MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING (MED-SURG 2)
HESI EXAM PREPARATION GUIDE
COMPLETE TESTBANK Q&A 2026/2027
LATEST
A typical sign of thyrotoxicosis is irritability caused by the high levels of
circulating thyroid hormones in the body. This symptom decreases as the
client responds to therapy. Thyrotoxicosis does not cause confusion. The
client may be worried about her illness, and stress may influence her mood;
however, irritability is a common symptom of thyrotoxicosis and the client
should be informed of that fact rather than blamed.
CN: Psychosocial integrity; CL: Synthesize
The nurse is evaluating a client with hyperthyroidism who is taking
Propylthiouracil (PTU) 100 mg/day in three divided doses for maintenance
therapy. Which of the following statements from the client indicates the
desired outcome of the drug?
1. "I have excess energy throughout the day."
2. "I am able to sleep and rest at night."
Page | 1
,3. "I have lost weight since taking this medication."
4. "I do perspire throughout the entire day." - ANS✔✔---2. "I am able to
sleep and rest at night."
PTU is a prototype of thioamide antithyroid drugs. It inhibits production of
thyroid hormones and peripheral conversion of T4 to the more active T3. A
client taking this antithyroid drug should be able to sleep and rest well at night
since the level of thyroid hormones is reduced in the blood. Excess energy
throughout the day, loss of weight and perspiring through the day are
symptoms of hyperthyroidism indicating the drug has not produced its
outcome.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Evaluate.
The nurse should teach the client with Graves' disease to prevent corneal
irritation from mild exophthalmos by:
1. Massaging the eyes at regular intervals.
2. Instilling an ophthalmic anesthetic as prescribed.
3. Wearing dark-colored glasses.
4. Covering both eyes with moistened gauze pads. - ANS✔✔---3. Wearing
dark-colored glasses.
,Treatment of mild ophthalmopathy that may accompany thyrotoxicosis includes
measures such as wearing sunglasses to protect the eyes from corneal irritation.
Treatment of ophthalmopathy should be performed in consultation with
an ophthalmologist. Massaging the eyes will not help to protect the
cornea. An ophthalmic
anesthetic is used to examine and possibly treat a painful eye, not protect the
cornea. Covering the eyes with moist gauze pads is not a satisfactory nursing
measure to protect
the eyes of a client with exophthalmos because treatment is not focused on
moisture to the eye but rather on protecting the cornea and optic nerve. In
exophthalmos, the retrobulbar connective tissues and extraocular muscle
volume are expanded because of fluid retention. The pressure is also
increased.
CN: Reduction of risk potential; CL: Synthesize
A client with Graves' disease is treated with radioactive iodine (RAI) in the
form of sodium iodide 131I. Which of the following statements by the nurse
will explain to the client how the drug works?
1. "The RAI stabilizes the thyroid hormone levels before a
thyroidectomy."
2. "The RAI reduces uptake of thyroxine and thereby improves your
condition."
Page | 3
, 3. "The RAI lowers the levels of thyroid hormones by slowing your body's
production of them."
4. "The RAI destroys thyroid tissue so that thyroid hormones are no
longer produced." - ANS✔✔---4. "The RAI destroys thyroid tissue so
that thyroid hormones are no longer produced."
Sodium iodide 131I destroys the thyroid follicular cells, and thyroid hormones
are no longer produced. RAI is commonly recommended for clients with
Graves'
disease, especially the elderly. The treatment results in a "medical
thyroidectomy." RAI is given in lieu of surgery, not before surgery. RAI does
not reduce uptake of thyroxine.
