MED-SURG BSN 266 | HESI Medical-Surgical s s s s s
Nursing Exam Questions and Answers WITH
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RATIONALES | Latest 2026–2027 Update | NGN
s s s s s s s
Study Guide
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THIS EXAM INCLUDES: s s
✅ Comprehensive Medical-Surgical Nursing Review
s s s s
✅ 400+ HESI-style practice questions
s s s s
✅ Verified answers with detailed rationales
s s s s s
✅ Next Generation Nursing (NGN) case scenarios
s s s s s s
✅ Prioritization and delegation questions
s s s s
✅ Clinical judgment and patient safety exercises
s s s s s s
✅ SATA, bow-tie, matrix, and unfolding case studies
s s s s s s s
✅ NCLEX-RN aligned content and test-taking strategies
s s s s s s s
,Question 1 s
The nurse is completing a health assessment of a 42-year-old female with
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suspected Graves' disease. The nurse should assess this client for:
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A. Anorexia
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B. Tachycardia
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C. Weight Gain
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D. Cold Skins s
Answer: B. Tachycardia s s
Rationale: Graves' disease is a form of hyperthyroidism characterized by
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excessive thyroid hormone production. Thyroid hormones increase
s s s s s s s
metabolic rate and sympathetic nervous system activity, leading to
s s s s s s s s s
tachycardia, palpitations, and increased cardiac output. Anorexia, weight
s s s s s s s s
gain, and cold skin are manifestations of hypothyroidism, not
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hyperthyroidism. Clients with hyperthyroidism typically experience weight
s s s s s s s
loss, heat intolerance, and increased appetite.
s s s s s s
Question 2 s
A 34-year-old female is diagnosed with hypothyroidism. The nurse should
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assess the client for which of the following? Select all that apply.
s s s s s s s s s s s s
A. Rapid pulse
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B. Decreased energy and fatigue
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C. Weight gain of 10 lb (4.5 kg)
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D. Fine, thin hair with hair loss
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E. Constipation
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F. Menorrhagia
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,Answer: B, C, E, F s s s s
Rationale: Hypothyroidism results from insufficient thyroid hormone
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production, which slows metabolic processes throughout the body.
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Decreased energy and fatigue (B) result from reduced cellular metabolism.
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Weight gain (C) occurs due to decreased metabolic rate and fluid retention.
s s s s s s s s s s s s
Constipation (E) results from decreased gastrointestinal motility.
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Menorrhagia (F) occurs because thyroid hormones affect the hypothalamic-
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pituitary-ovarian axis, and deficiency can cause menstrual irregularities. s s s s s s s
Rapid pulse (A) and fine, thin hair (D) are characteristic of hyperthyroidism,
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not hypothyroidism.
s s
Question 3 s
Propylthiouracil (PTU) is prescribed for a client with Graves' disease. The s s s s s s s s s s
nurse should teach the client to immediately report which of the following?
s s s s s s s s s s s s
A. Sore throat
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B. Painful, excessive menstruation
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C. Constipation
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D. Increased urine output
s s s
Answer: A. Sore throat s s s
Rationale: PTU is an antithyroid medication that can cause agranulocytosis,
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a potentially fatal complication characterized by a severe decrease in white
s s s s s s s s s s s
blood cells. Sore throat, fever, and chills are early signs of agranulocytosis
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and should be reported immediately. PTU may also cause hepatotoxicity and
s s s s s s s s s s s
rash. Painful, excessive menstruation (B) is not a typical adverse effect of PTU.
s s s s s s s s s s s s s
, s Constipation (C) and increased urine output (D) are not associated with PTU
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s therapy.
Question 4 s
A client with thyrotoxicosis (hyperthyroidism) says to the nurse, "I am so
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irritable. I am having problems at work because I lose my temper very easily."
s s s s s s s s s s s s s s
Which of the following responses by the nurse would give the client the most
s s s s s s s s s s s s s s
accurate explanation of her behavior?
s s s s s
A. "Your behavior is caused by temporary confusion brought on by your
s s s s s s s s s s s
illness."
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B. "Your behavior is caused by the excess thyroid hormone in your system."
s s s s s s s s s s s s
C. "Your behavior is caused by your worrying about the seriousness of your
s s s s s s s s s s s s
illness."
s
D. "Your behavior is caused by your fear of the unknown."
s s s s s s s s s s
Answer: B. "Your behavior is caused by the excess thyroid hormone in
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your system."
s s
Rationale: Hyperthyroidism causes increased sympathetic nervous system
s s s s s s
stimulation, leading to emotional lability, irritability, and anxiety. The excess
s s s s s s s s s s
thyroid hormone directly affects the central nervous system, causing these
s s s s s s s s s s
behavioral changes. This explanation provides an accurate physiological
s s s s s s s s
basis for the client's symptoms and validates that the behavior is disease-
s s s s s s s s s s s s
related rather than psychological in origin. The other options do not address
s s s s s s s s s s s
the underlying pathophysiology.
