Med Surg HESI Exam Questions With Correct Answers - Latest Updated 2023/2024 (100% VERIFIED)

An older adult man recently diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is admitted with shortness of breath. The nurse observes the client sitting upright and leaning over the bedside table, using accessory muscles to assist in breathing. What action should the nurse take? A. Assist the lien tot a high Fowler's position in bed B. Observe the client for the presence of a barrel chest C. Prepare to transfer the client to a critical care unit D. Instruct the client to pursed lip breathing techniques D. Instruct the client in pursed lip breathing techniques 64. A client with multiple sclerosis has urinary retention related to sensorimotor deficits. Which action should the nurse include in the client's plan of care? Teach the client techniques for performing intermittent catheterization 65. When providing care for a client following bronchoscopy, which assessment finding should he nurse immediately report to the healthcare provider? A. Slight blood-tinged sputum B. Dyspnea and dysphagia C. Sore throat and hoarseness D. No gag reflex after thirty minutes D. No gag reflex after thirty minutes 66. The nurse is assessing clients in an outpatient diabetic clinic. Which entry provides the best medication that the client is adhering to the prescribed diabetic regimen? Hemoglobin A1C of 6.2% 67. A male client in skeletal traction tells the nurse that he is frustrated because he needs help repositioning Provide an overhead trapeze to 19 / 35 Med Surg Final HESI himself in bed. Which intervention should the nurse implement? the bed for the client to use 68. An older client is admitted after falling while walking. The left leg is externally rotated and shorter than the right leg, and the client is having severe pain and tingling in the left foot. The nurse is unable to palpate the left pedal pulses. Which action is most important for the nurse to implement? Use a doppler to assess bilateral pedal pulses 69. A client who had a biliopancreatic diversion procedure (BDP) 3 months ago is admitted with a severe dehydration. Which assessment finding warrants immediate intervention by the nurse. A. Strong foul-smelling flatus B. Gastroccult positive emesis C. Complaint of poor night vision D. Loose bowel movements B. Gastroccult positive emesis 70. A female client who was involved in a motor vehicle collision with a fractured left femur which is immobilized using a fracture traction splint in preparation for an open reduction internal fixation (ORIF). The nurse determines that her distal pulses are diminished in the left foot. Which interventions should the nurse implement? Select all that apply Monitor left leg for pain, pallor, paresthesia, paralysis, pressure. Verify pedal pulses using a doppler pulse device. Evaluate the application of the splint to the left leg 71. A client returns to the unit following a suprapubic prostatectomy. He has a three-way catheter in place with a continuous bladder irrigation infusing. Which assessment finding warrants immediate intervention by the nurse? A. True urinary output of 50ml/hr B. Lower abdominal tenderness D. Urine leaking around the meatus 20 / 35 Med Surg Final HESI C. Blood urine output with clots D. Urine leaking around the meatus 72. A client tells the nurse that her biopsy results indicate that the cancer cells are well-differentiated. How should the nurse respond? Ask the client if the healthcare provider has given her any information about the classification of her cancer 73. The nurse is assessing a client who has tinea pedis. Which question will allow the nurse to gather further information about this condition? Do you see any improvement when using tolnaftate? 74. A male client who had abdominal surgery 5 days ago, and hospitalized because of a surgical wound infection, tells the nurse that he feels like his insides just spilled out when he coughed. What action should the nurse take first? A. Notify the healthcare provider B. Assure the client that such feelings occur with wound infections C. Visualize the abdominal incision D. Obtain sterile towels soaked in saline C. Visualize the abdominal incision 75. A male client with pernicious anemia takes supplemental folate and self-administers monthly Vitamin B12 injections. He reports feeling increasingly fatigued. Which laboratory value should the nurse review? Complete blood count 76. A male client is recovering from an episode of urinary tract calculi. During discharge teaching, the client asks about the dietary restriction he should follow. In discussing fluid intake, the nurse should include which type of fluid limitation C. Tea and hot chocolate 21 / 35 Med Surg Final HESI A. Low-sodium soups. B. Over all fluid intake C. Tea and hot chocolate D. Citrus fruit juices 77. A male client complains of pain in his right calf, and the nurse determines that his calf is edematous and deep red. What intervention has the highest priority? Tell the client to remain in bed 78. An older woman who experienced a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) has difficulty with visual perception and she only eats half of the food on her meal tray. Her family expresses concern about her nutritional status. How should the nurse respond to the family's concern? A. Encourage the family to offer to feed the client when she does not eat her entire meal. B. Suggest that the family bring foods from home that the client enjoys C. Explain that weight loss will be reversed after the acute phase of the stroke has ended. D. Demonstrate the use of visual scanning during meals to the client and family. D. Demonstrate the use of visual scanning during meals to the client and family 79. A client with stage IV bone cancer is admitted to the hospital for pain control. The client verbalizes continuous, severe pain of 8 on a 1 to 10 scale. Which intervention should the nurse implement? Administer opioid and non-opioid medication simultaneously 80. A female client who received partial-thickness and full-thickness burns over 40% of her body in a house fire is admitted to the inpatient burn unit. What fluid should the nurse prepare to administer during the acute phase of the client's burn recovery? Ringer's Lactate 81. A client uses triamcinolone (Kenalog), a corticosteroid ointment, to manage pruritus caused by a chronic skin rash. The client calls the clinic nurse to A. Schedule an appointment for the client to 22 / 35 Med Surg Final HESI report increased erythema with purulent exudate at the site. Which action should the nurse implement? A. Schedule an appointment or the client to see the healthcare provider B. Advise the client to apply plastic wrap over the ointment to promote healing C. Instruct the client to continue the ointment until all erythema is relieved D. Explain the client need to complete all prescribed dose of the medication see the healthcare provider. 