HESI Critical Care Exam Questions and Correct Answers 100%
Verified
Question 1
After one month of short-term corticosteroid therapy, a client with an acute exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis returns to
the clinic for a follow-up visit. Which laboratory finding should the nurse review for a therapeutic response?
A. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
B. Serum electrolyte levels.
C. Fasting serum glucose.
D. Serum liver function test.
Correct Answer
A. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
RATIONALE:
An elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is indicative of active inflammation, so the
nurse should determine if the ESR has normalized (D). Although corticosteroids influence
glucose metabolism, an elevation in (A) may indicate a side-effect response to exogenous
corticosteroids, not a desired effect. (B and C) do not indicate a therapeutic response to the
corticosteroid therapy.
Page 1 of 120
,Question 2
A nurse is answering questions about breast cancer at a hospital-sponsored community health
fair. A woman asks the nurse to explain the use of tamoxifen (Nolvadex). Which response should
the nurse provide?
A. Part of a combination of chemotherapeutic agents used to treat tumors.
B. An used to reduce the risk of breast cancer for all women.
C. Low doses of tamoxifen prevent menopausal hot flashes.
D. This anti-estrogen drug inhibits malignancy growth
Correct Answer
D. This anti-estrogen drug inhibits malignancy growth.
RATIONALE:
Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) is used in postmenopausal women with breast cancer to prevent and treat
recurrent cancer and inhibit the growth-stimulating effects (C) of estrogen by blocking estrogen
receptor sites on malignant cells. A side effect of tamoxifen is hot flashes (A), which is related to
the decreased estrogen. Tamoxifen is used for women with estrogen receptor-positive breast
cancer, not all women (B), and is classified as a hormonal agent, not (D), used to suppress
malignant cell growth.
Page 2 of 120
,Question 3
A client is admitted to the hospital for alcohol dependency. What is the priority nursing intervention during the first 48
hours following admission?
A. Monitor for increased blood pressure and pulse.
B. Administer a PRN benzodiazepine as needed for anxiety.
C. Encourage fluid intake of non-caffeinated beverages.
D. Administer thiamine (B1) to prevent Korsakoff's syndrome.
Correct Answer
A. Monitor for increased blood pressure and pulse.
RATIONALE:
Clients with alcohol dependency experience withdrawal symptoms, which include elevated
blood pressure, pulse, and temperature, so (B) has the highest priority. (A) will prevent
Korsakoff's syndrome (secondary dementia caused by thiamine deficiency, associated with
malnutrition secondary to excessive alcohol intake), but this intervention does not have the
priority of (B). (C and D) are important for alcohol detoxification, but do not have the priority of
(B).
Page 3 of 120
, Question 4
The nurse is planning a wellness program aimed at primary prevention in the community. Which action should the nurse
implement?
A. Immunizations that decrease occurrences of many contagious diseases.
B. Breast self-examination (BSE) for young women instead of a mammogram.
C. Blood pressure screenings to identify persons with high blood pressure.
D. Home care monitoring for clients who are high-risk due to pregnancy.
Correct Answer
A. Immunizations that decrease occurrences of many contagious diseases.
RATIONALE:
Primary prevention involves health promotion and disease prevention activities to decrease the
occurrence of illness and enhance general health and quality of life, such as immunization (A).
Health screenings (B and C) are the mainstay of secondary prevention and include interventions
designed to increase the probability that disease is diagnosed early when treatment is likely to
result in cure. Tertiary prevention (D) includes interventions aimed at disability limitation from
disease, injury, or disability
Page 4 of 120
Verified
Question 1
After one month of short-term corticosteroid therapy, a client with an acute exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis returns to
the clinic for a follow-up visit. Which laboratory finding should the nurse review for a therapeutic response?
A. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
B. Serum electrolyte levels.
C. Fasting serum glucose.
D. Serum liver function test.
Correct Answer
A. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
RATIONALE:
An elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is indicative of active inflammation, so the
nurse should determine if the ESR has normalized (D). Although corticosteroids influence
glucose metabolism, an elevation in (A) may indicate a side-effect response to exogenous
corticosteroids, not a desired effect. (B and C) do not indicate a therapeutic response to the
corticosteroid therapy.
Page 1 of 120
,Question 2
A nurse is answering questions about breast cancer at a hospital-sponsored community health
fair. A woman asks the nurse to explain the use of tamoxifen (Nolvadex). Which response should
the nurse provide?
A. Part of a combination of chemotherapeutic agents used to treat tumors.
B. An used to reduce the risk of breast cancer for all women.
C. Low doses of tamoxifen prevent menopausal hot flashes.
D. This anti-estrogen drug inhibits malignancy growth
Correct Answer
D. This anti-estrogen drug inhibits malignancy growth.
RATIONALE:
Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) is used in postmenopausal women with breast cancer to prevent and treat
recurrent cancer and inhibit the growth-stimulating effects (C) of estrogen by blocking estrogen
receptor sites on malignant cells. A side effect of tamoxifen is hot flashes (A), which is related to
the decreased estrogen. Tamoxifen is used for women with estrogen receptor-positive breast
cancer, not all women (B), and is classified as a hormonal agent, not (D), used to suppress
malignant cell growth.
Page 2 of 120
,Question 3
A client is admitted to the hospital for alcohol dependency. What is the priority nursing intervention during the first 48
hours following admission?
A. Monitor for increased blood pressure and pulse.
B. Administer a PRN benzodiazepine as needed for anxiety.
C. Encourage fluid intake of non-caffeinated beverages.
D. Administer thiamine (B1) to prevent Korsakoff's syndrome.
Correct Answer
A. Monitor for increased blood pressure and pulse.
RATIONALE:
Clients with alcohol dependency experience withdrawal symptoms, which include elevated
blood pressure, pulse, and temperature, so (B) has the highest priority. (A) will prevent
Korsakoff's syndrome (secondary dementia caused by thiamine deficiency, associated with
malnutrition secondary to excessive alcohol intake), but this intervention does not have the
priority of (B). (C and D) are important for alcohol detoxification, but do not have the priority of
(B).
Page 3 of 120
, Question 4
The nurse is planning a wellness program aimed at primary prevention in the community. Which action should the nurse
implement?
A. Immunizations that decrease occurrences of many contagious diseases.
B. Breast self-examination (BSE) for young women instead of a mammogram.
C. Blood pressure screenings to identify persons with high blood pressure.
D. Home care monitoring for clients who are high-risk due to pregnancy.
Correct Answer
A. Immunizations that decrease occurrences of many contagious diseases.
RATIONALE:
Primary prevention involves health promotion and disease prevention activities to decrease the
occurrence of illness and enhance general health and quality of life, such as immunization (A).
Health screenings (B and C) are the mainstay of secondary prevention and include interventions
designed to increase the probability that disease is diagnosed early when treatment is likely to
result in cure. Tertiary prevention (D) includes interventions aimed at disability limitation from
disease, injury, or disability
Page 4 of 120
