MED SURG HESI PN EXAM WITH QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS|| GUARANTEED PASS||
ALREADY GRADED A+|| LATEST UPDATE 2026
A client diagnosed with a brain tumor is receiving radiation beam treatments to
the right frontal area. The practical nurse (PN) should observe this client for
which problem during the early post-therapy days?
a. Hemiplegia
b. Headache
c. Hearing loss
d. Dysphagia - ANSWER-b. Headache
Rationale:
Radiotherapy is a local treatment, and most side effects are site-specific, such as
inflammation of surrounding brain tissue, swelling, headache, and fatigue.
The practical nurse (PN) is assigned a client diagnosed with a hemothorax who
had a chest tube inserted 36 hours ago; upon entering the room, the PN observes
the client resting comfortably in the semi-Fowler position; respirations appear
even and unlabored; the water in the suction chamber is bubbling; and there is
serous drainage noted in the collection chamber. What is the best initial action
for the PN to take?
a. Measure and document in the drainage in the chamber.
b. Clamp the chest tube while assessing for air leaks.
,c. "Milk" the tube to remove any excessive blood clot buildup.
d. Decrease the bubbling in the suction chamber. - ANSWER-d. Decrease the
bubbling in the suction chamber.
Rationale:
Follow the ABC's (airway, breathing, and circulation) to determine that the
airway and breathing are stable, and the next step is to evaluate the extent of the
bleeding. It is not necessary to change the amount of bubbling in the suction
chamber.
The nurse has reinforced teaching regarding postoperative care for a client who
has had a prostatectomy. Which statements indicate the need for further
instructions? (Select all that apply.)
a. "If I feel the need to void while the catheter is still in, I should try to void
around the catheter."
b. "I should drink about 12 glasses of water a day, once the indwelling catheter
is removed."
c. "I should only have intercourse twice weekly once I return home after
surgery."
d. "I should report bright red blood and large clots in my urine to my surgeon."
e. "I can expect to have urine that is lightly tinged with blood when I get home."
- ANSWER-a. "If I feel the need to void while the catheter is still in, I should
try to void around the catheter."
c. "I should only have intercourse twice weekly once I return home after
surgery."
Rationale:
After prostatectomy, the client should not try to void around the catheter. It is
common to feel pressure inside the bladder while the irrigating catheter is still
in the bladder. The client should not have intercourse immediately after surgery.
The client should drink 12 to 14 glasses of fluid once the catheter is removed.
,Urine that is lightly blood tinged is common; bright red blood in the urine
should be reported to the surgeon.
A client comes to the clinic and reports the presence of a painful lesion in the
genital area; they described it as a blister 2 days earlier that is now crusty.
Which intervention should the practical nurse (PN) implement first?
a. Ask the client if they have had unprotected sex.
b. Prepare the client for a culture and sensitivity test of the lesion.
c. Inform the client this occurrence will have to be reported to the public health
department.
d. Prepare to administer penicillin intramuscularly into the dorsogluteal area. -
ANSWER-a. Ask the client if they have had unprotected sex.
Rationale:
These are typical signs and symptoms of herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV2), a
sexually transmitted disease (STD), so the PN should ask the client if they had
unprotected sex and if the client has exposed others to the disease.
Which educational materials should the practical nurse select for reinforcement
of teaching for secondary prevention? (Select all that apply.)
a. Video that teaches client to do breast self-examinations.
b. Pamphlets describing how to do testicular self-examinations.
c. Chart that emphasizes childhood immunization schedule.
d. Chart that emphasizes childhood immunization schedule.
e. Postcard reminders for clients to get papanicolaou (Pap) smears and
mammograms. - ANSWER-a. Video that teaches client to do breast self-
examinations.
b. Pamphlets describing how to do testicular self-examinations.
, e. Postcard reminders for clients to get papanicolaou (Pap) smears and
mammograms.
Rationale:
Secondary prevention deals with early diagnosis to treat disease in the
beginning of its development. Breast self-examinations, testicular self-
examinations, mammograms, and Pap smears are considered secondary
prevention methods.
The nurse is assigned the care of a client whose spiritual beliefs are vastly
different from the nurse's background. What action should the nurse take?
a. Tell the client "I am uncomfortable with some of the religious items in your
room."
b. Tell the client "I will leave you alone most of the day so you can pray
uninterrupted."
c. Ask the client "Do you have any spiritual needs or concerns related to your
health?"
d. Tell the client "We only have regular food here, but your family can bring
you food." - ANSWER-c. Ask the client "Do you have any spiritual needs or
concerns related to your health?"
Rationale:
During time of illness, spiritual practices may be a source of comfort to the
client. The nurse should ask clients if there are any spiritual needs or concerns
related to their health that need to be addressed. It is inappropriate for the nurse
to mention discomfort with religious items in the client's room. The nurse
should not leave the client alone for most of the day, but should ask if there are
particular times the client would like to pray or meditate. The nurse can then
plan care around those times whenever possible. Referring to facility food as
"regular food" insinuates that the client's foods are abnormal. In addition,
depending on the client's prescribed diet, the family may or may not be able to
bring in additional foods.
