HESI Chronic | Questios and answers | 2026
The nurse is assessing a client with a chest tube that is Upper chest subcutaneous emphysema.
attached to suction and a closed drainage system. Which
finding is most important for the nurse to further Subcutaneous emphysema is a complication and indicates air is leaking beneath
assess? the skin surrounding the chest tube.
A client arrives at the emergency department for Auscultate the lungs bilaterally.
treatment of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle collision.
The nurse notes the asymmetrical expansion of the Chest trauma may result in the development of pneumothorax. After noting the
chest wall during respiration. Which action should the asymmetric expansion of the chest wall, the nurse should auscultate the lungs to
nurse implement next? determine if the client can move air through all of the lung fields.
Which finding should the nurse report to the Slow capillary refill in the digits with absent distal pulse points.
healthcare provider for a client with a circumferential
extremity burn? A circumferential burn can form an eschar that results from burn exudate fluid
that dries and acts as a tourniquet as fluid shifts occur in the interstitial tissue. As
edema increases tissue pressure, blood flow to the distal extremity is
compromised, which is manifested by slow capillary refill and absent distal
pulses, so the healthcare provider should be notified about any compromised
circulation that requires escharotomy.
The nurse completes a visual inspection of a client's Auscultation
abdomen. Which technique should the nurse perform
next in the abdominal examination? Auscultation of the client's abdomen is performed next because manual
manipulation of the abdomen can stimulate peristalsis and create an inaccurate
assessment of bowel sounds heard during auscultation.
, A male client comes into the clinic with a history of penile Collect a culture of the penile discharge.
discharge with painful, burning urination. Which action
should the nurse implement? Penile discharge with painful urination is commonly associated with gonorrhea.
The nurse should collect a culture of the penile discharge to determine the cause
of these symptoms. The cause must be determined or confirmed through culture
to identify the organism and ensure effective treatment.
A client is admitted to the hospital with a traumatic Serosanguineous nasal drainage.
brain injury after his head violently struck a brick wall
during a gang fight. Which finding is most important for Any nasal discharge following a head injury should be evaluated to determine the
the nurse to assess further? presence of cerebral spinal fluid which would indicate a tear in the dura
making the client susceptible to meningitis.
A client's prostate-specific antigen (PSA) exam result Low risk for prostate cancer.
showed a PSA density of 0.13 ng/mL. Which conclusion
regarding this lab data is accurate?
Clients with a PSA density of less than 0.15 ng/mL are considered at low risk for
prostate cancer.
A client with a chronic infection of Hepatitis C virus Assess for signs of bleeding and hypovolemia.
(HCV) is scheduled for a liver biopsy. Which intervention
should the nurse perform after the procedure? Assessment for signs of bleeding should be implemented because internal
bleeding is the greatest risk following a liver biopsy.
Which is the primary nursing problem for a client with Deficient knowledge.
asymptomatic primary syphilis?
An asymptomatic client with primary syphilis is most likely unaware of this disease,
so to prevent transmission to others and recurrence in the client, the priority
nursing problem is deficient knowledge of the disease pathophysiology.
A client is admitted after a blunt abdominal injury. Bluish periumbilical skin discoloration.
Which assessment finding requires immediate action
by the nurse? Immediate action is indicated for intraperitoneal hemorrhage which causes
periumbilical discoloration and indicates the presence of a splenic rupture, a life-
threatening complication of blunt abdominal injury.
A client who had abdominal surgery two days ago Assist the client to ambulate in the hall.
has prescriptions for intravenous morphine sulfate 4 mg
every 2 hours and a clear liquid diet. The client Postoperative abdominal distention is caused by decreased peristalsis as a
complains of feeling distended and has sharp, result of handling the intestine during surgery, limited dietary intake before and
cramping gas pains. after surgery, and anesthetic and analgesic agents. Peristalsis is stimulated,
Which nursing intervention should be implemented? flatus passed and distention minimized by implementing early and frequent
ambulation.
While caring for a client who has esophageal varices, Monitor infusing IV fluids and any replacement blood products.
which nursing intervention is most important for the nurse
to implement? Maintaining hemodynamic stability in a client with esophageal varices can
precipitate a life-threatening crisis if esophageal varies leak or rupture and
can result in hemorrhage. The priority is assessing and monitoring infusions of IV
fluids and any replacement blood products.
