2022 HESI Med Surg V1 exit exam Questions and Verified ANSWERs
Guaranteed Pass A+
1. A client with heart failure is prescribed furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg IV twice daily. Which finding indicates
to the nurse that the medication is effective?
A. Increased urine output
B. Decreased heart rate
C. Increased blood pressure
D. Decreased respiratory rate
ANSWER: A. Increased urine output
2. A nurse is caring for a client with a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The client states, "I can't
believe I have diabetes. I feel perfectly fine." Which response by the nurse is most therapeutic?
A. "You need to accept this diagnosis to manage it properly."
B. "Many people feel fine when they are first diagnosed."
C. "Why do you think you feel fine even though you have this disease?"
D. "It is difficult to accept a new diagnosis, especially when you feel well."
ANSWER: D. "It is difficult to accept a new diagnosis, especially when you feel well."
3. A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is receiving oxygen via nasal cannula at 2
L/min. The client's respiratory rate drops from 20 to 8 breaths/minute, and the nurse notes somnolence.
What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Administer prescribed naloxone (Narcan).
B. Stimulate the client to take deep breaths.
C. Decrease the oxygen flow rate.
D. Increase the oxygen flow rate.
ANSWER: C. Decrease the oxygen flow rate.
4. The nurse is preparing to administer a unit of packed red blood cells to a client. Which action is
essential prior to starting the transfusion?
,A. Prime the IV tubing with 5% dextrose in water.
B. Verify the blood product and client identity with another nurse.
C. Ensure the client has a patent 22-gauge IV in the hand.
D. Administer a prophylactic dose of IV furosemide (Lasix).
ANSWER: B. Verify the blood product and client identity with another nurse.
5. A client is admitted with a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Which assessment finding should the
nurse expect?
A. Bradycardia and bradypnea
B. Pleuritic chest pain and dyspnea
C. Productive cough with yellow sputum
D. Barrel-shaped chest and clubbing
ANSWER: B. Pleuritic chest pain and dyspnea
6. A client with a history of gout is started on allopurinol (Zyloprim). The nurse should instruct the client
to:
A. Limit fluid intake to 1 liter per day.
B. Report any skin rash immediately.
C. Take the medication on an empty stomach.
D. Expect joint pain to increase initially.
ANSWER: B. Report any skin rash immediately.
7. A client with a head injury has clear fluid draining from the nose. Which action should the nurse take
first?
A. Test the fluid for glucose.
B. Suction the nares to maintain patency.
C. Place the client in a semi-Fowler's position.
D. Pack the nostrils with sterile gauze.
ANSWER: A. Test the fluid for glucose.
,8. A client with cirrhosis has significant ascites. The nurse should place the client in which position to
enhance respiratory function?
A. High Fowler's position
B. Left lateral position
C. Trendelenburg position
D. Supine position
ANSWER: A. High Fowler's position
9. A client is receiving a continuous heparin infusion for deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The laboratory
value the nurse must monitor most closely is:
A. Prothrombin time (PT).
B. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT).
C. Platelet count.
D. International normalized ratio (INR).
ANSWER: B. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT).
10. Four hours after a total thyroidectomy, a client complains of tingling in the fingers and around the
mouth. The nurse's priority action is to:
A. Assess for Chvostek's sign.
B. Administer prescribed pain medication.
C. Check the surgical dressing for bleeding.
D. Encourage deep breathing and coughing.
ANSWER: A. Assess for Chvostek's sign.
11. A client with pancreatitis has a nasogastric (NG) tube in place. The primary purpose of the NG tube
for this client is to:
A. Administer enteral nutrition.
B. Decompress the stomach and reduce pancreatic stimulation.
C. Monitor for gastrointestinal bleeding.
D. Administer medications.
, ANSWER: B. Decompress the stomach and reduce pancreatic stimulation.
12. The nurse is teaching a client with peptic ulcer disease about the role of *Helicobacter pylori*. Which
statement by the client indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "I will need to take antibiotics to kill the bacteria."
B. "This bacteria can be treated, and my ulcer can be cured."
C. "Stress is the only cause of my ulcer disease."
D. "The bacteria weakens the protective lining of my stomach."
ANSWER: C. "Stress is the only cause of my ulcer disease."
13. A client with Cushing's syndrome is most at risk for:
A. Hypoglycemia.
B. Infection.
C. Weight loss.
D. Hypotension.
ANSWER: B. Infection.
14. A client is being discharged after a myocardial infarction (MI). Which instruction is most important for
the nurse to include in the discharge teaching?
A. "You may resume sexual activity in 2 weeks."
B. "Stop exercising if you experience any shortness of breath."
C. "A weight gain of 2 pounds in a day is expected."
D. "Take your nitroglycerin for any chest pain that occurs."
ANSWER: B. "Stop exercising if you experience any shortness of breath."
15. The nurse is assessing a client with a suspected fracture of the right hip. Which finding is most
indicative of a hip fracture?
