Med-Surge II HESI Test Bank Exam with Complete
Solutions Updated 2026
1. The student nurse studying the gastrointestinal system understands that chyme refers to
what?
a. Hormones that reduce gastric acidity
b. Liquefied food ready for digestion
c. Nutrients after being absorbed
d. Secretions that help digest food answers b
A client scheduled for a percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) denies allergies to
medication.
What action by the nurse is best?
a. Ask the client about shellfish allergies.
b. Document this information on the chart.
c. Ensure that the client has a ride home.
d. Instruct the client on bowel preparation answers a
A client is having an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and has been given midazolam
hydrochloride
(Versed). The client’s respiratory rate is 8 breaths/min. What action by the nurse is best?
a. Administer naloxone (Narcan).
b. Call the Rapid Response Team.
c. Provide physical stimulation.
d. Ventilate with a bag-valve-mask.answers c
A client is scheduled for a colonoscopy and the nurse has provided instructions on the bowel
cleansing
regimen. What statement by the client indicates a need for further teaching?
,a. Its a good thing I love orange and cherry gelatin.
Test Bank - Medical-Surgical Nursing: Concepts for Interprofessional Collaborative Care 9e 435
b. My spouse will be here to drive me home.
c. I should refrigerate the GoLYTELY before use.
d. I will buy a case of Gatorade before the prepanswers a
A client had a colonoscopy and biopsy yesterday and calls the gastrointestinal clinic to report a
spot of
bright red blood on the toilet paper today. What response by the nurse is best?
a. Ask the client to call back if this happens again today.
b. Instruct the client to go to the emergency department.
c. Remind the client that a small amount of bleeding is possible.
d. Tell the client to come in to the clinic this afternoon.answers c
An older client has had an instance of drug toxicity and asks why this happens, since the client
has been on
this medication for years at the same dose. What response by the nurse is best?
a. Changes in your liver cause drugs to be metabolized differently.
b. Perhaps you dont need as high a dose of the drug as before.
c. Stomach muscles atrophy with age and you digest more slowly.
d. Your body probably cant tolerate as much medication anymoreanswers a
To promote comfort after a colonoscopy, in what position does the nurse place the client?
a. Left lateral
b. Prone
c. Right lateral
d. Supineanswers a
,A nurse is examining a client reporting right upper quadrant (RUQ) abdominal pain. What
technique should
the nurse use to assess this clients abdomen?
a. Auscultate after palpating.
b. Avoid any palpation.
c. Palpate the RUQ first.
d. Palpate the RUQ last.answers d
A client presents to the emergency department reporting severe abdominal pain. On
assessment, the nurse
finds a bulging, pulsating mass in the abdomen. What action by the nurse is the priority?
a. Auscultate for bowel sounds.
b. Notify the provider immediately.
c. Order an abdominal flat-plate x-ray.
d. Palpate the mass and measure its sizeanswers b
A client presents to the family practice clinic reporting a week of watery, somewhat bloody
diarrhea. The
nurse assists the client to obtain a stool sample. What action by the nurse is most important?
a. Ask the client about recent exposure to illness.
b. Assess the clients stool for obvious food particles.
c. Include the date and time on the specimen container.
d. Put on gloves prior to collecting the sample.answers d
A client who has been taking antibiotics reports severe, watery diarrhea. About which test does
the nurse
teach the client?
a. Colonoscopy
, b. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) toxin A+B
c. Ova and parasites
d. Stool cultureanswers b
The nurse knows that a client with prolonged prothrombin time (PT) values (not related to
medication)
probably has dysfunction in which organ?
a. Kidneys
b. Liver
c. Spleen
d. Stomachanswers b
A client is recovering from an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and requests something to
drink. What
action by the nurse is best?
a. Allow the client cool liquids only.
b. Assess the clients gag reflex.
c. Remind the client to remain NPO.
d. Tell the client to wait 4 hours.answers b
The nurse is aware of the 2014 American Cancer Society Screening Guidelines for colon cancer,
which
include which testing modalities for people over the age of 50? (Select all that apply.)
a. Colonoscopy every 10 years
b. Colonoscopy every 5 years
c. Computed tomography (CT) colonography every 5 years
d. Double-contrast barium enema every 10 years
e. Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 10 yeanswers a,c
Solutions Updated 2026
1. The student nurse studying the gastrointestinal system understands that chyme refers to
what?
a. Hormones that reduce gastric acidity
b. Liquefied food ready for digestion
c. Nutrients after being absorbed
d. Secretions that help digest food answers b
A client scheduled for a percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) denies allergies to
medication.
