Adult Health HESI review
questions
Exam Study Guide – Practice
Questions with Answers.
GRADED A+. Latest 2026/2027
Update.
A central venous catheter has been inserted via a jugular vein, and a
radiograph has confirmed placement of the catheter. A prescription has been
received for a medication STAT, but IV fluids have not yet been started. Which
action should the nurse take prior to administering the prescribed medication?
A. Assess for signs of jugular venous distention.
B. Obtain the needed intravenous solution.
C. Flush the line with heparinized solution.
,D. Flush the line with normal saline. - Ans✔✔-Answer, D
Rationale- Medication can be administered via a central line without additional
IV fluids. The line should first be flushed with a normal saline solution to ensure
patency. Insufficient evidence exists on the effectiveness of flushing catheters
with heparin. Option A will not affect the decision to administer the medication
and is not a priority. Administration of the medication STAT is of greater priority
than option B.
A client is ready for discharge following the creation of an ileostomy. Which
instruction should the nurse include in discharge teaching?
A. Replace the stoma appliance every day.
B. Use warm tap water to irrigate the ileostomy.
C. Change the bag when the seal is broken.
D. Measure and record the ileostomy output. - Ans✔✔-Answer- C
Rationale- A seal must be maintained to prevent leakage of irritating liquid
stool onto the skin. Option A is excessive and can cause skin irritation and
,breakdown. Ileostomies produce liquid fecal drainage, so option B is not
necessary. Option D is not needed.
An older male client comes to the outpatient 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 the touch, and the nurse suspects that the client may have
thrombophlebitis. Which additional assessment is most important for the nurse
to perform?
A. Measure the client's calf circumference.
B. Auscultate the client's breath sounds.
C. Observe for ecchymosis and petechiae.
D. Obtain the client's blood pressure. - Ans✔✔-Answer- B
Rationale- All these techniques provide useful assessment data. The most
important is to auscultate the client's breath sounds because the client may
have a pulmonary embolus secondary to the thrombophlebitis. Option A may
provide data that support the nurse's suspicion of thrombophlebitis. Option C
is the least helpful assessment because bruising is not a typical finding
associated with thrombophlebitis. Option D is always useful in evaluating the
client's response to a problem but is of less immediate priority than breath
sound auscultation.
, The nurse is caring for a critically ill client with cirrhosis of the liver who has a
nasogastric tube draining bright red blood. The nurse notes that the client's
serum hemoglobin and hematocrit levels are decreased. Which additional
change in laboratory data should the nurse expect?
A. Increased serum albumin level
B. Decreased serum creatinine
C. Decreased serum ammonia level
D. Increased liver function test results - Ans✔✔-Answer- C
Rationale- The breakdown of glutamine in the intestine and the increased
activity of colonic bacteria from the digestion of proteins increase ammonia
levels in clients with advanced liver disease, so removal of blood, a protein
source, from the intestine results in a reduced level of ammonia. Options A, B,
and D will not be significantly affected by the removal of blood.
What is digoxin - Ans✔✔-Blood pressure medication with high toxicity
Signs of hyperkalemia - Ans✔✔-Tall/spiked T waves, prolonged QT interval,
widening QRS wave
questions
Exam Study Guide – Practice
Questions with Answers.
GRADED A+. Latest 2026/2027
Update.
A central venous catheter has been inserted via a jugular vein, and a
radiograph has confirmed placement of the catheter. A prescription has been
received for a medication STAT, but IV fluids have not yet been started. Which
action should the nurse take prior to administering the prescribed medication?
A. Assess for signs of jugular venous distention.
B. Obtain the needed intravenous solution.
C. Flush the line with heparinized solution.
,D. Flush the line with normal saline. - Ans✔✔-Answer, D
Rationale- Medication can be administered via a central line without additional
IV fluids. The line should first be flushed with a normal saline solution to ensure
patency. Insufficient evidence exists on the effectiveness of flushing catheters
with heparin. Option A will not affect the decision to administer the medication
and is not a priority. Administration of the medication STAT is of greater priority
than option B.
A client is ready for discharge following the creation of an ileostomy. Which
instruction should the nurse include in discharge teaching?
A. Replace the stoma appliance every day.
B. Use warm tap water to irrigate the ileostomy.
C. Change the bag when the seal is broken.
D. Measure and record the ileostomy output. - Ans✔✔-Answer- C
Rationale- A seal must be maintained to prevent leakage of irritating liquid
stool onto the skin. Option A is excessive and can cause skin irritation and
,breakdown. Ileostomies produce liquid fecal drainage, so option B is not
necessary. Option D is not needed.
An older male client comes to the outpatient 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 the touch, and the nurse suspects that the client may have
thrombophlebitis. Which additional assessment is most important for the nurse
to perform?
A. Measure the client's calf circumference.
B. Auscultate the client's breath sounds.
C. Observe for ecchymosis and petechiae.
D. Obtain the client's blood pressure. - Ans✔✔-Answer- B
Rationale- All these techniques provide useful assessment data. The most
important is to auscultate the client's breath sounds because the client may
have a pulmonary embolus secondary to the thrombophlebitis. Option A may
provide data that support the nurse's suspicion of thrombophlebitis. Option C
is the least helpful assessment because bruising is not a typical finding
associated with thrombophlebitis. Option D is always useful in evaluating the
client's response to a problem but is of less immediate priority than breath
sound auscultation.
, The nurse is caring for a critically ill client with cirrhosis of the liver who has a
nasogastric tube draining bright red blood. The nurse notes that the client's
serum hemoglobin and hematocrit levels are decreased. Which additional
change in laboratory data should the nurse expect?
A. Increased serum albumin level
B. Decreased serum creatinine
C. Decreased serum ammonia level
D. Increased liver function test results - Ans✔✔-Answer- C
Rationale- The breakdown of glutamine in the intestine and the increased
activity of colonic bacteria from the digestion of proteins increase ammonia
levels in clients with advanced liver disease, so removal of blood, a protein
source, from the intestine results in a reduced level of ammonia. Options A, B,
and D will not be significantly affected by the removal of blood.
What is digoxin - Ans✔✔-Blood pressure medication with high toxicity
Signs of hyperkalemia - Ans✔✔-Tall/spiked T waves, prolonged QT interval,
widening QRS wave