A. The right foot is everted.
B. The right leg is longer than the left.
C. The client can actively move the right leg.
Guaranteed Pass A+
1. A client with heart failure is prescribed furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg IV twice daily. Which finding indicates
to the nurse that the medication is effective?
A. Increased urine output
B. Decreased heart rate
C. Increased blood pressure
D. Decreased respiratory rate
ANSWER: A. Increased urine output
2. A nurse is caring for a client with a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The client states, "I can't
believe I have diabetes. I feel perfectly fine." Which response by the nurse is most therapeutic?
A. "You need to accept this diagnosis to manage it properly."
B. "Many people feel fine when they are first diagnosed."
C. "Why do you think you feel fine even though you have this disease?"
D. "It is difficult to accept a new diagnosis, especially when you feel well."
ANSWER: D. "It is difficult to accept a new diagnosis, especially when you feel well."
3. A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is receiving oxygen via nasal cannula at 2
L/min. The client's respiratory rate drops from 20 to 8 breaths/minute, and the nurse notes somnolence.
What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Administer prescribed naloxone (Narcan).
B. Stimulate the client to take deep breaths.
C. Decrease the oxygen flow rate.
D. Increase the oxygen flow rate.
ANSWER: C. Decrease the oxygen flow rate.
4. The nurse is preparing to administer a unit of packed red blood cells to a client. Which action is
essential prior to starting the transfusion?
,A. Prime the IV tubing with 5% dextrose in water.
B. Verify the blood product and client identity with another nurse.
C. Ensure the client has a patent 22-gauge IV in the hand.
D. Administer a prophylactic dose of IV furosemide (Lasix).
ANSWER: B. Verify the blood product and client identity with another nurse.
5. A client is admitted with a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Which assessment finding should the
nurse expect?
A. Bradycardia and bradypnea
B. Pleuritic chest pain and dyspnea
C. Productive cough with yellow sputum
D. Barrel-shaped chest and clubbing
ANSWER: B. Pleuritic chest pain and dyspnea
6. A client with a history of gout is started on allopurinol (Zyloprim). The nurse should instruct the client
to:
A. Limit fluid intake to 1 liter per day.
B. Report any skin rash immediately.
C. Take the medication on an empty stomach.
D. Expect joint pain to increase initially.
ANSWER: B. Report any skin rash immediately.
7. A client with a head injury has clear fluid draining from the nose. Which action should the nurse take
first?
A. Test the fluid for glucose.
B. Suction the nares to maintain patency.
C. Place the client in a semi-Fowler's position.
D. Pack the nostrils with sterile gauze.
ANSWER: A. Test the fluid for glucose.
,8. A client with cirrhosis has significant ascites. The nurse should place the client in which position to
enhance respiratory function?
A. High Fowler's position
B. Left lateral position
C. Trendelenburg position
D. Supine position
ANSWER: A. High Fowler's position
9. A client is receiving a continuous heparin infusion for deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The laboratory
value the nurse must monitor most closely is:
A. Prothrombin time (PT).
B. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT).
C. Platelet count.
D. International normalized ratio (INR).
ANSWER: B. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT).
10. Four hours after a total thyroidectomy, a client complains of tingling in the fingers and around the
mouth. The nurse's priority action is to:
A. Assess for Chvostek's sign.
B. Administer prescribed pain medication.
C. Check the surgical dressing for bleeding.
D. Encourage deep breathing and coughing.
ANSWER: A. Assess for Chvostek's sign.
11. A client with pancreatitis has a nasogastric (NG) tube in place. The primary purpose of the NG tube
for this client is to:
A. Administer enteral nutrition.
B. Decompress the stomach and reduce pancreatic stimulation.
C. Monitor for gastrointestinal bleeding.
D. Administer medications.
, ANSWER: B. Decompress the stomach and reduce pancreatic stimulation.
12. The nurse is teaching a client with peptic ulcer disease about the role of *Helicobacter pylori*. Which
statement by the client indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "I will need to take antibiotics to kill the bacteria."
B. "This bacteria can be treated, and my ulcer can be cured."
C. "Stress is the only cause of my ulcer disease."
D. "The bacteria weakens the protective lining of my stomach."
ANSWER: C. "Stress is the only cause of my ulcer disease."
13. A client with Cushing's syndrome is most at risk for:
A. Hypoglycemia.
B. Infection.
C. Weight loss.
D. Hypotension.
ANSWER: B. Infection.
14. A client is being discharged after a myocardial infarction (MI). Which instruction is most important for
the nurse to include in the discharge teaching?
A. "You may resume sexual activity in 2 weeks."
B. "Stop exercising if you experience any shortness of breath."
C. "A weight gain of 2 pounds in a day is expected."
D. "Take your nitroglycerin for any chest pain that occurs."
ANSWER: B. "Stop exercising if you experience any shortness of breath."
15. The nurse is assessing a client with a suspected fracture of the right hip. Which finding is most
indicative of a hip fracture?
A. The right foot is everted.
B. The right leg is longer than the left.
C. The client can actively move the right leg.
