Critical Care HESI Practice Questions
ANS = A
The nurse is providing post-procedure care to a client who had a cardiac catheterization.
The client begins to manifest signs & symptoms associated with embolization. Which action
should the nurse take?
a. Notify the primary healthcare provider immediately
b. Apply a warm, moist compress to the incision site
c. Increase the intravenous fluid rate by 20 mL/hr
d. Monitor vital signs more frequently
ANS = D
A client reports left-sided chest pain after playing racquetball. The client is hospitalized &
diagnosed with left pneumothorax. When assessing the client's left chest area, the nurse
expects to identify which finding?
a. Dull sound on percussion
b. Vocal fremitus on palpation
c. Rales with rhonchi on auscultation
d. Absence of breath sounds on auscultation
Brainpower
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ANS = C
A client is admitted to the hospital with partial- & full-thickness burns of the chest & face
sustained while trying to extinguish a brush fire. Which is the nurse's priority concern?
a. Loss of skin integrity caused by the burns
b. Potential infection as a result of the burn injury
c. Inadequate gas exchange caused by smoke inhalation
,d. Decreased fluid volume because of the depth of the burns
ANS = B
During the first 48 hours after a client has sustained a thermal injury, which conditions should
the nurse assess for?
a. Hypokalemia & hyponatremia
b. Hyperkalemia & hyponatremia
c. Hypokalemia & hypernatremia
d. Hyperkalemia & hypernatremia
ANS = C
A client who had extensive pelvic surgery 24 hours ago becomes cyanotic, is gasping for
breath, & reports right-sided chest pain. What should the nurse do first?
a. Obtain vital signs
b. Initiate a cardiac arrest code
c. Administer oxygen using a face mask
d. Encourage the use of an incentive spirometer
ANS = C
A nurse is caring for a client with severe burns. The nurse determines that this client is at
risk for hypovolemic shock. Which physiologic finding supports the nurse's conclusion?
a. Decreased rate of glomerular filtration
b. Excessive blood loss through the burned tissues
c. Plasma proteins moving out of the intravascular compartment
d. Sodium retention occurring as a result of the aldosterone mechanism
ANS = A
,The nurse is caring for a client with burns & reviews the client's laboratory results: BUN 30
mg/dL; Cr 2.4 mg/dL; serum potassium 6.3 mEq/L; pH, 7.1; PO₂ 90 mm Hg; & Hgb 7.4 g/dL.
Which condition does the nurse suspect the client has based upon these findings?
a. Azotemia
b. Hypokalemia
c. Metabolic alkalosis
d. Respiratory alkalosis
ANS = D
A nurse is caring for a client who experienced serious burns in a fire. Which relationship
between a client's burned body surface area & fluid loss should the nurse consider when
evaluating fluid loss in a client with burns?
a. Equal
b. Unrelated
c. Inversely related
d. Directly proportional
ANS = C
A burn client is receiving the open method for wound treatment. Which information will the
nurse explain to the client?
a. Bathing will not be permitted
b. Dressings will be changed daily
c. Personal protective equipment will be worn by staff
d. Room temperature will be kept below 72° F (22.2° C)
ANS = A
A client presents to the emergency department with weakness & dizziness. The BP is 90/60
mm Hg, pulse is 92 & weak, & body weight reflects a 3-pound loss in two days. The weather
has been hot. Which condition should the nurse conclude is the priority for this client?
, a. Deficient fluid volume
b. Impaired skin integrity
c. Inadequate nutritional intake
d. Decreased participation in activities
ANS = B
A client is admitted with severe burns. The nurse is caring for the client 36 hours after the
client's admission & identifies the client's potassium level of 6.0 mEq/L. Which drink will the
nurse recommend be included in the client's diet?
a. Milk
b. Tea
c. Orange juice
d. Tomato juice
ANS = A
A woman comes to the office of her healthcare provider reporting shortness of breath &
epigastric distress that is not relieved by antacids. To which question would a woman
experiencing a myocardial infarction respond differently than a man?
a. "Do you have chest pain?"
b. "Are you feeling anxious?"
c. "Do you have any palpitations?"
d. "Are you feeling short of breath?"
ANS = B
During a vertex vaginal birth the nurse notes meconium-stained amniotic fluid. What is the
priority nursing intervention for the newborn?
a. Stimulating crying
b. Suctioning the airway
ANS = A
The nurse is providing post-procedure care to a client who had a cardiac catheterization.