AND ANSWERS|| GUARANTEED PASS||
ALREADY GRADED A+|| LATEST UPDATE 2026
A client diagnosed with a brain tumor is receiving radiation beam treatments to
the right frontal area. The practical nurse (PN) should observe this client for
which problem during the early post-therapy days?
a. Hemiplegia
b. Headache
c. Hearing loss
d. Dysphagia - ANSWER-b. Headache
Rationale:
Radiotherapy is a local treatment, and most side effects are site-specific, such as
inflammation of surrounding brain tissue, swelling, headache, and fatigue.
The practical nurse (PN) is assigned a client diagnosed with a hemothorax who
had a chest tube inserted 36 hours ago; upon entering the room, the PN observes
the client resting comfortably in the semi-Fowler position; respirations appear
even and unlabored; the water in the suction chamber is bubbling; and there is
serous drainage noted in the collection chamber. What is the best initial action
for the PN to take?
a. Measure and document in the drainage in the chamber.
b. Clamp the chest tube while assessing for air leaks.
,c. "Milk" the tube to remove any excessive blood clot buildup.
d. Decrease the bubbling in the suction chamber. - ANSWER-d. Decrease the
bubbling in the suction chamber.
Rationale:
Follow the ABC's (airway, breathing, and circulation) to determine that the
airway and breathing are stable, and the next step is to evaluate the extent of the
bleeding. It is not necessary to change the amount of bubbling in the suction
chamber.
The nurse has reinforced teaching regarding postoperative care for a client who
has had a prostatectomy. Which statements indicate the need for further
instructions? (Select all that apply.)
a. "If I feel the need to void while the catheter is still in, I should try to void
around the catheter."
b. "I should drink about 12 glasses of water a day, once the indwelling catheter
is removed."
c. "I should only have intercourse twice weekly once I return home after
surgery."
d. "I should report bright red blood and large clots in my urine to my surgeon."
e. "I can expect to have urine that is lightly tinged with blood when I get home."
- ANSWER-a. "If I feel the need to void while the catheter is still in, I should
try to void around the catheter."
c. "I should only have intercourse twice weekly once I return home after
surgery."
Rationale:
After prostatectomy, the client should not try to void around the catheter. It is
common to feel pressure inside the bladder while the irrigating catheter is still
in the bladder. The client should not have intercourse immediately after surgery.
The client should drink 12 to 14 glasses of fluid once the catheter is removed.
,Urine that is lightly blood tinged is common; bright red blood in the urine
should be reported to the surgeon.
A client comes to the clinic and reports the presence of a painful lesion in the
genital area; they described it as a blister 2 days earlier that is now crusty.
Which intervention should the practical nurse (PN) implement first?
a. Ask the client if they have had unprotected sex.
b. Prepare the client for a culture and sensitivity test of the lesion.
c. Inform the client this occurrence will have to be reported to the public health
department.
d. Prepare to administer penicillin intramuscularly into the dorsogluteal area. -
ANSWER-a. Ask the client if they have had unprotected sex.
Rationale:
These are typical signs and symptoms of herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV2), a
sexually transmitted disease (STD), so the PN should ask the client if they had
unprotected sex and if the client has exposed others to the disease.
Which educational materials should the practical nurse select for reinforcement
of teaching for secondary prevention? (Select all that apply.)
a. Video that teaches client to do breast self-examinations.
b. Pamphlets describing how to do testicular self-examinations.
c. Chart that emphasizes childhood immunization schedule.
d. Chart that emphasizes childhood immunization schedule.
e. Postcard reminders for clients to get papanicolaou (Pap) smears and
mammograms. - ANSWER-a. Video that teaches client to do breast self-
examinations.
b. Pamphlets describing how to do testicular self-examinations.
, e. Postcard reminders for clients to get papanicolaou (Pap) smears and
mammograms.
Rationale:
Secondary prevention deals with early diagnosis to treat disease in the
beginning of its development. Breast self-examinations, testicular self-
examinations, mammograms, and Pap smears are considered secondary
prevention methods.
The nurse is assigned the care of a client whose spiritual beliefs are vastly
different from the nurse's background. What action should the nurse take?
a. Tell the client "I am uncomfortable with some of the religious items in your
room."
b. Tell the client "I will leave you alone most of the day so you can pray
uninterrupted."
c. Ask the client "Do you have any spiritual needs or concerns related to your
health?"
d. Tell the client "We only have regular food here, but your family can bring
you food." - ANSWER-c. Ask the client "Do you have any spiritual needs or
concerns related to your health?"
Rationale:
During time of illness, spiritual practices may be a source of comfort to the
client. The nurse should ask clients if there are any spiritual needs or concerns
related to their health that need to be addressed. It is inappropriate for the nurse
to mention discomfort with religious items in the client's room. The nurse
should not leave the client alone for most of the day, but should ask if there are
particular times the client would like to pray or meditate. The nurse can then
plan care around those times whenever possible. Referring to facility food as
"regular food" insinuates that the client's foods are abnormal. In addition,
depending on the client's prescribed diet, the family may or may not be able to
bring in additional foods.
