Question

A client with a seizure disorder is seen at the clinic for a follow-up visit and a prescription renewal for phenytoin. Which assessment finding warrants immediate intervention by the nurse?

Answer 1

Correct Answers:

Double vision.

Rationale :

👁️Double vision (diplopia) is a serious symptom of phenytoin toxicity, which affects the central nervous system and requires prompt assessment.

🧪Phenytoin has a narrow therapeutic range, meaning even slight increases in serum levels can lead to significant toxicity.

⚠️Visual changes like diplopia, along with symptoms such as ataxia and nystagmus, can indicate early toxicity and must be reported immediately.

🧠Failure to act on this finding could result in worsening neurological function, including seizures or permanent damage.

📌Core Message

Double vision is a critical indicator of phenytoin toxicity, requiring immediate intervention to prevent neurologic complications due to the drug's narrow therapeutic range.

Answer 2

Correct Answers:

Encourage continued maintenance of the walking routine.

Rationale :

🚶‍♂️Walking is a recommended low-impact exercise that maintains joint flexibility and reduces stiffness in clients with osteoarthritis.

🦵Continued movement helps preserve muscle strength and limits joint deterioration.

🧍‍♀️Engaging in social activities like walking with friends also improves mental health and promotes long-term adherence to exercise.

📋Evidence-based guidelines support encouraging physical activity as a non-pharmacologic approach to osteoarthritis management.

📌Core Message

Walking is a low-impact activity that helps preserve joint function, enhances mental well-being, and aligns with osteoarthritis management guidelines.

Answer 3

Correct Answers:

Notify the healthcare provider of the client's medication history.

Rationale :

📢Heparin increases the risk of surgical bleeding, especially with active trauma and fractures.

📋Informing the provider ensures the surgical team is aware of medications that impact coagulation.

⚠️Proceeding without addressing this risk may result in severe intraoperative hemorrhage.

🩺This action allows for appropriate adjustments, such as timing, dose modification, or use of reversal agents.

📌Core Message

Notifying the provider about heparin use ensures safe surgical planning and minimizes bleeding risk.

Answer 4

Correct Answers:

Lower back pain and hypotension.

Rationale :

🛏️Lower back pain and hypotension are hallmark signs of an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction.

🩸This occurs when ABO-incompatible blood triggers red blood cell destruction, leading to shock or renal failure.

🚨It is a life-threatening emergency that demands immediate transfusion discontinuation and provider notification.

🧪Failure to act quickly may result in multi-organ damage or death.

📌Core Message

Lower back pain and hypotension signal an acute hemolytic reaction due to ABO incompatibility, requiring emergency action.

Answer 5

Correct Answers:

Lumbar puncture.

Rationale :

💉A lumbar puncture is the primary diagnostic test for bacterial meningitis, as it samples cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

🧪CSF typically shows high WBCs, low glucose, and elevated protein, which are key indicators of infection.

⏱️Prompt identification allows for early initiation of antibiotics, reducing the risk of neurologic complications.

📅Although imaging may be used in some cases, lumbar puncture provides the definitive diagnosis.

📌Core Message

A lumbar puncture is essential for confirming bacterial meningitis through CSF analysis.

Answer 6

Correct Answers:

Family members can assist with regular foot exams.

Rationale :

👣Clients with peripheral neuropathy may not feel foot injuries due to reduced sensation.

👪Family members play a vital role in conducting daily foot checks, especially for clients with visual or mobility limitations.

📆Early identification of ulcers or infections helps prevent serious complications like gangrene or amputation.

🦶Involving family supports consistent foot care, which is a cornerstone of diabetic self-management.

📌Core Message

Family-assisted foot exams help detect early injury in clients with peripheral neuropathy, preventing serious complications.

Answer 7

Correct Answers:

Check fingerstick glucose level.
Assess skin temperature and moisture.
Measure pulse and blood pressure.

Rationale :

🩸Weakness and jitteriness in a diabetic client suggest hypoglycemia, so checking the fingerstick glucose is the first priority.

💦Assessing skin moisture and temperature can reveal symptoms like clammy skin, supporting the diagnosis.

💓Vital signs such as pulse and BP help evaluate the body's physiologic response to low blood sugar.

❌Administering insulin or labeling the symptoms as anxiety without glucose confirmation is inappropriate and dangerous.

📌Core Message

Suspected hypoglycemia requires checking glucose, observing physical signs, and measuring vital signs before taking further action.

Answer 8

Correct Answers:

Eat a diet that is high in protein and vitamins A and C.
Keep legs elevated when sitting or lying down.
Inspect ankles daily for areas of darkening skin.

Rationale :

🥗Protein and vitamins A and C support tissue repair and collagen production, promoting wound healing.

🛌Elevating the legs helps reduce venous pressure and edema, which is key in treating venous ulcers.

👁️Inspecting for skin discoloration or breakdown allows for early detection of worsening ulcers.

🚫Bed rest and cold compresses reduce circulation and may delay recovery, contrary to standard venous ulcer care.

📌Core Message

Healing venous ulcers requires adequate nutrition, leg elevation, and daily skin checks to improve healing and prevent worsening.

