HESI MEDICAL-SURGICAL ASSIGNMENT
EXAM AND RATIONALE
1. Which assessment is most important for the nurse to perform on a client who
is hospitalized for Guillain-Barre syndrome that is rapidly progressing?
A: Respiratory effort.
B: Unsteady gait.
C: Intensity of pain.
D: Ability to eat.: A: Respiratory Ettort
(Guillain-Barre syndrome causes paralysis or weakness that typically starts at the feet and progresses upwards. As the
condition progresses, the nurse must ensure that the client is able to breathe ettectively.)
2. 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.: 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 ettective treatment.)
3. 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.: 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.)
4. 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.: 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.)
5. 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.: 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
EXAM AND RATIONALE
1. Which assessment is most important for the nurse to perform on a client who
is hospitalized for Guillain-Barre syndrome that is rapidly progressing?
A: Respiratory effort.
B: Unsteady gait.
C: Intensity of pain.
D: Ability to eat.: A: Respiratory Ettort
(Guillain-Barre syndrome causes paralysis or weakness that typically starts at the feet and progresses upwards. As the
condition progresses, the nurse must ensure that the client is able to breathe ettectively.)
2. 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.: 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 ettective treatment.)
3. 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.: 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.)
4. 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.: 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.)
5. 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.: 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
