MED SURG HESI FINAL PRACTICE EXAM
SCRIPT 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ Which description of symptoms is characteristic of a client diagnosed
with trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux)?
a. Tinnitus, vertigo, and hearing difficulties.
b. Sudden, stabbing, severe pain over the lip and chin.
c. Facial weakness and paralysis.
d. Difficulty in chewing, talking, 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 (5th cranial). Women are more often afflicted with this
condition and generally occurs in clients over the age of 50 years old.
◉ Which discharge instruction is most important for a client after a
kidney transplant?
a. Weigh weekly.
b. Report symptoms of secondary Candidiasis.
c. Use daily reminders to take immunosuppressants.
d. Stop cigarette smoking.. Answer: C - After a renal transplantation,
acute rejection is a high risk for several months. The organ recipient will
have to take immunosuppressive therapy for the rest of their lives, such
as corticosteroids and azathioprine, to prevent organ transplant rejection.
Discharge instructions include measures such as daily reminders to
,ensure the client takes these medications regularly to prevent organ
rejection from occurring.
◉ The nurse is providing dietary instructions to a 68-year-old client who
is at high risk for development of coronary heart disease (CHD). Which
information should the nurse include?
a. Limit dietary selection of cholesterol to 300 mg per day.
b. Increase intake of soluble fiber to 10 to 25 grams per day.
c. Decrease plant stanols and sterols to less than 2 grams/day.
d. Ensure saturated fat is less than 30% of total caloric intake.. Answer:
B - To reduce risk factors associated with coronary heart disease, the
daily intake of soluble fiber should be increased to between 10 and 25
grams per day. According to the American Heart Association, soluble
fibers helps reduce LDL cholesterol levels.
◉ Two days postoperative, a male client reports aching pain in his left
leg. The nurse assesses redness and warmth on the lower left calf. Which
intervention would be most helpful to this client?
a. Apply sequential compression devices (SCDs) bilaterally.
b. Assess for a positive Homan's sign in each leg.
c. Pad all bony prominences on the affected leg.
d. Advise the client to remain in bed with the leg elevated.. Answer: D -
For a client exhibiting symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a
complication of immobility, the initial care includes bedrest and
elevation of the extremity.
,◉ A middle-aged male client with diabetes continues to eat an
abundance of foods that are high in sugar and fat. According to the
Health Belief Model, which event is most likely to increase the client's
willingness to become compliant with the prescribed diet?
a. He visits his diabetic brother who just had surgery to amputate an
infected foot.
b. He is provided with the most current information about the dangers of
untreated diabetes.
c. He comments on the community service announcements about
preventing complications associated with diabetes.
d. His wife expresses a sincere willingness to prepare meals that are
within his prescribed diet.. Answer: A - The loss of a limb due to
diabetes by a family member should be the strongest event or "cue to
action" and is most likely to increase the client's perceived seriousness
of the disease.
◉ A 58-year-old client who has been post-menopausal for five years is
concerned about the risk for osteoporosis because her mother has the
condition. Which information should the nurse offer?
a. Osteoporosis is a progressive genetic disease with no effective
treatment.
b. Calcium loss from bones can be slowed by increasing calcium intake
and exercise.
c. Estrogen replacement therapy should be started to prevent the
progression osteoporosis.
d. Low-dose corticosteroid treatment effectively halts the course of
osteoporosis.. Answer: B - Post-menopausal females are at risk for
osteoporosis due to the cessation of estrogen secretion, but a regimen
, including calcium, vitamin D, and weight-bearing exercise can help
prevent further bone loss.
◉ The nurse notes that the only ECG for a 55-year-old male client
scheduled for surgery in two hours is dated two years ago. The client
reports that he has a history of "heart trouble," but has no problems at
present. Hospital protocol requires that those over 50 years of age have a
recent ECG prior to surgery. Which nursing action is best for the nurse
to implement?
a. Ask the client what he means by "heart trouble."
b. Call for an ECG to be performed immediately.
c. Notify surgery that the ECG is over two years old.
d. Notify the client's surgeon immediately.. Answer: B
◉ Which information about mammograms is most important to provide
a post-menopausal female client?
a. Breast self-examinations are not needed if annual mammograms are
obtained.
b. Radiation exposure is minimized by shielding the abdomen with a
lead-lined apron.
c. Yearly mammograms should be done regardless of previous normal x-
rays.
d. Women at high risk should have annual routine and ultrasound
mammograms. Answer: C - There are different recommendations from
different agnecies. For a client with no risk factors, the earliest breast
screening recommendation is a yearly mammogram at the age 40 and till
the age of 54. After that every two years. The American College of
SCRIPT 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ Which description of symptoms is characteristic of a client diagnosed
with trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux)?
a. Tinnitus, vertigo, and hearing difficulties.
b. Sudden, stabbing, severe pain over the lip and chin.
c. Facial weakness and paralysis.
d. Difficulty in chewing, talking, 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 (5th cranial). Women are more often afflicted with this
condition and generally occurs in clients over the age of 50 years old.