The outcome of giving RAI is the destruction of the thyroid follicular cells. It
is possible to slow the production of thyroid hormones with RAI.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Synthesize
After treatment with radioactive iodine (RAI) in the form of sodium iodide
131I, the nurse teaches the client to:
1. Monitor for signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
2. Rest for 1 week to prevent complications of the medication.
3. Take thyroxine replacement for the remainder of the client's life.
HESI EXAM PREPARATION GUIDE
COMPLETE TESTBANK Q&A 2026/2027
LATEST
A typical sign of thyrotoxicosis is irritability caused by the high levels of
circulating thyroid hormones in the body. This symptom decreases as the
client responds to therapy. Thyrotoxicosis does not cause confusion. The
client may be worried about her illness, and stress may influence her mood;
however, irritability is a common symptom of thyrotoxicosis and the client
should be informed of that fact rather than blamed.
CN: Psychosocial integrity; CL: Synthesize
The nurse is evaluating a client with hyperthyroidism who is taking
Propylthiouracil (PTU) 100 mg/day in three divided doses for maintenance
therapy. Which of the following statements from the client indicates the
desired outcome of the drug?
1. "I have excess energy throughout the day."
2. "I am able to sleep and rest at night."
Page | 1
,3. "I have lost weight since taking this medication."
4. "I do perspire throughout the entire day." - ANS✔✔---2. "I am able to
sleep and rest at night."
PTU is a prototype of thioamide antithyroid drugs. It inhibits production of
thyroid hormones and peripheral conversion of T4 to the more active T3. A
client taking this antithyroid drug should be able to sleep and rest well at night
since the level of thyroid hormones is reduced in the blood. Excess energy
throughout the day, loss of weight and perspiring through the day are
symptoms of hyperthyroidism indicating the drug has not produced its
outcome.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Evaluate.
The nurse should teach the client with Graves' disease to prevent corneal
irritation from mild exophthalmos by:
1. Massaging the eyes at regular intervals.
2. Instilling an ophthalmic anesthetic as prescribed.
3. Wearing dark-colored glasses.
4. Covering both eyes with moistened gauze pads. - ANS✔✔---3. Wearing
dark-colored glasses.
,Treatment of mild ophthalmopathy that may accompany thyrotoxicosis includes
measures such as wearing sunglasses to protect the eyes from corneal irritation.
Treatment of ophthalmopathy should be performed in consultation with
an ophthalmologist. Massaging the eyes will not help to protect the
cornea. An ophthalmic
anesthetic is used to examine and possibly treat a painful eye, not protect the
cornea. Covering the eyes with moist gauze pads is not a satisfactory nursing
measure to protect
the eyes of a client with exophthalmos because treatment is not focused on
moisture to the eye but rather on protecting the cornea and optic nerve. In
exophthalmos, the retrobulbar connective tissues and extraocular muscle
volume are expanded because of fluid retention. The pressure is also
increased.
CN: Reduction of risk potential; CL: Synthesize
A client with Graves' disease is treated with radioactive iodine (RAI) in the
form of sodium iodide 131I. Which of the following statements by the nurse
will explain to the client how the drug works?
1. "The RAI stabilizes the thyroid hormone levels before a
thyroidectomy."
2. "The RAI reduces uptake of thyroxine and thereby improves your
condition."
Page | 3
, 3. "The RAI lowers the levels of thyroid hormones by slowing your body's
production of them."
4. "The RAI destroys thyroid tissue so that thyroid hormones are no
longer produced." - ANS✔✔---4. "The RAI destroys thyroid tissue so
that thyroid hormones are no longer produced."
Sodium iodide 131I destroys the thyroid follicular cells, and thyroid hormones
are no longer produced. RAI is commonly recommended for clients with
Graves'
disease, especially the elderly. The treatment results in a "medical
thyroidectomy." RAI is given in lieu of surgery, not before surgery. RAI does
not reduce uptake of thyroxine.
The outcome of giving RAI is the destruction of the thyroid follicular cells. It
is possible to slow the production of thyroid hormones with RAI.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Synthesize
After treatment with radioactive iodine (RAI) in the form of sodium iodide
131I, the nurse teaches the client to:
1. Monitor for signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
2. Rest for 1 week to prevent complications of the medication.
3. Take thyroxine replacement for the remainder of the client's life.