The nurse is assessing a client with a chest tube that is Upper chest subcutaneous emphysema.
attached to suction and a closed drainage system. Which
finding is most important for the nurse to further Subcutaneous emphysema is a complication and indicates air is leaking beneath
assess? the skin surrounding the chest tube.
A client arrives at the emergency department for Auscultate the lungs bilaterally.
treatment of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle collision.
The nurse notes the asymmetrical expansion of the Chest trauma may result in the development of pneumothorax. After noting the
chest wall during respiration. Which action should the asymmetric expansion of the chest wall, the nurse should auscultate the lungs to
nurse implement next? determine if the client can move air through all of the lung fields.
Which finding should the nurse report to the Slow capillary refill in the digits with absent distal pulse points.
healthcare provider for a client with a circumferential
extremity burn? A circumferential burn can form an eschar that results from burn exudate fluid
that dries and acts as a tourniquet as fluid shifts occur in the interstitial tissue. As
edema increases tissue pressure, blood flow to the distal extremity is
compromised, which is manifested by slow capillary refill and absent distal
pulses, so the healthcare provider should be notified about any compromised
circulation that requires escharotomy.
The nurse completes a visual inspection of a client's Auscultation
abdomen. Which technique should the nurse perform
next in the abdominal examination? Auscultation of the client's abdomen is performed next because manual
manipulation of the abdomen can stimulate peristalsis and create an inaccurate
assessment of bowel sounds heard during auscultation.
, A male client comes into the clinic with a history of penile Collect a culture of the penile discharge.
discharge with painful, burning urination. Which action
should the nurse implement? Penile discharge with painful urination is commonly associated with gonorrhea.
The nurse should collect a culture of the penile discharge to determine the cause
of these symptoms. The cause must be determined or confirmed through culture
to identify the organism and ensure effective treatment.
A client is admitted to the hospital with a traumatic Serosanguineous nasal drainage.
brain injury after his head violently struck a brick wall
during a gang fight. Which finding is most important for Any nasal discharge following a head injury should be evaluated to determine the
the nurse to assess further? presence of cerebral spinal fluid which would indicate a tear in the dura
making the client susceptible to meningitis.
A client's prostate-specific antigen (PSA) exam result Low risk for prostate cancer.
showed a PSA density of 0.13 ng/mL. Which conclusion
regarding this lab data is accurate?
Clients with a PSA density of less than 0.15 ng/mL are considered at low risk for
prostate cancer.
A client with a chronic infection of Hepatitis C virus Assess for signs of bleeding and hypovolemia.
(HCV) is scheduled for a liver biopsy. Which intervention
should the nurse perform after the procedure? Assessment for signs of bleeding should be implemented because internal
bleeding is the greatest risk following a liver biopsy.
Which is the primary nursing problem for a client with Deficient knowledge.
asymptomatic primary syphilis?
An asymptomatic client with primary syphilis is most likely unaware of this disease,
so to prevent transmission to others and recurrence in the client, the priority
nursing problem is deficient knowledge of the disease pathophysiology.
A client is admitted after a blunt abdominal injury. Bluish periumbilical skin discoloration.
Which assessment finding requires immediate action
by the nurse? Immediate action is indicated for intraperitoneal hemorrhage which causes
periumbilical discoloration and indicates the presence of a splenic rupture, a life-
threatening complication of blunt abdominal injury.
A client who had abdominal surgery two days ago Assist the client to ambulate in the hall.
has prescriptions for intravenous morphine sulfate 4 mg
every 2 hours and a clear liquid diet. The client Postoperative abdominal distention is caused by decreased peristalsis as a
complains of feeling distended and has sharp, result of handling the intestine during surgery, limited dietary intake before and
cramping gas pains. after surgery, and anesthetic and analgesic agents. Peristalsis is stimulated,
Which nursing intervention should be implemented? flatus passed and distention minimized by implementing early and frequent
ambulation.
While caring for a client who has esophageal varices, Monitor infusing IV fluids and any replacement blood products.
which nursing intervention is most important for the nurse
to implement? Maintaining hemodynamic stability in a client with esophageal varices can
precipitate a life-threatening crisis if esophageal varies leak or rupture and
can result in hemorrhage. The priority is assessing and monitoring infusions of IV
fluids and any replacement blood products.
