HESI RN: MED-SURG -2026 UPDATE
TEST BANK QUESTIONS AND
DETAILED ANSWERS.
A female client with a nasogastric tube attached to low suction states
that she is nauseated. The nurse assesses that there has been no drainage
through the nasogastric tube in the last 2 hours. Which action should the
nurse take first?
A. Irrigate the nasogastric tube with sterile normal saline.
B. Reposition the client on her side.
C. Advance the nasogastric tube 5 cm.
D. Administer an intravenous antiemetic as prescribed. - ANSWER- B.
The priority is to determined if the tube is functioning correctly,
which would relieve the client's nausea. The least invasive
intervention is to reposition the client (B), should be attempted first,
followed by (A & C) if these are unsuccessful then (D).
,When assigning clients on a medical-surgical floor to a RN and a LPN,
it is best for the charge nurse to assign which client to the LPN?
A. A child with bacterial meningitis with recent seizures.
B. An older adult client with pneumonia and viral meningitis.
C. A female client in isolation wiht meningococcal meningitis.
D. A male client 1 day post-op after drainage of a brain abscess. -
ANSWER- B. Is the most stable. A, C, D have an increased risk for
elevated ICP.
Which description of symptoms is characteristic of a client with
diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux)?
A. Tinnitus, vertigo, and hearing difficulties.
B. Sudden, stabbing, severe pain over the lip and chin.
C. Unilateral facial weakness and paralysis.
D. Difficulty in talking, chewing, and swallowing. - ANSWER- B.
Trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by paroxysms of pain, similar
,to an electric shock, in the area innervated by one or more branches
of the trigeminal nerve. A. Characteristic of Meniere's
C. Characteristic of Bell palsey D. Characteristic of disorders of the
hypoglossal (12th cranial nerve)
Which abnormal lab finding indicates that a client with diabetes needs
further evaluation for diabetic nephropathy?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Microalbuminauria
C. Elevated serum lipids
D. Ketonuria - ANSWER- B. Microalbuminuria is the earliest sign of
nephropathy and indicates the need for follow-up evaluation.
Hyperkalemia (A) is associated with end stage renal disease caused
by diabetic nephropathy. (C) may be elevated in end stage renal
disease. (D) may signal the onset of DKA.
5) An older male client comes to the geriatric screening clinic
complaining of pain in his left calf. The nurse notices a reddened area on
the calf of his right leg that is warm to touch and the nurse suspects that
the client may have thrombophlebitis. Which addition assessment is
most important for the nurse to perform?
, A. Measure calf circumference.
B. Auscultate the client's breath sounds.
C. Observe for ecchymosis and petechiae.
D. Obtain the client's blood pressure - ANSWER- B. Since the client
may have a pulmonary embolus secondary to the thrombophlebitis.
A. Would support the nurses assessment. C. Least helpful since
bruising is not associated with thrombophlebitis. D. Less important
then auscultation.
The nurse know that a client taking diuretics must be assessed for the
development of hypokalemia, and that hypokalemia will create changes
in the client's normal ECG tracing. Which ECG change would be an
expected finding in the client with hypokalemia?
A. Tall, spiked T waves
B. A prolonged QT interval
C. A widening QRS complex
D. Presence of a U wave - ANSWER- D. A U wave is a positive
deflection following the T wave and is often present with
hypokalemia. A, B, C indicate hyperkalemia.
TEST BANK QUESTIONS AND
DETAILED ANSWERS.
A female client with a nasogastric tube attached to low suction states
that she is nauseated. The nurse assesses that there has been no drainage
through the nasogastric tube in the last 2 hours. Which action should the
nurse take first?
A. Irrigate the nasogastric tube with sterile normal saline.
B. Reposition the client on her side.
C. Advance the nasogastric tube 5 cm.
D. Administer an intravenous antiemetic as prescribed. - ANSWER- B.
The priority is to determined if the tube is functioning correctly,
which would relieve the client's nausea. The least invasive
intervention is to reposition the client (B), should be attempted first,
followed by (A & C) if these are unsuccessful then (D).
,When assigning clients on a medical-surgical floor to a RN and a LPN,
it is best for the charge nurse to assign which client to the LPN?
A. A child with bacterial meningitis with recent seizures.
B. An older adult client with pneumonia and viral meningitis.
C. A female client in isolation wiht meningococcal meningitis.
D. A male client 1 day post-op after drainage of a brain abscess. -
ANSWER- B. Is the most stable. A, C, D have an increased risk for
elevated ICP.
Which description of symptoms is characteristic of a client with
diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux)?
A. Tinnitus, vertigo, and hearing difficulties.
B. Sudden, stabbing, severe pain over the lip and chin.
C. Unilateral facial weakness and paralysis.
D. Difficulty in talking, chewing, and swallowing. - ANSWER- B.
Trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by paroxysms of pain, similar
,to an electric shock, in the area innervated by one or more branches
of the trigeminal nerve. A. Characteristic of Meniere's
C. Characteristic of Bell palsey D. Characteristic of disorders of the
hypoglossal (12th cranial nerve)
Which abnormal lab finding indicates that a client with diabetes needs
further evaluation for diabetic nephropathy?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Microalbuminauria
C. Elevated serum lipids
D. Ketonuria - ANSWER- B. Microalbuminuria is the earliest sign of
nephropathy and indicates the need for follow-up evaluation.
Hyperkalemia (A) is associated with end stage renal disease caused
by diabetic nephropathy. (C) may be elevated in end stage renal
disease. (D) may signal the onset of DKA.
5) An older male client comes to the geriatric screening clinic
complaining of pain in his left calf. The nurse notices a reddened area on
the calf of his right leg that is warm to touch and the nurse suspects that
the client may have thrombophlebitis. Which addition assessment is
most important for the nurse to perform?
, A. Measure calf circumference.
B. Auscultate the client's breath sounds.
C. Observe for ecchymosis and petechiae.
D. Obtain the client's blood pressure - ANSWER- B. Since the client
may have a pulmonary embolus secondary to the thrombophlebitis.
A. Would support the nurses assessment. C. Least helpful since
bruising is not associated with thrombophlebitis. D. Less important
then auscultation.
The nurse know that a client taking diuretics must be assessed for the
development of hypokalemia, and that hypokalemia will create changes
in the client's normal ECG tracing. Which ECG change would be an
expected finding in the client with hypokalemia?
A. Tall, spiked T waves
B. A prolonged QT interval
C. A widening QRS complex
D. Presence of a U wave - ANSWER- D. A U wave is a positive
deflection following the T wave and is often present with
hypokalemia. A, B, C indicate hyperkalemia.
