HESI MED-SURG PRACTICE EXAM
WITH 100% CORRECT ANSWERS
2025/2026
An adult client who is hospitalized after surgery reports sudden
onset of chest pain and dyspnea. The client appears anxious,
restless, and mildly cyanotic. The nurse should further assess the
client for which condition?
Pulmonary embolism.
Heart failure.
Tuberculosis.
Bronchitis. correct answers >> Pulmonary embolism.
Post-surgical clients are at an increased risk for deep vein
thrombosis (DVT), which may result in pulmonary embolism if the
clot breaks off and travels to the lungs. Signs and symptoms of
pulmonary embolism include chest pain, dyspnea, anxiety,
restlessness, and - in severe cases - cyanosis.
Jarvis, Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th ed.,
p.493
Which information should the nurse obtain when performing an
initial assessment of a client who presents to the emergency
department with a painful ankle injury? (Select all that apply.)
,Quality of the pain.
Signs of inflammation.
Ankle range of motion.
Muscle strength testing.
Visible deformities of the joint. correct answers >> Quality of
the pain.
Signs of inflammation.
Ankle range of motion.
Visible deformities of the joint.
Initial assessment of a joint injury is performed to determine the
extent of the damage. The nurse's initial assessment of a painful
ankle injury should include pain quality, the presence of
deformities, evidence of inflammation, and range of motion.
Jarvis Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th ed. p.
586-8
Which description of pain is consistent with a diagnosis of
rheumatoid arthritis?
Joint pain is worse in the morning and involves symmetric joints.
Joint pain is better in the morning and worsens throughout the
day.
Joint pain is consistent throughout the day and is relieved by pain
medication.
Joint pain is worse during the day and involves unilateral joints.
correct answers >> Joint pain is worse in the morning and
involves symmetric joints.
,Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes
joint pain and swelling. RA is characterized by pain that is worse
when arising and involves symmetric joints.
Jarvis. (2016), Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th
Ed., Chapter 22; p. 586
Which physical assessment finding should the nurse anticipate in
a client with long-term gastroesophagealreflux disease (GERD)?
Hoarseness.
Dry mouth.
Mouth ulcers.
Weight loss. correct answers >> Hoarseness.
Dyspepsia and regurgitation are the main symptoms of
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); however, hoarseness is
one of the most common long-term symptoms of GERD due to the
irritation of the reflux of gastric secretions.
Ignatavicius, (2016). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered
collaborative care, eight edition., Ch. 49, p. 1111.
A client presents with chronic venous insufficiency. Which
assessment finding should the nurse anticipate?
Bilateral lower leg stasis dermatitis.
Clubbing of fingers and toes.
, Intermittent claudication.
Peripheral cyanosis. correct answers >> Bilateral lower leg
stasis dermatitis.
Clients who suffer from chroninc venous insufficiency often
develop statsis dermatitis in the lower extremities. Statis
dermatitis appear as brownish-red discoloration on the lower
extremities at the ankles which can develop into stasis ulcers due
to the pooling of the venous blood flow back to the heart.
Ignatavicius, (2013). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered
collaborative care, 7th ed.., Ch. 33, p. 803.
A client has been hospitalized with a femur fracture and is being
treated with traction. Which action by the nurse is the priority
when caring for this client?
Assess neurovascular status.
Change the client's position.
Inspect the traction equipment.
Review pain medication orders. correct answers >> Assess
neurovascular status.
The use of traction for long bone fractures reduces the potential
for damage to the surrounding tissues. Reports of increased pain
may indicate circulatory compromise or tissue damage
(compartment syndrome). Assessing the client's neurovascular
status is the nurse's highest priority.
Ignatavicius, (2016). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered
collaborative care, eight edition., Ch. 51, pp. 1051-80.
WITH 100% CORRECT ANSWERS
2025/2026
An adult client who is hospitalized after surgery reports sudden
onset of chest pain and dyspnea. The client appears anxious,
restless, and mildly cyanotic. The nurse should further assess the
client for which condition?
Pulmonary embolism.
Heart failure.
Tuberculosis.
Bronchitis. correct answers >> Pulmonary embolism.
Post-surgical clients are at an increased risk for deep vein
thrombosis (DVT), which may result in pulmonary embolism if the
clot breaks off and travels to the lungs. Signs and symptoms of
pulmonary embolism include chest pain, dyspnea, anxiety,
restlessness, and - in severe cases - cyanosis.
Jarvis, Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th ed.,
p.493
Which information should the nurse obtain when performing an
initial assessment of a client who presents to the emergency
department with a painful ankle injury? (Select all that apply.)
,Quality of the pain.
Signs of inflammation.
Ankle range of motion.
Muscle strength testing.
Visible deformities of the joint. correct answers >> Quality of
the pain.
Signs of inflammation.
Ankle range of motion.
Visible deformities of the joint.
Initial assessment of a joint injury is performed to determine the
extent of the damage. The nurse's initial assessment of a painful
ankle injury should include pain quality, the presence of
deformities, evidence of inflammation, and range of motion.
Jarvis Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th ed. p.
586-8
Which description of pain is consistent with a diagnosis of
rheumatoid arthritis?
Joint pain is worse in the morning and involves symmetric joints.
Joint pain is better in the morning and worsens throughout the
day.
Joint pain is consistent throughout the day and is relieved by pain
medication.
Joint pain is worse during the day and involves unilateral joints.
correct answers >> Joint pain is worse in the morning and
involves symmetric joints.
,Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes
joint pain and swelling. RA is characterized by pain that is worse
when arising and involves symmetric joints.
Jarvis. (2016), Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 7th
Ed., Chapter 22; p. 586
Which physical assessment finding should the nurse anticipate in
a client with long-term gastroesophagealreflux disease (GERD)?
Hoarseness.
Dry mouth.
Mouth ulcers.
Weight loss. correct answers >> Hoarseness.
Dyspepsia and regurgitation are the main symptoms of
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); however, hoarseness is
one of the most common long-term symptoms of GERD due to the
irritation of the reflux of gastric secretions.
Ignatavicius, (2016). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered
collaborative care, eight edition., Ch. 49, p. 1111.
A client presents with chronic venous insufficiency. Which
assessment finding should the nurse anticipate?
Bilateral lower leg stasis dermatitis.
Clubbing of fingers and toes.
, Intermittent claudication.
Peripheral cyanosis. correct answers >> Bilateral lower leg
stasis dermatitis.
Clients who suffer from chroninc venous insufficiency often
develop statsis dermatitis in the lower extremities. Statis
dermatitis appear as brownish-red discoloration on the lower
extremities at the ankles which can develop into stasis ulcers due
to the pooling of the venous blood flow back to the heart.
Ignatavicius, (2013). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered
collaborative care, 7th ed.., Ch. 33, p. 803.
A client has been hospitalized with a femur fracture and is being
treated with traction. Which action by the nurse is the priority
when caring for this client?
Assess neurovascular status.
Change the client's position.
Inspect the traction equipment.
Review pain medication orders. correct answers >> Assess
neurovascular status.
The use of traction for long bone fractures reduces the potential
for damage to the surrounding tissues. Reports of increased pain
may indicate circulatory compromise or tissue damage
(compartment syndrome). Assessing the client's neurovascular
status is the nurse's highest priority.
Ignatavicius, (2016). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered
collaborative care, eight edition., Ch. 51, pp. 1051-80.
