HESI PN MEDICAL-SURGICAL PRACTICE
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES FOR
GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST UPDATE
2025
1. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is admitted
with increased shortness of breath. Which intervention should the nurse
prioritize?
a) Administering high-flow oxygen at 10 L/min
b) Encouraging pursed-lip breathing
c) Restricting fluid intake
d) Placing the patient in a supine position
Answer: b) Encouraging pursed-lip breathing
Rationale: Pursed-lip breathing helps prevent airway collapse and improves
,oxygenation in COPD patients by promoting longer exhalation. High-flow
oxygen can suppress respiratory drive in COPD.
2. A patient is prescribed enoxaparin (Lovenox) after knee replacement surgery.
What is the nurse’s priority teaching point?
a) Avoid eating foods rich in vitamin K
b) Watch for signs of bleeding or bruising
c) Take medication with food to prevent nausea
d) Limit fluid intake to prevent swelling
Answer: b) Watch for signs of bleeding or bruising
Rationale: Enoxaparin is an anticoagulant, so monitoring for bleeding is critical.
Vitamin K is relevant to warfarin, not enoxaparin.
3. A client with congestive heart failure (CHF) is receiving furosemide (Lasix).
Which lab value is most important to monitor?
a) Serum glucose
b) Serum potassium
c) Hemoglobin
d) Serum calcium
Answer: b) Serum potassium
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause potassium loss,
increasing the risk of hypokalemia, which can lead to cardiac arrhythmias.
,4. Which symptom is most indicative of hypoglycemia in a diabetic patient?
a) Polydipsia
b) Polyuria
c) Diaphoresis and shakiness
d) Fruity breath odor
Answer: c) Diaphoresis and shakiness
Rationale: Hypoglycemia often causes autonomic symptoms like sweating and
trembling. Fruity breath is associated with hyperglycemia and diabetic
ketoacidosis.
5. A patient with a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) asks why they need to
wear compression stockings. What is the nurse’s best response?
a) "They help improve blood flow and prevent clots."
b) "They are mainly for swelling and don’t affect clots."
c) "They reduce pain but do not prevent clots."
d) "They should be removed every 4 hours to improve circulation."
Answer: a) "They help improve blood flow and prevent clots."
Rationale: Compression stockings promote venous return and reduce stasis,
which helps prevent clot formation.
6. A client is prescribed morphine for postoperative pain. Which finding requires
immediate intervention?
a) Respiratory rate of 10 breaths per minute
b) Pulse rate of 90 beats per minute
, c) Blood pressure of 130/80 mmHg
d) Oxygen saturation of 98%
Answer: a) Respiratory rate of 10 breaths per minute
Rationale: Morphine can cause respiratory depression. A rate of 10 is low and
requires immediate action to prevent respiratory arrest.
7. Which dietary instruction should the nurse provide to a patient with iron-
deficiency anemia?
a) Increase intake of dairy products
b) Eat foods rich in vitamin C to enhance absorption
c) Avoid red meat and poultry
d) Limit fluids with meals
Answer: b) Eat foods rich in vitamin C to enhance absorption
Rationale: Vitamin C increases the absorption of non-heme iron from plant-
based sources. Dairy can inhibit iron absorption.
8. A patient is admitted with acute pancreatitis. Which symptom should the
nurse expect?
a) Left lower quadrant abdominal pain
b) Severe epigastric pain radiating to the back
c) Jaundice and dark urine
d) Frequent diarrhea
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES FOR
GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST UPDATE
2025
1. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is admitted
with increased shortness of breath. Which intervention should the nurse
prioritize?
a) Administering high-flow oxygen at 10 L/min
b) Encouraging pursed-lip breathing
c) Restricting fluid intake
d) Placing the patient in a supine position
Answer: b) Encouraging pursed-lip breathing
Rationale: Pursed-lip breathing helps prevent airway collapse and improves
,oxygenation in COPD patients by promoting longer exhalation. High-flow
oxygen can suppress respiratory drive in COPD.
2. A patient is prescribed enoxaparin (Lovenox) after knee replacement surgery.
What is the nurse’s priority teaching point?
a) Avoid eating foods rich in vitamin K
b) Watch for signs of bleeding or bruising
c) Take medication with food to prevent nausea
d) Limit fluid intake to prevent swelling
Answer: b) Watch for signs of bleeding or bruising
Rationale: Enoxaparin is an anticoagulant, so monitoring for bleeding is critical.
Vitamin K is relevant to warfarin, not enoxaparin.
3. A client with congestive heart failure (CHF) is receiving furosemide (Lasix).
Which lab value is most important to monitor?
a) Serum glucose
b) Serum potassium
c) Hemoglobin
d) Serum calcium
Answer: b) Serum potassium
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause potassium loss,
increasing the risk of hypokalemia, which can lead to cardiac arrhythmias.
,4. Which symptom is most indicative of hypoglycemia in a diabetic patient?
a) Polydipsia
b) Polyuria
c) Diaphoresis and shakiness
d) Fruity breath odor
Answer: c) Diaphoresis and shakiness
Rationale: Hypoglycemia often causes autonomic symptoms like sweating and
trembling. Fruity breath is associated with hyperglycemia and diabetic
ketoacidosis.
5. A patient with a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) asks why they need to
wear compression stockings. What is the nurse’s best response?
a) "They help improve blood flow and prevent clots."
b) "They are mainly for swelling and don’t affect clots."
c) "They reduce pain but do not prevent clots."
d) "They should be removed every 4 hours to improve circulation."
Answer: a) "They help improve blood flow and prevent clots."
Rationale: Compression stockings promote venous return and reduce stasis,
which helps prevent clot formation.
6. A client is prescribed morphine for postoperative pain. Which finding requires
immediate intervention?
a) Respiratory rate of 10 breaths per minute
b) Pulse rate of 90 beats per minute
, c) Blood pressure of 130/80 mmHg
d) Oxygen saturation of 98%
Answer: a) Respiratory rate of 10 breaths per minute
Rationale: Morphine can cause respiratory depression. A rate of 10 is low and
requires immediate action to prevent respiratory arrest.
7. Which dietary instruction should the nurse provide to a patient with iron-
deficiency anemia?
a) Increase intake of dairy products
b) Eat foods rich in vitamin C to enhance absorption
c) Avoid red meat and poultry
d) Limit fluids with meals
Answer: b) Eat foods rich in vitamin C to enhance absorption
Rationale: Vitamin C increases the absorption of non-heme iron from plant-
based sources. Dairy can inhibit iron absorption.
8. A patient is admitted with acute pancreatitis. Which symptom should the
nurse expect?
a) Left lower quadrant abdominal pain
b) Severe epigastric pain radiating to the back
c) Jaundice and dark urine
d) Frequent diarrhea
