1
NU272 HESI Practice Exam Questions with Answers (100%
Correct Answers)
A male client with chronic atrial fibrillation and a slow ventricular response is
scheduled for surgical placement of a permanent pacemaker. The client asks the
nurse how this device will help him. How should the nurse explain the action of a
synchronous pacemaker?
Ans: An electrical stimulus is discharged when no ventricular response is sensed.
-
The artificial cardiac pacemaker is an electronic device used to pace the heart when the
normal conduction pathway is damaged or diseased, such as a symptomatic
dysrhythmias like atrial fibrillation with a slow ventricular response. Pacing modes that
are synchronous (impulse generated on demand or as needed according to the
patient's intrinsic rhythm) send an electrical signal from the pacemaker to the wall of
the myocardium stimulating it to contract when no ventricular depolarization is sensed.
The nurse is caring for a client with end stage liver disease who is being assessed
for the presence of asterixis. To assess the client for asterixis, what position should
the nurse ask the client to demonstrate?
Ans: Extend the arm, dorsiflex the wrist, and extend the fingers.
-
Asterixis (flapping tremor, liver flap) is a hand-flapping tremor that is often seen
frequently in hepatic encephalopathy. The tremor is induced by extending the arm and
dorsiflexing the wrist causing rapid, non-rhythmic extension and flexion of the wrist
while attempting to hold position.
© 2025 All rights reserved
,2
The nurse is giving discharge instructions to a client with chronic prostatitis. What
instruction should the nurse provide the client to reduce the risk of spreading the
infection to other areas of the client's urinary tract?
Ans: Have intercourse or masturbate at least twice a week.
-
The prostate is not easily penetrated by antibiotics and can serve as a reservoir for
microorganisms, which can infect other areas of the genitourinary tract. Draining the
prostate regularly through intercourse or masturbation decreases the number of
microorganisms present and reduces the risk for further infection from stored
contaminated seminal fluids.
Which action should the nurse implement on the scheduled day of surgery for a
client with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM)?
Ans: Obtain a prescription for an adjusted dose of insulin.
-
Stressors, such as surgery, increase serum glucose levels. A client with type 1 DM who is
NPO for scheduled surgery should receive a prescribed adjusted dose of insulin.
A client with osteoarthritis receives a prescription for Naproxen (Naprosyn). Which
potential side effect should the nurse provide to the client about this medication?
Ans: Gastrointestinal disturbance.
-
Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors such as naproxen can have gastrointestinal side
effects such as nausea and gastric burning. It is recommended that this drug be taken
with food to avoid gastrointestinal upset.
© 2025 All rights reserved
,3
The nurse is caring for a male client who had an inguinal herniorrhaphy 3 hours
ago. The nurse determines the client's lower abdomen is distended and assesses
dullness to percussion. What is the priority nursing action?
Ans: Determine the time the client last voided.
-
Swelling at the surgical site in the immediate postoperative period can impact the
bladder and prostate area causing the client to experience difficulty voiding due to
pressure on the urethra. To provide additional data supporting bladder distention, the
last time the client voided should be determined next.
When teaching a client with breast cancer about the prescribed radiation therapy for
treatment, what information is important to include?
Ans: Dry, itchy skin changes may occur.
-
Side effects from radiation to the breast most often include temporary skin changes
such as: dryness, tenderness, redness, swelling, and pruritis.
Which finding should the nurse identify as an indication of carbon monoxide
poisoning in a client who experienced a burn injury during a house fire?
Ans: Cherry red color to the mucous membranes.
-
The saturation of hemoglobin molecules with carbon monoxide molecules, instead of
oxygen molecules and the subsequent vasodilation induced cherry red color of the
mucous membranes is an indication of carbon monoxide poisoning.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 4
What assessment finding should the nurse identify that indicates a client with an
acute asthma exacerbation is beginning to improve after treatment?
Ans: Wheezing becomes louder.
-
In an acute asthma attack, air flow may be so significantly restricted that breath sounds
and wheezing is diminished. If the client is successfully responding to bronchodilators
and respiratory treatments, wheezing should become louder as the air flow increases in
the airways. As the airways open and mucous is mobilized in response to treatment, the
cough should become more productive.
The nurse is caring for a client with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
who develops Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). What is the most significant
desired outcome for this client?
Ans: Return to pre-illness weight.
-
MAC is an opportunistic infection that presents as a tuberculosis-like pulmonary
process. MAC is a major contributing factor to the development of wasting syndrome,
so the most significant desired outcome is the client's return to a pre-illness weight
using oral, enteral, or parenteral supplementation as needed.
The nurse obtains a client's history that includes right mastectomy and radiation
therapy for cancer of the breast 10 years ago. Which current health problem should
the nurse consider is a consequence of the radiation therapy?