Answer 9

Correct Answers:

Maintain the prescribed fluid restriction.

Rationale :

💧SIADH causes water retention and hyponatremia due to excess antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion.

📈An increase in sodium from 120 to 125 mEq/L shows therapeutic response, but the sodium level is still critically low.

🚱Maintaining fluid restriction is essential to prevent dilutional hyponatremia from recurring.

⚠️Abruptly stopping therapy or loosening restrictions may worsen the condition and lead to neurological complications.

📌Core Message

In SIADH, maintaining fluid restriction supports gradual sodium correction and prevents relapse of hyponatremia.

Answer 10

Correct Answers:

The patient enjoys fat-free yogurt as an occasional snack.

Rationale :

🥛Fat-free dairy like yogurt aligns with the DASH diet goals of reducing saturated fat and supporting blood pressure control.

🍽️The DASH diet emphasizes low-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while minimizing salt and unhealthy fats.

❌Lactose-free or peeled produce choices do not inherently reflect DASH compliance unless paired with the full dietary pattern.

📊Fat-free snacks support the low-cholesterol, heart-healthy intent of the DASH plan.

📌Core Message

The DASH diet promotes fat-free dairy and low saturated fat intake to manage hypertension.

HESI Med -Surg 2025 Exam- 3

No.

1 :
A client with a seizure disorder is seen at the clinic for a follow-up visit and a prescription renewal for phenytoin. Which assessment finding warrants immediate intervention by the nurse?

2 :
A young adult client with osteoarthritis of both knees expresses the desire to continue daily walks in the park with friends. How should the nurse respond?

4 :
A client experiences an ABO incompatibility reaction after multiple blood transfusions. Which finding should the nurse report immediately to the healthcare provider?

5 :
The nurse is caring for a client admitted to the hospital with a tentative diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Which diagnostic procedure should the nurse prepare the client for the healthcare provider?

6 :
A nurse is educating a patient with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy. What advice should the nurse give?

7 :
An overweight young adult diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus is admitted for a hernia repair. The patient reports feeling very weak and jittery. What actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply)

8 :
The nurse is providing discharge teaching to an older adult patient hospitalized for treatment of venous leg ulcers. Which instructions should the nurse include in the teaching plan? (Select all that apply.)

9 :
A patient with small cell carcinoma of the lung is admitted with syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). The patient's serum sodium level increases from 120 mEq/L to 125 mEq/L as they respond to treatment. Based on this finding, what intervention should the nurse implement?

10 :
The nurse is assessing a patient's understanding of the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet. Which patient behavior suggests adherence to this diet?

HESI Med -Surg 2025 Exam- 3

No.

1 : A client with a seizure disorder is seen at the clinic for a follow-up visit and a prescription renewal for phenytoin. Which assessment finding warrants immediate intervention by the nurse?

2 : A young adult client with osteoarthritis of both knees expresses the desire to continue daily walks in the park with friends. How should the nurse respond?

4 : A client experiences an ABO incompatibility reaction after multiple blood transfusions. Which finding should the nurse report immediately to the healthcare provider?

5 : The nurse is caring for a client admitted to the hospital with a tentative diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Which diagnostic procedure should the nurse prepare the client for the healthcare provider?

6 : A nurse is educating a patient with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy. What advice should the nurse give?

7 : An overweight young adult diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus is admitted for a hernia repair. The patient reports feeling very weak and jittery. What actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply)

8 : The nurse is providing discharge teaching to an older adult patient hospitalized for treatment of venous leg ulcers. Which instructions should the nurse include in the teaching plan? (Select all that apply.)

9 : A patient with small cell carcinoma of the lung is admitted with syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). The patient's serum sodium level increases from 120 mEq/L to 125 mEq/L as they respond to treatment. Based on this finding, what intervention should the nurse implement?

10 : The nurse is assessing a patient's understanding of the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet. Which patient behavior suggests adherence to this diet?

1 :
A client with a seizure disorder is seen at the clinic for a follow-up visit and a prescription renewal for phenytoin. Which assessment finding warrants immediate intervention by the nurse?

2 :
A young adult client with osteoarthritis of both knees expresses the desire to continue daily walks in the park with friends. How should the nurse respond?

4 :
A client experiences an ABO incompatibility reaction after multiple blood transfusions. Which finding should the nurse report immediately to the healthcare provider?

5 :
The nurse is caring for a client admitted to the hospital with a tentative diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Which diagnostic procedure should the nurse prepare the client for the healthcare provider?

6 :
A nurse is educating a patient with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy. What advice should the nurse give?

7 :
An overweight young adult diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus is admitted for a hernia repair. The patient reports feeling very weak and jittery. What actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply)

8 :
The nurse is providing discharge teaching to an older adult patient hospitalized for treatment of venous leg ulcers. Which instructions should the nurse include in the teaching plan? (Select all that apply.)

9 :
A patient with small cell carcinoma of the lung is admitted with syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). The patient's serum sodium level increases from 120 mEq/L to 125 mEq/L as they respond to treatment. Based on this finding, what intervention should the nurse implement?

10 :
The nurse is assessing a patient's understanding of the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet. Which patient behavior suggests adherence to this diet?