Med Surg HESI

1) A female client with a nasogastric tube attached to low suction states that she is nauseated. The nurse assesses that there has been no drainage through the nasogastric tube in the last 2 hours. Which action should the nurse take first? A. Irrigate the nasogastric tube with sterile normal saline. B. Reposition the client on her side. C. Advance the nasogastric tube 5 cm. D. Administer an intravenous antiemetic as prescribed. B. The priority is to determined if the tube is functioning correctly, which would relieve the client's nausea. The least invasive intervention is to reposition the client (B), should be attempted first, followed by (A & C) if these are unsuccessful then (D). 2)When assigning clients on a medical-surgical floor to a RN and a LPN, it is best for the charge nurse to assign which client to the LPN? A. A child with bacterial meningitis with recent seizures. B. An older adult client with pneumonia and viral meningitis. C. A female client in isolation wiht meningococcal meningitis. D. A male client 1 day post-op after drainage of a brain abscess. B. Is the most stable. A, C, D have an increased risk for elevated ICP. 3)Which description of symptoms is characteristic of a client with diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux)? A. Tinnitus, vertigo, and hearing difficulties. B. Sudden, stabbing, severe pain over the lip and chin. C. Unilateral facial weakness and paralysis. D. Difficulty in talking, chewing, and swallowing. B. Trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by paroxysms of pain, similar to an electric shock, in the area innervated by one or more branches of the trigeminal nerve. A. Characteristic of Meniere's C. Characteristic of Bell palsey D. Characteristic of disorders of the hypoglossal (12th cranial nerve) 4)Which abnormal lab finding indicates that a client with diabetes needs further evaluation for diabetic nephropathy? A. Hypokalemia B. Microalbuminauria C. Elevated serum lipids D. Ketonuria B. Microalbuminuria is the earliest sign of nephropathy and indicates the need for follow-up evaluation. Hyperkalemia (A) is associated with end stage renal disease caused by diabetic nephropathy. (C) may be elevated in end stage renal disease. (D) may signal the onset of DKA. 5) An older male client comes to the geriatric screening clinic complaining of pain in his left calf. The nurse notices a reddened area on the calf of his right leg that is warm to touch and the nurse suspects that the client may have thrombophlebitis. Which addition assessment is most important for the nurse to perform? A. Measure calf circumference. B. Auscultate the client's breath sounds. C. Observe for ecchymosis and petechiae. D. Obtain the client's blood pressure. B. Since the client may have a pulmonary embolus secondary to the thrombophlebitis. A. Would support the nurses assessment. C. Least helpful since bruising is not associated with thrombophlebitis. D. Less important then auscultation. 6)The nurse know that a client taking diuretics must be assessed for the development of hypokalemia, and that hypokalemia will create changes in the client's normal ECG tracing. Which ECG change would be an expected finding in the client with hypokalemia? A. Tall, spiked T waves B. A prolonged QT interval C. A widening QRS complex D. Presence of a U wave D. A U wave is a positive deflection following the T wave and is often present with hypokalemia. A, B, C indicate hyperkalemia. 7)An older client is admitted with a diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia. The nurse's assessment of the client will most likely reveal which S/SX? A. Leukocytosis and febrile. B. Polycythemia and crackles. C. Pharyngitis and sputum production. D. Confusion and tachycardia. D. The onset of pneumonia is the older may be signaled by general deterioration, confusion, increased heart rate or increased respiratory rate. (A, B, C) are often absent in the older with bacterial pneumonia. 8)The nurse observes ventricular fibrillation on telemetry and upon entering the clients bathroom finds the client unconscious on the floor. What intervention should the nurse implement first? A. Administer an antidysrhythmic medication. B. Start cardiopulmonary resuscitation. C. Defibrillate the client at 200 joules. D. Assess the client's pulse oximetry. B. Ventricular fibrillation is a life-threatening dysrhythmia and CPR should be started immediately. A & C are appropriate but B is the priority. D does not address the seriousness of the situation. 