS
⩥ During a health fair, a male client with emphysema tells the nurse that
he fatigues easily. Assessment reveals marked clubbing of the fingernails
and an increased anteroposterior chest diameter. Which instruction is
best to provide the client?
A."Pace your activities and schedule rest periods."
B."Increase the amount of oxygen you use at night."
C."Obtain medical evaluation for antibiotic therapy."
D."Reduce your intake of fluids containing caffeine." Answer: A
Manifestations of emphysema include an increase in AP diameter
(referred to as a barrel chest), nail bed clubbing, and fatigue. The nurse
can provide instructions to promote energy management, such as pacing
activities and scheduling rest periods (A). (B) may result in a decreased
drive to breathe. The client is not exhibiting any symptoms of infection,
so (C) is not necessary. (D) is less beneficial than (A).
⩥ During the change of shift report, the charge nurse reviews the
infusions being received by clients on the oncology unit. The client
receiving which infusion should be assessed first?
,A.Continuous IV infusion of magnesium
B.One-time infusion of albumin
C.Continuous epidural infusion of morphine
D.Intermittent infusion of IV vancomycin Answer: C
All four of these clients have the potential to have significant
complications. The client with the morphine epidural infusion (C) is at
highest risk for respiratory depression and should be assessed first. (A)
can cause hypotension. The client receiving (B) is at lowest risk for
serious complications. Although (D) can cause nephrotoxicity and
phlebitis, these problems are not as immediately life threatening as (C).
⩥ The nurse is planning care for a client with diabetes mellitus who has
gangrene of the toes to the midfoot. Which goal should be included in
this client's plan of care?
A.Restore skin integrity.
B.Prevent infection.
C.Promote healing.
D.Improve nutrition. Answer: B
The prevention of infection is a priority goal for this client (B).
Gangrene is the result of necrosis (tissue death). If infection develops,
there is insufficient circulation to fight the infection and the infection
can result in osteomyelitis or sepsis. Because tissue death has already
occurred, (A and C) are unattainable goals. (D) is important but of less
priority than (B).
,⩥ The nurse is conducting an osteoporosis screening clinic at a health
fair. What information should the nurse provide to individuals who are at
risk for osteoporosis? (Select all that apply.)
A.Encourage alcohol and smoking cessation.
B.Suggest supplementing diet with vitamin E.
C.Promote regular weight-bearing exercises.
D.Implement a home safety plan to prevent falls.
E.Propose a regular sleep pattern of 8 hours nightly. Answer: A, C, D
(A, C, and D) are factors that decrease the risk for developing
osteoporosis. Vitamin D and calcium are important supplements to aid in
the decrease of bone loss (B). Regular sleep patterns are important to
overall health but are not identified with a decreasing risk for
osteoporosis (E).
⩥ An 81-year-old male client has emphysema. He lives at home with his
cat and manages self-care with no difficulty. When making a home visit,
the nurse notices that this client's tongue is somewhat cracked and his
eyeballs appear sunken into his head. Which nursing intervention is
indicated?
A.Help the client determine ways to increase his fluid intake.
B.Obtain an appointment for the client to have an eye examination.
, C.Instruct the client to use oxygen at night and increase the
humidification.
D.Schedule the client for tests to determine his sensitivity to cat hair.
Answer: A
Clients with COPD should ingest 3 L of fluids daily but may experience
a fluid deficit because of shortness of breath. The nurse should suggest
creative methods to increase the intake of fluids (A), such as having fruit
juices in disposable containers readily available. (B) is not indicated.
Humidified oxygen will not effectively treat the client's fluid deficit, and
there is no indication that the client needs supplemental oxygen at night
(C). These symptoms are not indicative of (D) and may unnecessarily
upset the client, who depends on his pet for socialization.
⩥ The nurse is assessing a client who presents with jaundice. Which
assessment finding is most important for the nurse to follow up?
A.Urine specific gravity of 1.03
B.Frothy, tea-colored urine
C.Clay-colored stools
D.Elevated serum amylase and lipase levels Answer: D
Obstructive cholelithiasis and alcoholism are the two major causes of
pancreatitis, and elevated serum amylase and lipase levels (D) indicate
pancreatic injury. (A) is a normal finding. (B and C) are expected
findings related to jaundice.
