HESI RN
HESI Medical Surgical Practice Exam Quizlet
1. The nurse notes that the only ECG for a 55-year-old male client scheduled for surgery in two hours is dated two years ago. The client reports that he has a history of 'heart trouble,' but has no problems at present. Hospital protocol requires that those over 50 years of age have a recent ECG prior to surgery. What nursing action is best for the nurse to implement?
- A. Ask the client to explain what he means by 'heart trouble.'
- B. Call for an ECG to be performed immediately.
- C. Notify surgery that the ECG is over two years old.
- D. Notify the client's surgeon immediately.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: In this scenario, the client is 55 years old with a history of 'heart trouble,' which necessitates a recent ECG before surgery as per hospital policy. The nurse should prioritize patient safety and adhere to the protocol by arranging for an ECG to be performed immediately. Option A is not the best initial action as the focus should be on obtaining the necessary test first. Option C is not the immediate action required, and option D is premature without obtaining the necessary ECG first.
2. Which client should the nurse recognize as most likely to experience sleep apnea?
- A. Middle-aged female who takes a diuretic nightly.
- B. Obese older male client with a short, thick neck.
- C. Adolescent female with a history of tonsillectomy.
- D. School-aged male with a history of hyperactivity disorder.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. Sleep apnea is characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep, often due to a collapsed or blocked airway. Obesity and having a short, thick neck are risk factors for sleep apnea because excess fat around the neck can obstruct the airway. Option A (middle-aged female who takes a diuretic nightly) does not present as a common risk factor for sleep apnea. Option C (adolescent female with a history of tonsillectomy) may have had tonsils removed, which could reduce the risk of sleep apnea. Option D (school-aged male with a history of hyperactivity disorder) is not directly associated with an increased risk of sleep apnea.
3. A client with cirrhosis develops increasing pedal edema and ascites. What dietary modification is most important for the nurse to teach this client?
- A. Avoid high carbohydrate foods.
- B. Decrease intake of fat-soluble vitamins.
- C. Decrease caloric intake.
- D. Restrict salt and fluid intake.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is to restrict salt and fluid intake. In clients with cirrhosis presenting with pedal edema and ascites, excessive fluid retention occurs, necessitating the restriction of salt and fluid to alleviate these symptoms. Choice A, avoiding high carbohydrate foods, is not the priority in this situation. Decreasing intake of fat-soluble vitamins (Choice B) is not specifically indicated for managing edema and ascites in cirrhosis. While maintaining an appropriate caloric intake is important, decreasing caloric intake (Choice C) is not the primary focus when addressing fluid retention in cirrhosis.
4. A client with early breast cancer receives the results of a breast biopsy and asks the nurse to explain the meaning of staging and the type of receptors found on the cancer cells. Which explanation should the nurse provide?
- A. Lymph node involvement is not significant.
- B. Small tumors are aggressive and indicate poor prognosis.
- C. The tumor's estrogen receptor guides treatment options.
- D. Stage I indicates metastasis.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Treatment decisions and prediction of prognosis are related to the tumor's receptor status, such as estrogen and progesterone receptor status which commonly are well-differentiated, have a lower chance of recurrence, and are receptive to hormonal therapy. Tumor staging designates tumor size and spread of breast cancer cells into axillary lymph nodes, which is one of the most important prognostic factors in early-stage breast cancer.
5. The nurse assesses a client with advanced cirrhosis of the liver for signs of hepatic encephalopathy. Which finding would the nurse consider an indication of progressive hepatic encephalopathy?
- A. An increase in abdominal girth.
- B. Hypertension and a bounding pulse.
- C. Decreased bowel sounds.
- D. Difficulty in handwriting.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Difficulty in handwriting is a common early sign of hepatic encephalopathy. Changes in handwriting can indicate progression or reversal of hepatic encephalopathy leading to coma. Choice (A) is a sign of ascites, not hepatic encephalopathy. Hypertension and a bounding pulse (Choice B) are not typically associated with hepatic encephalopathy. Decreased bowel sounds (Choice C) do not directly indicate an increase in serum ammonia level, which is the primary cause of hepatic encephalopathy.
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