9)An older female client with dementia is transferred from a long term care unit to an acute care unit. The client's children express concern that their mother's confusion is worsening. How should the nurse respond? A. "It is to be expected that older people will experience progressive confusion." B. "Confusion in an older person often follows relocation to new surroundings." C. "The dementia is progressing rapidly, but we will do everything we can to keep your mother safe." D. "The acute care staff is not as experienced as the long-term care staff at dealing with dementia." B. Relocation often results in confusion among older clients and is stressful to clients of all ages. (A) is an inaccurate stereotype. (C) is most likely false there are many factors that cause increased temporary confusion. (D) may be true but does not offer the family a sense of security about the care. 10) The nurse plans to help an 18-year-old developmentally disabled female client ambulate on the first postoperative day. When the nurse tells her it is time to get out of bed, the client becomes angry and yells at the nurse. "Get out of here! I'll get up when I'm ready." Which response should the nurse provide? A. "Your healthcare provider has prescribed ambulation on the first postoperative day." B. "You must ambulate to avoid serious complications that are much more painful." C. "I know how you feel; you're angry about having to do this, but it is required." D. "I'll be back in 30 minutes to help you get out of bed and walk around the room." D. Returning in 30 minutes provides a cooling off period, is firm, direct, nonthreatening, and avoids argument with the client. B is threatening. C. assumes what the client is feeling. A. avoids the nurse's responsibility to ambulate the client. 11) The nurse is performing hourly neurological check for a client with a head injury. Which new assessment finding warrants the most immediate intervention by the nurse? A. A unilateral pupil that is dilated and nonreactive to light. B. Client cries out when awakened by a verbal stimulus. C. Client demonstrates a loss of memory to the events leading up to the injury. D. Onset of nausea, headache, and vertigo. A. Any changes in pupil size and reactivity is an indication of increasing ICP and should be reported immediately. (B) is normal for being awakened. (C & D) are common manifestations of head injury and less of an immediacy than (A). 12) A male client with arterial peripheral vascular disease (PVD) complains of pain in his feet. Which instruction should the nurse give to the UPA to quickly relieve the client's pain? A. Help the client to dangle his legs. B. Apply compression stockings. C. Assist with passive leg exercises. D. Ambulate three times daily. A. A client who has arterial PVD may benefit from a dependent position which can be achieved by dangling by improving blood flow and relieving pain. (B) is indicated for venous insufficiency and (C) is indicated for bed rest. (D) is indicated to facilitate collateral circulation and may improve long term complaints of pain. 13) A 58-year-old client, who has no health problems, asks the nurse about taking the pneumococcal vaccine (Pneumovax). Which statement give by the nurse would offer the client accurate information about this vaccine? A. "The vaccine is given annually before the flue season to those over 50 years of age." B. "The immunization is administered once to older adults or persons with a history of chronic illness." C. "The vaccine is for all ages and is given primarily to those person traveling overseas to infected areas." D. "The vaccine will prevent the occurrence of pneumococcal pneumonia for up to 5 years." B. It is usually recommended that persons over 65 years of age and those with a history of chronic illness should receive the vaccine once in a lifetime. (A) the influenza vaccine is given annually. (C) travel is not the main rationale for the vaccine. (D) The vaccine is usually given once in a lifetime. 14)A client with hypertension has been receiving ramipril (Altace) 5 mg PO daily for 2 weeks and is scheduled to receive a dose at 0900. At 0830 the client's blood pressure is 120/70. Which action should the nurse take? A. Administer the dose as prescribed. B. Hold the dose and contact the healthcare provider. C. Hold the dose and recheck the blood pressure in 1 hour. D. Check the healthcare provider's prescription to clarify the dose. A. The BP is WNL and indicates that the medication is working. (B & C) would be indicated if the BP was low (systole below 100). (D) is not required because the dose is within manufacture's recommendations. 15)The nurse know that normal lab values expected for an adult may vary in an older client. Which data would the nurse expect to find when reviewing laboratory values of an 80-year-old man who is in good overall health. A. Complet blood count reveals increased WBC and decreased RBC counts. B. Chemistries reveal an increased serum bilirubin with slightly increased liver enzymes. C. Urinalysis reveals slight protein in the urine and bacteriuria with pyuria. D. Serum electrolytes reveal a decreased sodium level with an increased potassium level. C. In older adults the protein found in urine is slightly risen as a result of kidney changes or subclinical UTIs and the client frequently experiences asymptomatic bacteriuria and pyuria as a result of incomplete bladder emptying. (A, B, D) are not normal findings. 