◉ Which discharge instruction is most important for a client after a
kidney transplant?
a. Weigh weekly.
b. Report symptoms of secondary Candidiasis.
c. Use daily reminders to take immunosuppressants.
d. Stop cigarette smoking.. Answer: C - After a renal transplantation,
acute rejection is a high risk for several months. The organ recipient will
have to take immunosuppressive therapy for the rest of their lives, such
as corticosteroids and azathioprine, to prevent organ transplant rejection.
Discharge instructions include measures such as daily reminders to
,ensure the client takes these medications regularly to prevent organ
rejection from occurring.
◉ The nurse is providing dietary instructions to a 68-year-old client who
is at high risk for development of coronary heart disease (CHD). Which
information should the nurse include?
a. Limit dietary selection of cholesterol to 300 mg per day.
b. Increase intake of soluble fiber to 10 to 25 grams per day.
c. Decrease plant stanols and sterols to less than 2 grams/day.
d. Ensure saturated fat is less than 30% of total caloric intake.. Answer:
B - To reduce risk factors associated with coronary heart disease, the
daily intake of soluble fiber should be increased to between 10 and 25
grams per day. According to the American Heart Association, soluble
fibers helps reduce LDL cholesterol levels.
◉ Two days postoperative, a male client reports aching pain in his left
leg. The nurse assesses redness and warmth on the lower left calf. Which
intervention would be most helpful to this client?
a. Apply sequential compression devices (SCDs) bilaterally.
b. Assess for a positive Homan's sign in each leg.
c. Pad all bony prominences on the affected leg.
d. Advise the client to remain in bed with the leg elevated.. Answer: D -
For a client exhibiting symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a
complication of immobility, the initial care includes bedrest and
elevation of the extremity.
,◉ A middle-aged male client with diabetes continues to eat an
abundance of foods that are high in sugar and fat. According to the
Health Belief Model, which event is most likely to increase the client's
willingness to become compliant with the prescribed diet?
a. He visits his diabetic brother who just had surgery to amputate an
infected foot.
b. He is provided with the most current information about the dangers of
untreated diabetes.
c. He comments on the community service announcements about
preventing complications associated with diabetes.
d. His wife expresses a sincere willingness to prepare meals that are
within his prescribed diet.. Answer: A - The loss of a limb due to
diabetes by a family member should be the strongest event or "cue to
action" and is most likely to increase the client's perceived seriousness
of the disease.
◉ A 58-year-old client who has been post-menopausal for five years is
concerned about the risk for osteoporosis because her mother has the
condition. Which information should the nurse offer?
a. Osteoporosis is a progressive genetic disease with no effective
treatment.
b. Calcium loss from bones can be slowed by increasing calcium intake
and exercise.
c. Estrogen replacement therapy should be started to prevent the
progression osteoporosis.
d. Low-dose corticosteroid treatment effectively halts the course of
osteoporosis.. Answer: B - Post-menopausal females are at risk for
osteoporosis due to the cessation of estrogen secretion, but a regimen
, including calcium, vitamin D, and weight-bearing exercise can help
prevent further bone loss.
◉ The nurse notes that the only ECG for a 55-year-old male client
scheduled for surgery in two hours is dated two years ago. The client
reports that he has a history of "heart trouble," but has no problems at
present. Hospital protocol requires that those over 50 years of age have a
recent ECG prior to surgery. Which nursing action is best for the nurse
to implement?
a. Ask the client what he means by "heart trouble."
b. Call for an ECG to be performed immediately.
c. Notify surgery that the ECG is over two years old.
d. Notify the client's surgeon immediately.. Answer: B
◉ Which information about mammograms is most important to provide
a post-menopausal female client?
a. Breast self-examinations are not needed if annual mammograms are
obtained.
b. Radiation exposure is minimized by shielding the abdomen with a
lead-lined apron.
c. Yearly mammograms should be done regardless of previous normal x-
rays.
d. Women at high risk should have annual routine and ultrasound
mammograms. Answer: C - There are different recommendations from
different agnecies. For a client with no risk factors, the earliest breast
screening recommendation is a yearly mammogram at the age 40 and till
the age of 54. After that every two years. The American College of
