PNR 206 MED SURG HESI QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
A client's results for this morning's platelet count is 30,000/mm 3 . What action should
the practical nurse (PN) implement first? - Answers - Institute bleeding precautions.
A client is admitted with a C4 spinal cord injury (SCI) after falling from a roof at a
construction site. After returning to the unit for a CT scan to confirm the vertebral
fracture, which assessment by the practical nurse has the highest priority? - Answers -
Check the respiratory effort and pulse oximeter reading.
A client with cholelithiasis is admitted with jaundice due to obstruction of the common
bile duct. Which finding is most important for the practical nurse to report to the
healthcare provider? - Answers - Hard, rigid abdomen.
Which actions should the practical nurse implement for a client whose fractured tibia is
causing swelling of the lower leg? - Answers - Ice application and elevation.
A male client with increased intracranial pressure (ICP) due to a skull fracture is in the
supine position with his legs elevated. What should the practical nurse (PN) do first? -
Answers - Raise the head 30 degrees and lower the feet.
A client with Parkinson's disease asks the practical nurse (PN) to explain how this
disease causes his muscles to malfunction. Which underlying pathophysiology should
the PN use as a basis for the explanation? - Answers - Degeneration of the basal
ganglia leads to a decrease in dopamine levels.
A client with newly diagnosed essential hypertension is learning to cope with stressful
situations in his life. Which activity should the practical nurse (PN) implement to help the
client learn constructive coping? - Answers - Role play a situation the client identifies
as stressful.
Which finding should the practical nurse (PN) identify as typical for a client who is
hypoxic? - Answers - Hemoglobin of 10 grams/dl
Which finding for a client with heart failure (HF) should the practical nurse (PN) report to
the charge nurse? - Answers - Distended neck veins while upright.
The practical nurse (PN) is caring for a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD). To reduce carbon dioxide ( CO 2 ) retention in the lungs, which
information should the PN reinforce? - Answers - Use pursed-lip and abdominal
breathing.
A male client who has been taking a four-drug regimen for tuberculosis (TB) tells the
practical nurse (PN) that he has finished the first drug, isoniazid, and will start taking
rifampin next. How should the PN respond? - Answers - The four-drug protocol should
be taken concurrently.
, The practical nurse (PN) is reviewing the health history of a client with coronary artery
disease (CAD). Which finding should the PN identify that places the client at risk for
stroke? - Answers - Atrial fibrillation.
After receiving report, the practical nurse (PN) begins assessment for a client with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who has just completed a respiratory
treatment. The PN finds the client sitting upright in bed with oxygen at 6 liters/minute per
nasal cannula. Which intervention is most important for the PN to implement? -
Answers - Decrease oxygen flow rate to 2 liter/minute and attach pulse oximeter.
A male client is having an intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement using a tonometer
for the first time. The client is fearful that the test hurts and may damage his vision.
Which explanation should the practical nurse provide? - Answers - A topical anesthetic
will be used on the eye surface.
A client with major burns is receiving cimetidine (Tagamet). Which finding should the
practical nurse (PN) obtain to best evaluate the effectiveness of the medication? -
Answers - Absense of blood in the stool.
A male client with metastatic gastric cancer is being discharged home, but the client and
family members are fearful of managing the client's symptoms at home. What action
should the practical nurse provide? - Answers - Suggest a referral for the client to have
hospice care provided in their home.
A male client receives the negative results for his recent fecal occult blood test and calls
the clinic to cancel his colonoscopy scheduled for the next day. Which information
should the practical nurse provide? - Answers - A negative result for occult blood does
not rule out lesions in the colon.
The practical nurse (PN) is evaluating the self-care of a client who is recovering at home
after a laryngectomy. Which finding indicates to the PN that the client needs additional
information? - Answers - The salt water solution is dated 3 days ago
A client with epilepsy is having bilateral rhythmic jerking movements of all extremities.
After calling for help, which action should the practical nurse (PN) do next? (Arrange the
interventions from first to last.) - Answers - 1. Maintain the client's airway2. Apply pads
to the bedside rails.3. Avoid stimulation during post-ictal phase.4. Observe the client for
incontinence
Which finding for a client who is 1-day postoperative for a partial thyroidectomy requires
immediate follow-up by the practical nurse (PN)? - Answers - High pitched expiratory
sound.
Which behavior demonstrates hopelessness in an older client with a terminal disease? -
Answers - Failing to follow medical recommendations.