16) The nurse is completing an admission inter for a client with Parkinson disease. Which question will provide addition information about manifestations the client is likely to experience? A. "Have you ever experienced and paralysis of your arms or legs?" B. " Do you have frequent blackout spells?" C. "Have you ever been 'frozen' in one spot, unable to move?" D. "Do you have headaches, especially ones with throbbing pain?" C. Parkinson clients frequently experience difficulty in initiating, maintaining, and performing motor activities. They may even experience being rooted, unable to move. (A, B, D) Does not typically occur in Parkinson. 17)During the change of shift report, the charge nurse reviews the infusions being received by the clients on the oncology unit. The client receiving which infusion should be seen first? C. Has the highest risk for respiratory depression and therefor should be seen first. (A) Risk of hypotension. (B) Lowest risk. (D) Risk of nephrotoxicity and phlebitis. 18)The home health nurse is assessing a male client being treated for Parkinson disease with levodopa-carbidopa (Sinemet). The nurse observes that he does not demonstrate any apparent emotions when speaking and rarely blinks. Which intervention should the nurse implement? A. Perform a complete cranial nerve assessment. B. Instruct the client that he may be experiencing medication toxicity. C. Document the presence of these assessment findings. D. Advise the client to seek immediate medical evaluation. C. A mask-like expression and infrequent blinking are common clinical features of Parkinsonism. The nurse should document the findings. (A & D) are not necessary. Signs of toxicity (B) are dyskinesia, hallucinations, and psychosis. 19)A client is placed on a mechanical ventilator following a cerebral hemorrhage, and vecuronium bromide (Norcuron) 0.04 mg/kg every 12 hours IV is prescribed. What is the priority nursing diagnosis for this client? A. Impaired communication related to paralysis of skeletal muscles. B. Hight risk or infection related to increased ICP. C. Potential for injury related to impaired lung expansion. D. Social isolation related to inability to communicate. A. To increase the client's tolerance of the endotracheal intubation and/or mechanical ventilation, a skeletal-muscle relaxant such as vecuronium is usually prescribed. (A) is a serious outcome because the client cannot communicate his/her needs. (D) is not as much of a priority. (B) infection is not related to ICP. (C) is incorrect because the ventilator will ensure that the lungs are expanded. 20)The nurse is reviewing the routine medications taken by a client with chronic angle closure glaucoma. Which medication prescription should the nurse question? A. An antianginal with a therapeutic effect of vasodilation. B. An anticholinergic with a side effect of pupillary dilation. C. An antihistamine with a side effect of sedation. D. A corticosteroid with a side effect of hyperglycemia. B. Clients with angle closure glaucoma should not take medications that dilate the pupil (B) because this can precipitate acute and severely increased intraocular pressure. (A, C, D) do not cause increased intraocular pressure, which is the primary concern. 21)What is the correct location for the placement of the hand for manual chest compressions during CPR on the adult client. A. Just above the xiphoid process on the upper third of the sternum. B. Below the xiphoid process midway between the sternum and the umbilicus. C. Just about the xiphoid process on the lower third of the sternum. D. Below the xiphoid process midway between the sternum and the first rib. Ans: C 22)Twelve hours after chest tube insertion for hemothorax, the nurse notes that the client's drainage has decreased from 50 ml/hr to 5 ml/hr. What is the best inital action for the nurse to take? A. Document this expected decrease in drainage. B. Clamp the chest tube while assessing for air leaks. C. Milk the tube to remove any excessive blood clot build up. D. Assess for kinks or dependent loops in the tubing. D. The least invasive action should be performed to assess the decrease in drainage. (A) is completed after assessing for and problems causing the decreased drainage. (B) is no longer protocol because the increased pressure may be harmful for the client. (C) is an appropriate nursing action after the tube has been assessed for kinks or dependent loops. 23)A 25-year-old client was admitted yesterday after a motor vehicle collision. Neurodiagnostic studies showed a basal skull fracture in the middle fossa. Assessment on admission revealed both halo and Battle signs. Which new symptom indicates that the client is likely to be experiencing a common life-threatening complication associated with basal skull fracture? A. Bilateral jugular vein distention. B. Oral temperature of 102 degrees F. C. Intermittent focal motor seizures. D. Intractable pain in the cervical region. B. Increased temp indicates meningitis. (C & D) these symptoms may be exhibited but are not life threatening. (A) JVD is not a typical complication of basal skull fractures. 