82. A nurse is caring for a client with Diabetes Insipidus (DI). Which data warrants the most immediate intervention by the nurse? A. Serum sodium of 185 mEq/L B. Dry skin with inelastic turgor C. Apical rate of 110 beats/minute D. Polyuria and excessive thirst A. Serum sodium of 185 mEq/L 83. A client with an acute exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has localized pain and inflammation of the fingers and feet; swelling, redness, and restricted joint motion; and reports feeling fatigued. Which nursing diagnosis has the highest priority for this client? Pain related to joint inflammation 84. When explaining dietary guidelines to a client with acute glomerulonephritis (AGN), which instruction should the nurse include in the dietary teaching? Restrict sodium intake 85. A client with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is admitted to the hospital for uncontrolled DM. Insulin therapy is initiated with an initial dose of Humulin N insulin at 0800. At 1600, the client complains of diaphoresis, rapid heartbeat, and feeling shaky. What should the nurse do first? Determine the client's current glucose level 86. 23 / 35 Med Surg Final HESI The nurse determines that a client who arrives in the preoperative holding area before surgery is allergic to bananas. Which action should the nurse implement prior to taking the client into the operative area? Replace latex-containing devices in the OR with alternate synthetic materials 87. In assessing a client with ulcers on the lower extremity, which findings indicate that the ulcers are likely to be of venous, rather than arterial, origin? A. Black ulcers and dependent rubor B. Irregular ulcer shapes and sever edema C. Absent pedal pulses and shiny skin D. Hairless lower extremities and cool feet B. Irregular ulcer shapes and severe edema 88. A 70-year-old male client with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is hospitalized with an infected ulcer on his great right toe. Which instruction should the nurse emphasize during discharge teaching? Check the insides and linings of all enclosed shoes before putting the shoes on 89. The nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client who is receiving prednisone (Deltasone) 5 mg PO daily for a rash due to contact with poison ivy. Which symptom should the nurse tell the client to report to the healthcare provider? Rapid weight gain 90. The family suspects that AIDS dementia is occurring in their son who is HIV positive. Which symptom confirms their suspicions? A change has recently occurred in his handwriting. 91. A woman who works as a data entry clerk is concerned as to how recent diagnosis of Raynaud's syndrome is going to affect her job performance. Which instruction should the nurse provide this client? Use a space heater to keep the workspace warm 92. An older male client with long-standing lung disease is admitted to the medical unit for treatment of pulmonary infection. In assessing for signs of increasing hypoxia, which action should the nurse include? B. Check for changes in mentation. C. Observe color 24 / 35 Med Surg Final HESI (select all that apply) A. Monitor dryness of mucous membranes B. Check for changes in mentation C. Observe color of skin and nailbeds D. Note appearance of jugular veins E. Assess breathing patterns of skin and mucous. E. Assess breathing patterns 93. An adult client is admitted with flank pain and is diagnosed with acute pyelonephritis. What is the priority nursing action? A. Auscultate for presence of bowl sounds. B. Monitor hemoglobin and hematocrit C. Encourage turning and deep breathing D. Administer IV antibiotics as prescribed. D. Administer IV antibiotics as prescribed 94. A client's telemetry monitor indicates ventricular fibrillation (VF). After delivering one counter shock, the nurse resumes chest compression. After another minute of compressions, the client's rhythm converts to supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) on the monitor. At this point, what is the priority intervention for the nurse? A. Prepare for transcutaneous pacing B. Deliver another defibrillator shock C. Administer IV Epinephrine per ACLS protocol D. Give IV dose of adenosine rapidly over 1-2 seconds. D. Give IV dose of adenosine rapidly over 1-2 seconds 95. Two days following abdominal surgery a client begins to report camping abdominal pain, and the nurse's inspection the abdomen indicates slight distention. Which action should the nurse implement first? A. Encourage the client to ambulate B. Offer ice ships or warm liquids C. Auscultate the client's abdomen 25 / 35 Med Surg Final HESI C. Auscultate the client's abdomen D. Assess the client's temperature 96. A client with a liver abscess undergoes surgical evacuation and drainage of the abscess. Which laboratory value is most important for the nurse to monitor following the procedure? A. Serum creatinine B. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) C. White blood cell count D. Serum glucose C. White blood cell count 97. A client with draining skin lesions of the lower extremity is admitted with possible Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). Which nursing interventions should the nurse include in the plan on care? (Select all that apply.) Institute contact precautions for staff and visitors. Send wound drainage for culture and sensitivity. Monitor the client's white blood cell count. 98. During preoperative teaching for a male client schedule for repair of an inguinal hernia, the client tells the nurse that he has had several surgeries and understand the need to perform coughing and deep breathing exercise after surgery. How should the nurse respond? A. Ask for a demonstration of these exercises B. Explain that coughing should be avoided C. Review the client previous surgical history D. Document the clients understanding of teaching A. Ask for a demonstration of these exercises 99. An older adult with heart failure is hospitalized during an acute exacerbation. To reduce cardiac workload, which intervention should the nurse include in the client's plan of care? C. Provide a bedside commode for toileting 26 / 35 Med Surg Final HESI A. Assist with ambulation in the hallway B. Encourage active range of motion exercises C. Provide a bedside commode for toileting D. Teach to sleep in a slide-laying position 100. Which instruction should the nurse include in the discharge teaching for a client who has gastroesophageal reflux? A. Teach the client to elevate the head of the bed on blocks B. Remind the client to avoid high-fiber foods C. Encourage the client to lie down and rest after meals. D. Instruct the client to use antacids only as a last resort A. Teach the client to elevate the head of the bed on blocks 101. A client with ph