A client's results for this morning's platelet count is 30,000/mm 3 . What action should
the practical nurse (PN) implement first? - Answers - Institute bleeding precautions.
A client is admitted with a C4 spinal cord injury (SCI) after falling from a roof at a
construction site. After returning to the unit for a CT scan to confirm the vertebral
fracture, which assessment by the practical nurse has the highest priority? - Answers -
Check the respiratory effort and pulse oximeter reading.
A client with cholelithiasis is admitted with jaundice due to obstruction of the common
bile duct. Which finding is most important for the practical nurse to report to the
healthcare provider? - Answers - Hard, rigid abdomen.
Which actions should the practical nurse implement for a client whose fractured tibia is
causing swelling of the lower leg? - Answers - Ice application and elevation.
A male client with increased intracranial pressure (ICP) due to a skull fracture is in the
supine position with his legs elevated. What should the practical nurse (PN) do first? -
Answers - Raise the head 30 degrees and lower the feet.
A client with Parkinson's disease asks the practical nurse (PN) to explain how this
disease causes his muscles to malfunction. Which underlying pathophysiology should
the PN use as a basis for the explanation? - Answers - Degeneration of the basal
ganglia leads to a decrease in dopamine levels.
A client with newly diagnosed essential hypertension is learning to cope with stressful
situations in his life. Which activity should the practical nurse (PN) implement to help the
client learn constructive coping? - Answers - Role play a situation the client identifies
as stressful.
Which finding should the practical nurse (PN) identify as typical for a client who is
hypoxic? - Answers - Hemoglobin of 10 grams/dl
Which finding for a client with heart failure (HF) should the practical nurse (PN) report to
the charge nurse? - Answers - Distended neck veins while upright.
The practical nurse (PN) is caring for a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD). To reduce carbon dioxide ( CO 2 ) retention in the lungs, which
information should the PN reinforce? - Answers - Use pursed-lip and abdominal
breathing.
A male client who has been taking a four-drug regimen for tuberculosis (TB) tells the
practical nurse (PN) that he has finished the first drug, isoniazid, and will start taking
rifampin next. How should the PN respond? - Answers - The four-drug protocol should
be taken concurrently.
, The practical nurse (PN) is reviewing the health history of a client with coronary artery
disease (CAD). Which finding should the PN identify that places the client at risk for
stroke? - Answers - Atrial fibrillation.
After receiving report, the practical nurse (PN) begins assessment for a client with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who has just completed a respiratory
treatment. The PN finds the client sitting upright in bed with oxygen at 6 liters/minute per
nasal cannula. Which intervention is most important for the PN to implement? -
Answers - Decrease oxygen flow rate to 2 liter/minute and attach pulse oximeter.
A male client is having an intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement using a tonometer
for the first time. The client is fearful that the test hurts and may damage his vision.
Which explanation should the practical nurse provide? - Answers - A topical anesthetic
will be used on the eye surface.
A client with major burns is receiving cimetidine (Tagamet). Which finding should the
practical nurse (PN) obtain to best evaluate the effectiveness of the medication? -
Answers - Absense of blood in the stool.
A male client with metastatic gastric cancer is being discharged home, but the client and
family members are fearful of managing the client's symptoms at home. What action
should the practical nurse provide? - Answers - Suggest a referral for the client to have
hospice care provided in their home.
A male client receives the negative results for his recent fecal occult blood test and calls
the clinic to cancel his colonoscopy scheduled for the next day. Which information
should the practical nurse provide? - Answers - A negative result for occult blood does
not rule out lesions in the colon.
The practical nurse (PN) is evaluating the self-care of a client who is recovering at home
after a laryngectomy. Which finding indicates to the PN that the client needs additional
information? - Answers - The salt water solution is dated 3 days ago
A client with epilepsy is having bilateral rhythmic jerking movements of all extremities.
After calling for help, which action should the practical nurse (PN) do next? (Arrange the
interventions from first to last.) - Answers - 1. Maintain the client's airway2. Apply pads
to the bedside rails.3. Avoid stimulation during post-ictal phase.4. Observe the client for
incontinence
Which finding for a client who is 1-day postoperative for a partial thyroidectomy requires
immediate follow-up by the practical nurse (PN)? - Answers - High pitched expiratory
sound.
Which behavior demonstrates hopelessness in an older client with a terminal disease? -
Answers - Failing to follow medical recommendations.