24)Seconal 0.1 gram PRN at bedtime is prescribed for rest. The scored tablets are labeled grain 1.5 per tablet. How many tablets should the nurse plan to administer? A. 1/2 tablet B. 1 tablet C. 1 1/2 tablet D. 2 tablets B.15gr=1g,0.1x15=1.5grains 25)Which content about self-care should the nurse include in the teaching plan of a client who has genital herpes? (Select all that apply.) A. Encourage annual physical and Pap smear. B. Take antiviral medication as prescribed. C. Use condoms to avoid transmission to others. D. Warm sitz baths may relieve itching. E. Use Nystatin suppositories to control itching. F. Douche with weak vinegar solutions to decrease itching. A,B,C,D. (E) is specific for Candida infections and (F) is used to treat Trichomonas. 26)A client with chronic asthma is admitted to postanesthesia complaining of pain at level 8 of 10, with a BP of 124/78, pulse of 88 beats/min, and respirations of 20 breaths/min. The postanesthesia recovery prescription is, "Morphine 2 to 4 mg IV push while in recovery for pain level over 5." What intervention should the nurse implement? A. Give the medication as prescribed to decrease the client's pain. B. Call the anesthesia provider for a different medication for pain. C. Use nonpharmacologic techniques before giving the medication. D. Reassess pain level in 30 Minutes and medicate if it remains elevated. B. Call for a different medication because morphine and meperidine (Demerol) have histamine- releasing narcotics and should be avoided when a client has asthma. (A) puts the client at risk for asthma attack. (C & D) disregard the clients prescription and pain relief. 27)During report, the nurse learns that a client with tumor lysis syndrome is receiving an IV infusion containing insulin. Which assessment should the nurse complete first? A. Review the client's history for diabetes mellitus. B. Observe the extremity distal to the IV site. C. Monitor the client's serum potassium and blood glucose. D. Evaluate the client's oxygen saturation and breath sounds. C. The client with tumor lysis syndrome may experience hyperkalemia, therefor it is important to monitor serum potassium and blood glucose levels. (A, B, D) are not as priority. 28)During assessment of a client in the intensive care unit, the nurse notes that the client's breath sounds are clear upon auscultation, but jugular vein distention and muffled heart sounds are present. Which intervention should the nurse implement? A. Prepare the client for a pericardial tap. B. Administer intravenous furosemide (Lasix). C. Assist the client to cough and deep breathe. D. Instruct the client to restrict oral fluid intake. A. The client is exhibiting symptoms of cardiac tamponade that results in reduced cardiac output. Treatment is pericardial tap. (B) is not a treatment. (C) is not priority. (D) Fluids are frequently increased but this is not as priority as (A). 29)In assessing an older client with dementia for sundowning syndrome, what assessment technique is best for the nurse to use? A. Observe for tiredness at the end of the day. B. Perform a neurologic exam and mental status exam. C. Monitor for medication side effects. D. Assess for decreased gross motor movement. A. Sundowning syndrome is a pattern of agitated behavior in the evening, believed to be associated with tiredness at the end of the day combined with fewer orienting stimuli, such as activities and interactions. (B, C, & D) with not provide information about this syndrome. 30)Which condition should the nurse anticipate as a potential problem in a female client with a neurogenic bladder? A. Stress incontinence. B. Infection. C. Painless, gross hematuria. D. Peritonitis. B. Infection is the major complication resulting from stasis of urine and subsequent catheterization. (A) is the involuntary loss of urine through an intact urethra as a result of suddenly increased pressure. (C) is the most common symptom of bladder cancer. (D) is the most common and serious complication of peritoneal dialysis. 31)The nurse is interviewing a client who is taking interferon-alfa-2a (Roferon-A) and ribavirin (Virazole) combination therapy for hepatitis C. The client reports experiencing overwhelming feelings of depression. What action should the nurse implement first? A. Recommend mental health counseling. B. Review the medications actions and interactions. C. Assess for the client's daily activity level. D. Provide information regarding a support group. B. Alpha-interferon and ribavirin combination therapy can cause severe depression. (A, B, C) may be implemented after physiological aspect of the situation are assessed. 32)The nurse is assessing a 75-year-old male client for symptoms of hyperglycemia. Which symptom of hyperglycemia is an older adult most likely to exhibit?