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BSN 266 HESI Med Surg Exam Q&A
(2026/2027) NGN Nursing already graded
A+, Exams of Nursing
A 32-year-old female client complains of severe abdominal pain each month before her
menstrual period, painful intercourse, and painful defecation. Which additional history should
the nurse obtain that is consistent with the client's complaints?
A. Frequent urinary tract infections.
B. Inability to get pregnant.
C. Premenstrual syndrome.
D. Chronic use of laxatives. - --ANS---B. Inability to get pregnant.
Rationale
Dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and difficulty or painful defecation are common symptoms of
endometriosis, which is the abnormal displacement of endometrial tissue in the dependent areas
of the pelvic peritoneum. A history of infertility is another common finding associated with
endometriosis.
The nurse would be correct in withholding a dose of digoxin in a client with congestive heart
failure without specific instruction from the healthcare provider if the client's
A. serum digoxin level is 1.5.
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B. blood pressure is 104/68.
C. serum potassium level is 3.
D. apical pulse is 68/min. - --ANS---C. serum potassium level is 3.
Rationale
Hypokalemia can precipitate digitalis toxicity in persons receiving digoxin which will increase
the chance of dangerous dysrhythmias (normal potassium level is 3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L).
In assessing cancer risk, the nurse identifies which woman as being at greatest risk of developing
breast cancer?
A. A 35-year-old multipara who never breastfed.
B. A 50-year-old whose mother had unilateral breast cancer.
C. A 55-year-old whose mother-in-law had bilateral breast cancer.
D. A 20-year-old whose menarche occurred at age 9. - --ANS---B. A 50-year-old whose mother
had unilateral breast cancer.
Rationale
The most predictive risk factors for development of breast cancer are over 40 years of age and a
positive family history (occurrence in the immediate family, i.e., mother or sister). Other risk
factors include nulliparity, no history of breastfeeding, early menarche and late menopause, but
are not considered as predictive as a positive history of an immediate family member and over 40
years old.
A client taking a thiazide diuretic for the past six months has a serum potassium level of 3. The
nurse anticipates which change in prescription for the client?
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A. The dosage of the diuretic will be decreased.
B. The diuretic will be discontinued.
C. A potassium supplement will be prescribed.
D. The dosage of the diuretic will be increased. - --ANS---C. A potassium supplement will be
prescribed.
Rationale
This client's potassium level is too low (normal is 3.5 to 5). Taking a thiazide diuretic often
results in a loss of potassium, so a potassium supplement needs to be prescribed to restore a
normal serum potassium level.
Which milestone indicates to the nurse successful achievement of young adulthood?
A. Demonstrates a conceptualization of death and dying.
B. Completes education and becomes self-supporting.
C. Creates a new definition of self and roles with others.
D. Develops a strong need for parental support and approval. - --ANS---B. Completes education
and becomes self-supporting.
Rationale
Transitioning through young adulthood is characterized by establishing independence as an
adult, and includes developmental tasks such as completing education, beginning a career, and
becoming self-supporting (B). (A and C) are characteristic of adolescence. Although strong
bonds with parents are an expected finding for this age group, the need for support and approval
(D) indicates dependency, which is a developmental delay.
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A client is admitted to the medical intensive care unit with a diagnosis of myocardial infarction.
The client's history indicates the infarction occurred ten hours ago. Which laboratory test result
would the nurse expect this client to exhibit?
A. Elevated LDH.
B. Elevated serum amylase.
C. Elevated CK-MB.
D. Elevated hematocrit. - --ANS---C. Elevated CK-MB.
Rationale
The cardiac isoenzyme CK-MB (C) is the one of the cardiac markers to indicate myocardial
damage in the presence of MI symptoms and after a positive troponin. The troponin levels will
elevate within 2-3 hours indicating myocardial ischemia, followed by the CK-MB cardiac
markers within 6-9 hours, peaking within 12 to 20 hours after myocardial infarction (MI).
A client who is fully awake after a gastroscopy asks the nurse for something to drink. After
confirming that liquids are allowed, which assessment action should the nurse consider a
priority?
A. Listen to bilateral lung and bowel sounds.
B. Obtain the client's pulse and blood pressure.
C. Assist the client to the bathroom to void.
D. Check the client's gag and swallow reflexes. - --ANS---D. Check the client's gag and swallow
reflexes.