SCRIPT 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS GUARANTEED PASS
⩥ During a health fair, a male client with emphysema tells the nurse that
he fatigues easily. Assessment reveals marked clubbing of the fingernails
and an increased anteroposterior chest diameter. Which instruction is
best to provide the client?
A."Pace your activities and schedule rest periods."
B."Increase the amount of oxygen you use at night."
C."Obtain medical evaluation for antibiotic therapy."
D."Reduce your intake of fluids containing caffeine." Answer: A
Manifestations of emphysema include an increase in AP diameter
(referred to as a barrel chest), nail bed clubbing, and fatigue. The nurse
can provide instructions to promote energy management, such as pacing
activities and scheduling rest periods (A). (B) may result in a decreased
drive to breathe. The client is not exhibiting any symptoms of infection,
so (C) is not necessary. (D) is less beneficial than (A).
⩥ During the change of shift report, the charge nurse reviews the
infusions being received by clients on the oncology unit. The client
receiving which infusion should be assessed first?
,A.Continuous IV infusion of magnesium
B.One-time infusion of albumin
C.Continuous epidural infusion of morphine
D.Intermittent infusion of IV vancomycin Answer: C
All four of these clients have the potential to have significant
complications. The client with the morphine epidural infusion (C) is at
highest risk for respiratory depression and should be assessed first. (A)
can cause hypotension. The client receiving (B) is at lowest risk for
serious complications. Although (D) can cause nephrotoxicity and
phlebitis, these problems are not as immediately life threatening as (C).
⩥ The nurse is planning care for a client with diabetes mellitus who has
gangrene of the toes to the midfoot. Which goal should be included in
this client's plan of care?
A.Restore skin integrity.
B.Prevent infection.
C.Promote healing.
D.Improve nutrition. Answer: B
The prevention of infection is a priority goal for this client (B).
Gangrene is the result of necrosis (tissue death). If infection develops,
there is insufficient circulation to fight the infection and the infection
can result in osteomyelitis or sepsis. Because tissue death has already
occurred, (A and C) are unattainable goals. (D) is important but of less
priority than (B).
,⩥ The nurse is conducting an osteoporosis screening clinic at a health
fair. What information should the nurse provide to individuals who are at
risk for osteoporosis? (Select all that apply.)
A.Encourage alcohol and smoking cessation.
B.Suggest supplementing diet with vitamin E.
C.Promote regular weight-bearing exercises.
D.Implement a home safety plan to prevent falls.
E.Propose a regular sleep pattern of 8 hours nightly. Answer: A, C, D
(A, C, and D) are factors that decrease the risk for developing
osteoporosis. Vitamin D and calcium are important supplements to aid in
the decrease of bone loss (B). Regular sleep patterns are important to
overall health but are not identified with a decreasing risk for
osteoporosis (E).
⩥ An 81-year-old male client has emphysema. He lives at home with his
cat and manages self-care with no difficulty. When making a home visit,
the nurse notices that this client's tongue is somewhat cracked and his
eyeballs appear sunken into his head. Which nursing intervention is
indicated?
A.Help the client determine ways to increase his fluid intake.
B.Obtain an appointment for the client to have an eye examination.
, C.Instruct the client to use oxygen at night and increase the
humidification.
D.Schedule the client for tests to determine his sensitivity to cat hair.
Answer: A
Clients with COPD should ingest 3 L of fluids daily but may experience
a fluid deficit because of shortness of breath. The nurse should suggest
creative methods to increase the intake of fluids (A), such as having fruit
juices in disposable containers readily available. (B) is not indicated.
Humidified oxygen will not effectively treat the client's fluid deficit, and
there is no indication that the client needs supplemental oxygen at night
(C). These symptoms are not indicative of (D) and may unnecessarily
upset the client, who depends on his pet for socialization.
⩥ The nurse is assessing a client who presents with jaundice. Which
assessment finding is most important for the nurse to follow up?
A.Urine specific gravity of 1.03
B.Frothy, tea-colored urine
C.Clay-colored stools
D.Elevated serum amylase and lipase levels Answer: D
Obstructive cholelithiasis and alcoholism are the two major causes of
pancreatitis, and elevated serum amylase and lipase levels (D) indicate
pancreatic injury. (A) is a normal finding. (B and C) are expected
findings related to jaundice.
