MED SURG HESI EXAM 1 ASSESSMENT SCRIPT
2026 VERIFIED ANSWERS COMPREHENSIVE
REVIEW
◉ After treatment with radioactive iodine (RAI) in the form of
sodium iodide 131I, the nurse teaches the client to:
1. Monitor for signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
2. Rest for 1 week to prevent complications of the medication.
3. Take thyroxine replacement for the remainder of the client's life.
4. Assess for hypertension and tachycardia resulting from altered
thyroid activity..
Answer: 3. Take thyroxine replacement for the remainder of the
client's life.
The client needs to be educated about the need for lifelong thyroid
hormone replacement. Permanent hypothyroidism is the major
complication of RAI 131I treatment. Lifelong medical follow-up and
thyroid replacement are warranted. The client needs to
monitor for signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism, not
hyperthyroidism. Resting for 1 week is not necessary. Hypertension
and tachycardia are signs of hyperthyroidism, not hypothyroidism.
,CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Synthesize
◉ A client with a large goiter is scheduled for a subtotal
thyroidectomy to treat thyrotoxicosis. Saturated solution of
potassium iodide (SSKI) is prescribed preoperatively for the client.
The expected outcome of using this drug is that it helps:
1. Slow progression of exophthalmos.
2. Reduce the vascularity of the thyroid gland.
3. Decrease the body's ability to store thyroxine.
4. Increase the body's ability to excrete thyroxine..
Answer: 2. Reduce the vascularity of the thyroid gland.
SSKI is frequently administered before a thyroidectomy because it
helps decrease the vascularity of the thyroid gland. A highly vascular
thyroid gland is very friable, a condition that presents a hazard
during surgery. Preparation of the client for surgery includes
depleting the gland of thyroid hormone and decreasing vascularity.
SSKI does not decrease the progression of exophthalmos, and it does
not decrease the body's ability to store thyroxine or increase the
body's ability to excrete thyroxine.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Apply
,◉ The nurse is administering a saturated solution of potassium
iodide (SSKI). The nurse should:
1. Pour the solution over ice chips.
2. Mix the solution with an antacid.
3. Dilute the solution with water, milk, or fruit juice and have the
client drink it with a straw.
4. Disguise the solution in a pureed fruit or vegetable..
Answer: 3. Dilute the solution with water, milk, or fruit juice and
have the client drink it with a straw.
SSKI should be diluted well in milk, water, juice, or a carbonated
beverage before administration to help disguise the strong, bitter
taste. Also, this drug is irritating
to mucosa if taken undiluted. The client should sip the diluted
preparation through a drinking straw to help prevent staining of the
teeth. Pouring the solution over ice chips will not sufficiently dilute
the SSKI or cover the taste. Antacids are not used to dilute or cover
the taste of SSKI. Mixing in a puree would put the SSKI in contact
with the teeth.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Apply
◉ Following a subtotal thyroidectomy, the nurse asks the client to
speak
, immediately upon regaining consciousness. The nurse does this to
monitor for signs of which of the following?
1. Internal hemorrhage.
2. Decreasing level of consciousness.
3. Laryngeal nerve damage.
4. Upper airway obstruction..
Answer: 3. Laryngeal nerve damage.
Laryngeal nerve damage is a potential complication of thyroid
surgery because of the proximity of the thyroid gland to the
recurrent laryngeal nerve. Asking the
client to speak helps assess for signs of laryngeal nerve damage.
Persistent or worsening hoarseness and weak voice are signs of
laryngeal nerve damage and should
be reported to the physician immediately. Internal hemorrhage is
detected by changes in vital signs. The client's level of consciousness
can be partially assessed by asking her to speak, but that is not the
primary reason for doing so in this situation. Upper airway
obstruction is detected by color and respiratory rate and pattern.
CN: Reduction of risk potential; CL: Analyze
◉ A client who has undergone a subtotal thyroidectomy is subject to
2026 VERIFIED ANSWERS COMPREHENSIVE
REVIEW
◉ After treatment with radioactive iodine (RAI) in the form of
sodium iodide 131I, the nurse teaches the client to:
1. Monitor for signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
2. Rest for 1 week to prevent complications of the medication.
3. Take thyroxine replacement for the remainder of the client's life.
4. Assess for hypertension and tachycardia resulting from altered
thyroid activity..
Answer: 3. Take thyroxine replacement for the remainder of the
client's life.
The client needs to be educated about the need for lifelong thyroid
hormone replacement. Permanent hypothyroidism is the major
complication of RAI 131I treatment. Lifelong medical follow-up and
thyroid replacement are warranted. The client needs to
monitor for signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism, not
hyperthyroidism. Resting for 1 week is not necessary. Hypertension
and tachycardia are signs of hyperthyroidism, not hypothyroidism.
,CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Synthesize
◉ A client with a large goiter is scheduled for a subtotal
thyroidectomy to treat thyrotoxicosis. Saturated solution of
potassium iodide (SSKI) is prescribed preoperatively for the client.
The expected outcome of using this drug is that it helps:
1. Slow progression of exophthalmos.
2. Reduce the vascularity of the thyroid gland.
3. Decrease the body's ability to store thyroxine.
4. Increase the body's ability to excrete thyroxine..
Answer: 2. Reduce the vascularity of the thyroid gland.
SSKI is frequently administered before a thyroidectomy because it
helps decrease the vascularity of the thyroid gland. A highly vascular
thyroid gland is very friable, a condition that presents a hazard
during surgery. Preparation of the client for surgery includes
depleting the gland of thyroid hormone and decreasing vascularity.
SSKI does not decrease the progression of exophthalmos, and it does
not decrease the body's ability to store thyroxine or increase the
body's ability to excrete thyroxine.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Apply
,◉ The nurse is administering a saturated solution of potassium
iodide (SSKI). The nurse should:
1. Pour the solution over ice chips.
2. Mix the solution with an antacid.
3. Dilute the solution with water, milk, or fruit juice and have the
client drink it with a straw.
4. Disguise the solution in a pureed fruit or vegetable..
Answer: 3. Dilute the solution with water, milk, or fruit juice and
have the client drink it with a straw.
SSKI should be diluted well in milk, water, juice, or a carbonated
beverage before administration to help disguise the strong, bitter
taste. Also, this drug is irritating
to mucosa if taken undiluted. The client should sip the diluted
preparation through a drinking straw to help prevent staining of the
teeth. Pouring the solution over ice chips will not sufficiently dilute
the SSKI or cover the taste. Antacids are not used to dilute or cover
the taste of SSKI. Mixing in a puree would put the SSKI in contact
with the teeth.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Apply
◉ Following a subtotal thyroidectomy, the nurse asks the client to
speak
, immediately upon regaining consciousness. The nurse does this to
monitor for signs of which of the following?
1. Internal hemorrhage.
2. Decreasing level of consciousness.
3. Laryngeal nerve damage.
4. Upper airway obstruction..
Answer: 3. Laryngeal nerve damage.
Laryngeal nerve damage is a potential complication of thyroid
surgery because of the proximity of the thyroid gland to the
recurrent laryngeal nerve. Asking the
client to speak helps assess for signs of laryngeal nerve damage.
Persistent or worsening hoarseness and weak voice are signs of
laryngeal nerve damage and should
be reported to the physician immediately. Internal hemorrhage is
detected by changes in vital signs. The client's level of consciousness
can be partially assessed by asking her to speak, but that is not the
primary reason for doing so in this situation. Upper airway
obstruction is detected by color and respiratory rate and pattern.
CN: Reduction of risk potential; CL: Analyze
◉ A client who has undergone a subtotal thyroidectomy is subject to