Rationale
BSN 266 HESI Med Surg Exam Q&A
(2026/2027) NGN Nursing already graded
A+, Exams of Nursing
A 32-year-old female client complains of severe abdominal pain each month before her
menstrual period, painful intercourse, and painful defecation. Which additional history should
the nurse obtain that is consistent with the client's complaints?
A. Frequent urinary tract infections.
B. Inability to get pregnant.
C. Premenstrual syndrome.
D. Chronic use of laxatives. - --ANS---B. Inability to get pregnant.
Rationale
Dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and difficulty or painful defecation are common symptoms of
endometriosis, which is the abnormal displacement of endometrial tissue in the dependent areas
of the pelvic peritoneum. A history of infertility is another common finding associated with
endometriosis.
The nurse would be correct in withholding a dose of digoxin in a client with congestive heart
failure without specific instruction from the healthcare provider if the client's
A. serum digoxin level is 1.5.
,2|Page
B. blood pressure is 104/68.
C. serum potassium level is 3.
D. apical pulse is 68/min. - --ANS---C. serum potassium level is 3.
Rationale
Hypokalemia can precipitate digitalis toxicity in persons receiving digoxin which will increase
the chance of dangerous dysrhythmias (normal potassium level is 3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L).
In assessing cancer risk, the nurse identifies which woman as being at greatest risk of developing
breast cancer?
A. A 35-year-old multipara who never breastfed.
B. A 50-year-old whose mother had unilateral breast cancer.
C. A 55-year-old whose mother-in-law had bilateral breast cancer.
D. A 20-year-old whose menarche occurred at age 9. - --ANS---B. A 50-year-old whose mother
had unilateral breast cancer.
Rationale
The most predictive risk factors for development of breast cancer are over 40 years of age and a
positive family history (occurrence in the immediate family, i.e., mother or sister). Other risk
factors include nulliparity, no history of breastfeeding, early menarche and late menopause, but
are not considered as predictive as a positive history of an immediate family member and over 40
years old.
A client taking a thiazide diuretic for the past six months has a serum potassium level of 3. The
nurse anticipates which change in prescription for the client?
,3|Page
A. The dosage of the diuretic will be decreased.
B. The diuretic will be discontinued.
C. A potassium supplement will be prescribed.
D. The dosage of the diuretic will be increased. - --ANS---C. A potassium supplement will be
prescribed.
Rationale
This client's potassium level is too low (normal is 3.5 to 5). Taking a thiazide diuretic often
results in a loss of potassium, so a potassium supplement needs to be prescribed to restore a
normal serum potassium level.
Which milestone indicates to the nurse successful achievement of young adulthood?
A. Demonstrates a conceptualization of death and dying.
B. Completes education and becomes self-supporting.
C. Creates a new definition of self and roles with others.
D. Develops a strong need for parental support and approval. - --ANS---B. Completes education
and becomes self-supporting.
Rationale
Transitioning through young adulthood is characterized by establishing independence as an
adult, and includes developmental tasks such as completing education, beginning a career, and
becoming self-supporting (B). (A and C) are characteristic of adolescence. Although strong
bonds with parents are an expected finding for this age group, the need for support and approval
(D) indicates dependency, which is a developmental delay.
, 4|Page
A client is admitted to the medical intensive care unit with a diagnosis of myocardial infarction.
The client's history indicates the infarction occurred ten hours ago. Which laboratory test result
would the nurse expect this client to exhibit?
A. Elevated LDH.
B. Elevated serum amylase.
C. Elevated CK-MB.
D. Elevated hematocrit. - --ANS---C. Elevated CK-MB.
Rationale
The cardiac isoenzyme CK-MB (C) is the one of the cardiac markers to indicate myocardial
damage in the presence of MI symptoms and after a positive troponin. The troponin levels will
elevate within 2-3 hours indicating myocardial ischemia, followed by the CK-MB cardiac
markers within 6-9 hours, peaking within 12 to 20 hours after myocardial infarction (MI).
A client who is fully awake after a gastroscopy asks the nurse for something to drink. After
confirming that liquids are allowed, which assessment action should the nurse consider a
priority?
A. Listen to bilateral lung and bowel sounds.
B. Obtain the client's pulse and blood pressure.
C. Assist the client to the bathroom to void.
D. Check the client's gag and swallow reflexes. - --ANS---D. Check the client's gag and swallow
reflexes.
Rationale