What action by the nurse is best?
a. Ask the client about shellfish allergies.
b. Document this information on the chart.
c. Ensure that the client has a ride home.
d. Instruct the client on bowel preparation answers a
A client is having an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and has been given midazolam
hydrochloride
(Versed). The client’s respiratory rate is 8 breaths/min. What action by the nurse is best?
a. Administer naloxone (Narcan).
b. Call the Rapid Response Team.
c. Provide physical stimulation.
d. Ventilate with a bag-valve-mask.answers c
A client is scheduled for a colonoscopy and the nurse has provided instructions on the bowel
cleansing
regimen. What statement by the client indicates a need for further teaching?
,a. Its a good thing I love orange and cherry gelatin.
Test Bank - Medical-Surgical Nursing: Concepts for Interprofessional Collaborative Care 9e 435
b. My spouse will be here to drive me home.
c. I should refrigerate the GoLYTELY before use.
d. I will buy a case of Gatorade before the prepanswers a
A client had a colonoscopy and biopsy yesterday and calls the gastrointestinal clinic to report a
spot of
bright red blood on the toilet paper today. What response by the nurse is best?
a. Ask the client to call back if this happens again today.
b. Instruct the client to go to the emergency department.
c. Remind the client that a small amount of bleeding is possible.
d. Tell the client to come in to the clinic this afternoon.answers c
An older client has had an instance of drug toxicity and asks why this happens, since the client
has been on
this medication for years at the same dose. What response by the nurse is best?
a. Changes in your liver cause drugs to be metabolized differently.
b. Perhaps you dont need as high a dose of the drug as before.
c. Stomach muscles atrophy with age and you digest more slowly.
d. Your body probably cant tolerate as much medication anymoreanswers a
To promote comfort after a colonoscopy, in what position does the nurse place the client?
a. Left lateral
b. Prone
c. Right lateral
d. Supineanswers a
,A nurse is examining a client reporting right upper quadrant (RUQ) abdominal pain. What
technique should
the nurse use to assess this clients abdomen?
a. Auscultate after palpating.
b. Avoid any palpation.
c. Palpate the RUQ first.
d. Palpate the RUQ last.answers d
A client presents to the emergency department reporting severe abdominal pain. On
assessment, the nurse
finds a bulging, pulsating mass in the abdomen. What action by the nurse is the priority?
a. Auscultate for bowel sounds.
b. Notify the provider immediately.
c. Order an abdominal flat-plate x-ray.
d. Palpate the mass and measure its sizeanswers b
A client presents to the family practice clinic reporting a week of watery, somewhat bloody
diarrhea. The
nurse assists the client to obtain a stool sample. What action by the nurse is most important?
a. Ask the client about recent exposure to illness.
b. Assess the clients stool for obvious food particles.
c. Include the date and time on the specimen container.
d. Put on gloves prior to collecting the sample.answers d
A client who has been taking antibiotics reports severe, watery diarrhea. About which test does
the nurse
teach the client?
a. Colonoscopy
, b. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) toxin A+B
c. Ova and parasites
d. Stool cultureanswers b
The nurse knows that a client with prolonged prothrombin time (PT) values (not related to
medication)
probably has dysfunction in which organ?
a. Kidneys
b. Liver
c. Spleen
d. Stomachanswers b
A client is recovering from an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and requests something to
drink. What
action by the nurse is best?
a. Allow the client cool liquids only.
b. Assess the clients gag reflex.
c. Remind the client to remain NPO.
d. Tell the client to wait 4 hours.answers b
The nurse is aware of the 2014 American Cancer Society Screening Guidelines for colon cancer,
which
include which testing modalities for people over the age of 50? (Select all that apply.)
a. Colonoscopy every 10 years
b. Colonoscopy every 5 years
c. Computed tomography (CT) colonography every 5 years
d. Double-contrast barium enema every 10 years
e. Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 10 yeanswers a,c