© 2025 All rights reserved
NU272 HESI Practice Exam Questions with Answers (100%
Correct Answers)
A male client with chronic atrial fibrillation and a slow ventricular response is
scheduled for surgical placement of a permanent pacemaker. The client asks the
nurse how this device will help him. How should the nurse explain the action of a
synchronous pacemaker?
Ans: An electrical stimulus is discharged when no ventricular response is sensed.
-
The artificial cardiac pacemaker is an electronic device used to pace the heart when the
normal conduction pathway is damaged or diseased, such as a symptomatic
dysrhythmias like atrial fibrillation with a slow ventricular response. Pacing modes that
are synchronous (impulse generated on demand or as needed according to the
patient's intrinsic rhythm) send an electrical signal from the pacemaker to the wall of
the myocardium stimulating it to contract when no ventricular depolarization is sensed.
The nurse is caring for a client with end stage liver disease who is being assessed
for the presence of asterixis. To assess the client for asterixis, what position should
the nurse ask the client to demonstrate?
Ans: Extend the arm, dorsiflex the wrist, and extend the fingers.
-
Asterixis (flapping tremor, liver flap) is a hand-flapping tremor that is often seen
frequently in hepatic encephalopathy. The tremor is induced by extending the arm and
dorsiflexing the wrist causing rapid, non-rhythmic extension and flexion of the wrist
while attempting to hold position.
© 2025 All rights reserved
,2
The nurse is giving discharge instructions to a client with chronic prostatitis. What
instruction should the nurse provide the client to reduce the risk of spreading the
infection to other areas of the client's urinary tract?
Ans: Have intercourse or masturbate at least twice a week.
-
The prostate is not easily penetrated by antibiotics and can serve as a reservoir for
microorganisms, which can infect other areas of the genitourinary tract. Draining the
prostate regularly through intercourse or masturbation decreases the number of
microorganisms present and reduces the risk for further infection from stored
contaminated seminal fluids.
Which action should the nurse implement on the scheduled day of surgery for a
client with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM)?
Ans: Obtain a prescription for an adjusted dose of insulin.
-
Stressors, such as surgery, increase serum glucose levels. A client with type 1 DM who is
NPO for scheduled surgery should receive a prescribed adjusted dose of insulin.
A client with osteoarthritis receives a prescription for Naproxen (Naprosyn). Which
potential side effect should the nurse provide to the client about this medication?
Ans: Gastrointestinal disturbance.
-
Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors such as naproxen can have gastrointestinal side
effects such as nausea and gastric burning. It is recommended that this drug be taken
with food to avoid gastrointestinal upset.
© 2025 All rights reserved
,3
The nurse is caring for a male client who had an inguinal herniorrhaphy 3 hours
ago. The nurse determines the client's lower abdomen is distended and assesses
dullness to percussion. What is the priority nursing action?
Ans: Determine the time the client last voided.
-
Swelling at the surgical site in the immediate postoperative period can impact the
bladder and prostate area causing the client to experience difficulty voiding due to
pressure on the urethra. To provide additional data supporting bladder distention, the
last time the client voided should be determined next.
When teaching a client with breast cancer about the prescribed radiation therapy for
treatment, what information is important to include?
Ans: Dry, itchy skin changes may occur.
-
Side effects from radiation to the breast most often include temporary skin changes
such as: dryness, tenderness, redness, swelling, and pruritis.
Which finding should the nurse identify as an indication of carbon monoxide
poisoning in a client who experienced a burn injury during a house fire?
Ans: Cherry red color to the mucous membranes.
-
The saturation of hemoglobin molecules with carbon monoxide molecules, instead of
oxygen molecules and the subsequent vasodilation induced cherry red color of the
mucous membranes is an indication of carbon monoxide poisoning.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 4
What assessment finding should the nurse identify that indicates a client with an
acute asthma exacerbation is beginning to improve after treatment?
Ans: Wheezing becomes louder.
-
In an acute asthma attack, air flow may be so significantly restricted that breath sounds
and wheezing is diminished. If the client is successfully responding to bronchodilators
and respiratory treatments, wheezing should become louder as the air flow increases in
the airways. As the airways open and mucous is mobilized in response to treatment, the
cough should become more productive.
The nurse is caring for a client with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
who develops Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). What is the most significant
desired outcome for this client?
Ans: Return to pre-illness weight.
-
MAC is an opportunistic infection that presents as a tuberculosis-like pulmonary
process. MAC is a major contributing factor to the development of wasting syndrome,
so the most significant desired outcome is the client's return to a pre-illness weight
using oral, enteral, or parenteral supplementation as needed.
The nurse obtains a client's history that includes right mastectomy and radiation
therapy for cancer of the breast 10 years ago. Which current health problem should
the nurse consider is a consequence of the radiation therapy?
© 2025 All rights reserved
