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HESI RN MEDICAL SURGICAL EXAM PACK 2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Nursing & Pharmacology Study Guide
- A client who has just tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) does
- Inform the client how to protect sexual and needle-sharing partners.
- Teach the client about the medications that are available for treatment.
- Identify the need to test others who have had risky contact with the client.
- Discuss retesting to verify the results, which will ensure continuing contact.
- A client is admitted to the hospital with a traumatic brain injury after his head
- A scalp laceration oozing blood.
- Serosanguineous nasal drainage.
- Headache rated 10 on a 0-10 scale.
- Dizziness, nausea and transient confusion.
not appear to hear what the nurse is saying during post-test counseling. Which information should the nurse offer to facilitate the client’s adjustment to HIV infection?
Correct Answer: D. Discuss retesting to verify the results, which will ensure continuing contact.
violently struck a brick wall during a gang fight. Which finding is most important for the nurse to assess further?
Correct Answer: B. Serosanguineous nasal drainage.
- An ER nurse is completing an assessment on a patient that is alert but struggles to
answer questions. When she attempts to talk, she slurs her speech and appears very
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frightened. What additional clinical manifestation does the nurse expect to find if Nancy’s symptoms have been caused by a brain attack (stroke)?
- A carotid bruit
- A hypotensive blood pressure
- Hyperreflexic deep tendon reflexes.
- Decreased bowel sounds
Correct Answer: A. A carotid bruit
- A client with a 16-year history of diabetes mellitus is having renal function tests
- Dyspnea.
- Nocturia.
- Confusion.
- Stomatitis.
because of recent fatigue, weakness, elevated blood urea nitrogen, and serum creatinine levels. Which finding should the nurse conclude as an early symptom of renal insufficiency?
Correct Answer: B. Nocturia.
- A new nurse graduate is caring for a postoperative client with the following arterial
blood gases (ABGs): pH, 7.30; PCO2, 60 mm Hg; PO2, 80 mm Hg; bicarbonate, 24
mEq/L; and O2 saturation, 96%. Which of these actions by the new graduate is indicated?
- Encourage the client to use the incentive spirometer and to cough.
- Administer oxygen by nasal cannula.
- Request a prescription for sodium bicarbonate from the health care provider.
- Inform the charge nurse that no changes in therapy are needed.
- A client has been taking oral corticosteroids for the past five days because of
- White blood count of 10,000 mm3.
Correct Answer: A. Encourage the client to use the incentive spirometer and to cough.
seasonal allergies. Which assessment finding is of most concern to the nurse?
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- Serum glucose of 115 mg/dl.
- Purulent sputum.
- Excessive hunger.
Correct Answer: C. Purulent sputum.
- Which clinical manifestation further supports an assessment of a left-sided brain
- Visual field deficit on the left side.
- Spatial-perceptual deficits.
- Paresthesia of the left side.
- Global aphasia.
attack?
Correct Answer: D. Global aphasia.
- When preparing a patient for a noncontrast computed tomography (CT) scan STAT,
- Determine if the client has any allergies to iodine
- Explain that the client will not be able to move her head throughout the CT scan.
- Premedicate the client to decrease pain prior to having the procedure.
- Provide an explanation of relaxation exercises prior to the procedure.
- A neurologist prescribes a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head STAT for a
- Elevated blood pressure.
- Allergy to shell fish.
- Right hip replacement.
- History of atrial fibrillation.
what nursing intervention should the nurse implement?
Correct Answer: B. Explain that the client will not be able to move her head throughout the CT scan.
patient. Which data warrants immediate intervention by the nurse concerning this diagnostic test?
Correct Answer: C. Right hip replacement.
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- A client's daughter is sitting by her mother's bedside who was recently transferred
- "I am sorry, but according to the Health Insurance Portability and Accounting Act
- "Your mother has had a stroke, and the blood supply to the brain has been blocked."
- "How do you feel about what the healthcare provider said?"
- "I will call the healthcare provider so he/she can talk to you about your mother's serious
- What is the normal range for cardiac output?
- A client was admitted with the diagnosis of a brain attack. Their symptoms began
to the Intermediate Care Unit. She states "I don't understand what a brain attack is.The healthcare provider told me my mother is in serious condition and they are going to run several tests. I just don't know what is going on. What happened to my mother?" What is the best response by the nurse?
(HIPAA), I cannot give you any information."
condition." Correct Answer: B. "Your mother has had a stroke, and the blood supply to the brain has been blocked."
Correct Answer: The normal range for cardiac output to ensure cerebral blood flow and oxygen delivery is 4 to 8 L/min.
24 hours before being admitted. Why would this client not be a candidate for thrombolytic therapy?
Correct Answer: Thrombolytic therapy is contraindicated in clients with symptom
onset longer than 3 hours prior to admission.
- What are plate guards?
- Which condition is considered a non-modifiable risk factor for a brain attack?
- High cholesterol levels.
- Obesity.
- History of atrial fibrillation.
- Advanced age.
Correct Answer: Plate guards prevent food from being pushed off the plate. Using plate guards and other assistive devices will encourage independence in a client with a self-care deficit.