The client begins to manifest signs & symptoms associated with embolization. Which action
should the nurse take?
a. Notify the primary healthcare provider immediately
b. Apply a warm, moist compress to the incision site
c. Increase the intravenous fluid rate by 20 mL/hr
d. Monitor vital signs more frequently
ANS = D
A client reports left-sided chest pain after playing racquetball. The client is hospitalized &
diagnosed with left pneumothorax. When assessing the client's left chest area, the nurse
expects to identify which finding?
a. Dull sound on percussion
b. Vocal fremitus on palpation
c. Rales with rhonchi on auscultation
d. Absence of breath sounds on auscultation
Brainpower
Read More
ANS = C
A client is admitted to the hospital with partial- & full-thickness burns of the chest & face
sustained while trying to extinguish a brush fire. Which is the nurse's priority concern?
a. Loss of skin integrity caused by the burns
b. Potential infection as a result of the burn injury
c. Inadequate gas exchange caused by smoke inhalation
,d. Decreased fluid volume because of the depth of the burns
ANS = B
During the first 48 hours after a client has sustained a thermal injury, which conditions should
the nurse assess for?
a. Hypokalemia & hyponatremia
b. Hyperkalemia & hyponatremia
c. Hypokalemia & hypernatremia
d. Hyperkalemia & hypernatremia
ANS = C
A client who had extensive pelvic surgery 24 hours ago becomes cyanotic, is gasping for
breath, & reports right-sided chest pain. What should the nurse do first?
a. Obtain vital signs
b. Initiate a cardiac arrest code
c. Administer oxygen using a face mask
d. Encourage the use of an incentive spirometer
ANS = C
A nurse is caring for a client with severe burns. The nurse determines that this client is at
risk for hypovolemic shock. Which physiologic finding supports the nurse's conclusion?
a. Decreased rate of glomerular filtration
b. Excessive blood loss through the burned tissues
c. Plasma proteins moving out of the intravascular compartment
d. Sodium retention occurring as a result of the aldosterone mechanism
ANS = A
,The nurse is caring for a client with burns & reviews the client's laboratory results: BUN 30
mg/dL; Cr 2.4 mg/dL; serum potassium 6.3 mEq/L; pH, 7.1; PO₂ 90 mm Hg; & Hgb 7.4 g/dL.
Which condition does the nurse suspect the client has based upon these findings?
a. Azotemia
b. Hypokalemia
c. Metabolic alkalosis
d. Respiratory alkalosis
ANS = D
A nurse is caring for a client who experienced serious burns in a fire. Which relationship
between a client's burned body surface area & fluid loss should the nurse consider when
evaluating fluid loss in a client with burns?
a. Equal
b. Unrelated
c. Inversely related
d. Directly proportional
ANS = C
A burn client is receiving the open method for wound treatment. Which information will the
nurse explain to the client?
a. Bathing will not be permitted
b. Dressings will be changed daily
c. Personal protective equipment will be worn by staff
d. Room temperature will be kept below 72° F (22.2° C)
ANS = A
A client presents to the emergency department with weakness & dizziness. The BP is 90/60
mm Hg, pulse is 92 & weak, & body weight reflects a 3-pound loss in two days. The weather
has been hot. Which condition should the nurse conclude is the priority for this client?
, a. Deficient fluid volume
b. Impaired skin integrity
c. Inadequate nutritional intake
d. Decreased participation in activities
ANS = B
A client is admitted with severe burns. The nurse is caring for the client 36 hours after the
client's admission & identifies the client's potassium level of 6.0 mEq/L. Which drink will the
nurse recommend be included in the client's diet?
a. Milk
b. Tea
c. Orange juice
d. Tomato juice
ANS = A
A woman comes to the office of her healthcare provider reporting shortness of breath &
epigastric distress that is not relieved by antacids. To which question would a woman
experiencing a myocardial infarction respond differently than a man?
a. "Do you have chest pain?"
b. "Are you feeling anxious?"
c. "Do you have any palpitations?"
d. "Are you feeling short of breath?"
ANS = B
During a vertex vaginal birth the nurse notes meconium-stained amniotic fluid. What is the
priority nursing intervention for the newborn?
a. Stimulating crying
b. Suctioning the airway
