HESI RN MED SURG VERSION A & VERSION B 2026-2027
ACTUAL EXAM EACH EXAM CONTAINS 180 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
A tornado warning alarm has been activated at the local hospital. Which action
should the charge nurse working on a surgical unit take first?
A.
Instruct the nursing staff to close all window blinds and curtains in clients'
rooms. B.
Move clients and visitors into the hallways and close all doors to clients'
rooms. C.
Visually confirm the location of the tornado by checking the windows on the
unit. D.
Assist all visitors with evacuation down the stairs in a calm and orderly manner.
B
Rationale:In the event of a tornado, all persons should be moved into the hallways,
away from windows, to prevent flying debris from causing injury. Although option
A may help decrease the amount of flying debris, it is not safe to leave clients in
rooms with closed blinds; option B is a higher priority at this time. Hospital staff
should stay away from windows to avoid injury and should focus on client
evacuation into hallways rather than option C. Option D is not the first action that
should be taken.
,The nurse is teaching a group of elders at a senior center. Which is the most significant
safety implication for this group that the nurse will include in the teaching plan?
A.
Change in height
B.
Hair loss
C.
Stooped posture
D.
Age spots
C
Rationale:Stooped posture results in the upper torso becoming the center of gravity for
older persons. The center of gravity for adults is the hips. However, as a person grows
older, a stooped posture is common because of changes caused by osteoporosis and
normal bone degeneration. Furthermore, the knees, hips, and elbows flex. This age-
related change can put the older adult at risk for falls. Options A, B, and D are age-
related changes but are not high safety concerns.
,An emaciated homeless client presents to the emergency department complaining
of a productive cough, with blood-tinged sputum and night sweats. Which action
is most important for the emergency department triage nurse to take for this
client?
A.
Initiate airborne infection
precautions. B.
Place a surgical mask on the
client. C.
Don an isolation gown and latex
gloves. D.
Start protective (reverse) isolation precautions.
A
Rationale:This client is exhibiting classic symptoms of tuberculosis (TB), and the
client is from a high-risk population for TB. Therefore, airborne infection
precautions, which are indicated for TB, should be used with this client. Option B
is used with droplet precautions. There is no evidence that option C or D would be
warranted at this time.
, Which data would the nurse expect to find when reviewing laboratory values of
an 80- year-old who is in good health overall?
A.
Complete blood count reveals increased white blood cell (WBC) and
decreased red blood cell (RBC) counts.
B.
Chemistries reveal an increased serum bilirubin level with slightly increased liver
enzyme levels.
C.
Urinalysis reveals slight protein in the urine and bacteriuria, with
pyuria. D.
Serum electrolytes reveal a decreased sodium level and increased potassium level.
C
Rationale:In older adults, the protein found in urine slightly rises, probably as a
result of kidney changes or subclinical urinary tract infections, and clients
frequently experience asymptomatic bacteriuria and pyuria as a result of
incomplete bladder emptying.
Laboratory findings in options A, B, and D are not considered to be normal findings
in an older adult.
ACTUAL EXAM EACH EXAM CONTAINS 180 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
A tornado warning alarm has been activated at the local hospital. Which action
should the charge nurse working on a surgical unit take first?
A.
Instruct the nursing staff to close all window blinds and curtains in clients'
rooms. B.
Move clients and visitors into the hallways and close all doors to clients'
rooms. C.
Visually confirm the location of the tornado by checking the windows on the
unit. D.
Assist all visitors with evacuation down the stairs in a calm and orderly manner.
B
Rationale:In the event of a tornado, all persons should be moved into the hallways,
away from windows, to prevent flying debris from causing injury. Although option
A may help decrease the amount of flying debris, it is not safe to leave clients in
rooms with closed blinds; option B is a higher priority at this time. Hospital staff
should stay away from windows to avoid injury and should focus on client
evacuation into hallways rather than option C. Option D is not the first action that
should be taken.
,The nurse is teaching a group of elders at a senior center. Which is the most significant
safety implication for this group that the nurse will include in the teaching plan?
A.
Change in height
B.
Hair loss
C.
Stooped posture
D.
Age spots
C
Rationale:Stooped posture results in the upper torso becoming the center of gravity for
older persons. The center of gravity for adults is the hips. However, as a person grows
older, a stooped posture is common because of changes caused by osteoporosis and
normal bone degeneration. Furthermore, the knees, hips, and elbows flex. This age-
related change can put the older adult at risk for falls. Options A, B, and D are age-
related changes but are not high safety concerns.
,An emaciated homeless client presents to the emergency department complaining
of a productive cough, with blood-tinged sputum and night sweats. Which action
is most important for the emergency department triage nurse to take for this
client?
A.
Initiate airborne infection
precautions. B.
Place a surgical mask on the
client. C.
Don an isolation gown and latex
gloves. D.
Start protective (reverse) isolation precautions.
A
Rationale:This client is exhibiting classic symptoms of tuberculosis (TB), and the
client is from a high-risk population for TB. Therefore, airborne infection
precautions, which are indicated for TB, should be used with this client. Option B
is used with droplet precautions. There is no evidence that option C or D would be
warranted at this time.
, Which data would the nurse expect to find when reviewing laboratory values of
an 80- year-old who is in good health overall?
A.
Complete blood count reveals increased white blood cell (WBC) and
decreased red blood cell (RBC) counts.
B.
Chemistries reveal an increased serum bilirubin level with slightly increased liver
enzyme levels.
C.
Urinalysis reveals slight protein in the urine and bacteriuria, with
pyuria. D.
Serum electrolytes reveal a decreased sodium level and increased potassium level.
C
Rationale:In older adults, the protein found in urine slightly rises, probably as a
result of kidney changes or subclinical urinary tract infections, and clients
frequently experience asymptomatic bacteriuria and pyuria as a result of
incomplete bladder emptying.
Laboratory findings in options A, B, and D are not considered to be normal findings
in an older adult.