s s s
Nursing Exam Questions and Answers WITH
s s s s s s
RATIONALES | Latest 2026–2027 Update | NGN
s s s s s s s
Study Guide
s s
THIS EXAM INCLUDES: s s
✅ Comprehensive Medical-Surgical Nursing Review
s s s s
✅ 400+ HESI-style practice questions
s s s s
✅ Verified answers with detailed rationales
s s s s s
✅ Next Generation Nursing (NGN) case scenarios
s s s s s s
✅ Prioritization and delegation questions
s s s s
✅ Clinical judgment and patient safety exercises
s s s s s s
✅ SATA, bow-tie, matrix, and unfolding case studies
s s s s s s s
✅ NCLEX-RN aligned content and test-taking strategies
s s s s s s s
,Question 1 s
The nurse is completing a health assessment of a 42-year-old female with
s s s s s s s s s s s
suspected Graves' disease. The nurse should assess this client for:
s s s s s s s s s s
A. Anorexia
s
B. Tachycardia
s
C. Weight Gain
s s
D. Cold Skins s
Answer: B. Tachycardia s s
Rationale: Graves' disease is a form of hyperthyroidism characterized by
s s s s s s s s s
excessive thyroid hormone production. Thyroid hormones increase
s s s s s s s
metabolic rate and sympathetic nervous system activity, leading to
s s s s s s s s s
tachycardia, palpitations, and increased cardiac output. Anorexia, weight
s s s s s s s s
gain, and cold skin are manifestations of hypothyroidism, not
s s s s s s s s s
hyperthyroidism. Clients with hyperthyroidism typically experience weight
s s s s s s s
loss, heat intolerance, and increased appetite.
s s s s s s
Question 2 s
A 34-year-old female is diagnosed with hypothyroidism. The nurse should
s s s s s s s s s
assess the client for which of the following? Select all that apply.
s s s s s s s s s s s s
A. Rapid pulse
s s
B. Decreased energy and fatigue
s s s s
C. Weight gain of 10 lb (4.5 kg)
s s s s s s s
D. Fine, thin hair with hair loss
s s s s s s
E. Constipation
s
F. Menorrhagia
s
,Answer: B, C, E, F s s s s
Rationale: Hypothyroidism results from insufficient thyroid hormone
s s s s s s
production, which slows metabolic processes throughout the body.
s s s s s s s s
Decreased energy and fatigue (B) result from reduced cellular metabolism.
s s s s s s s s s s
Weight gain (C) occurs due to decreased metabolic rate and fluid retention.
s s s s s s s s s s s s
Constipation (E) results from decreased gastrointestinal motility.
s s s s s s s
Menorrhagia (F) occurs because thyroid hormones affect the hypothalamic-
s s s s s s s s s
pituitary-ovarian axis, and deficiency can cause menstrual irregularities. s s s s s s s
Rapid pulse (A) and fine, thin hair (D) are characteristic of hyperthyroidism,
s s s s s s s s s s s s
not hypothyroidism.
s s
Question 3 s
Propylthiouracil (PTU) is prescribed for a client with Graves' disease. The s s s s s s s s s s
nurse should teach the client to immediately report which of the following?
s s s s s s s s s s s s
A. Sore throat
s s
B. Painful, excessive menstruation
s s s
C. Constipation
s
D. Increased urine output
s s s
Answer: A. Sore throat s s s
Rationale: PTU is an antithyroid medication that can cause agranulocytosis,
s s s s s s s s s
a potentially fatal complication characterized by a severe decrease in white
s s s s s s s s s s s
blood cells. Sore throat, fever, and chills are early signs of agranulocytosis
s s s s s s s s s s s s
and should be reported immediately. PTU may also cause hepatotoxicity and
s s s s s s s s s s s
rash. Painful, excessive menstruation (B) is not a typical adverse effect of PTU.
s s s s s s s s s s s s s
, s Constipation (C) and increased urine output (D) are not associated with PTU
s s s s s s s s s s s
s therapy.
Question 4 s
A client with thyrotoxicosis (hyperthyroidism) says to the nurse, "I am so
s s s s s s s s s s s
irritable. I am having problems at work because I lose my temper very easily."
s s s s s s s s s s s s s s
Which of the following responses by the nurse would give the client the most
s s s s s s s s s s s s s s
accurate explanation of her behavior?
s s s s s
A. "Your behavior is caused by temporary confusion brought on by your
s s s s s s s s s s s
illness."
s
B. "Your behavior is caused by the excess thyroid hormone in your system."
s s s s s s s s s s s s
C. "Your behavior is caused by your worrying about the seriousness of your
s s s s s s s s s s s s
illness."
s
D. "Your behavior is caused by your fear of the unknown."
s s s s s s s s s s
Answer: B. "Your behavior is caused by the excess thyroid hormone in
s s s s s s s s s s s
your system."
s s
Rationale: Hyperthyroidism causes increased sympathetic nervous system
s s s s s s
stimulation, leading to emotional lability, irritability, and anxiety. The excess
s s s s s s s s s s
thyroid hormone directly affects the central nervous system, causing these
s s s s s s s s s s
behavioral changes. This explanation provides an accurate physiological
s s s s s s s s
basis for the client's symptoms and validates that the behavior is disease-
s s s s s s s s s s s s
related rather than psychological in origin. The other options do not address
s s s s s s s s s s s
the underlying pathophysiology.
s s s
