Critical Care Hesi Exit Exam Questions and Answers 2023/2024 update

Critical Care Hesi Exit Exam Questions and Answers 2023/2024 update 1 - ANSWER-The nurse cares for a client with a cuffed tracheostomy tube. Before performing oral care, the nurse notes that the client's tracheostomy cuff is inflated. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate action for the nurse to take? 1. Leave the cuff inflated and suction through the tracheostomy.2. Deflate the cuff and suction through the tracheostomy tube. 3. Inflate the cuff pressure to 40 mm Hg before suctioning. 4. Adjust the wall suction pressure to 160 to 180 mm Hg before suctioning. 2 - ANSWER-A young adult brings a friend to the emergency department and states thatthe friend has been using heroin. Which action by the nurse is the MOST appropriate? 1. Assess pupil size and reactivity. 2. Assess oxygen saturation levels.3. Palpate dorsalis pedis pulses. 4. Ask the client if he knows today's date 3 - ANSWER-The client tells the clinic nurse that the client is thinking about using nicotine polacrilex (Nicorette). Which question is MOST important for the nurse to ask?1. "Have you tried other methods to stop smoking?" 2. "How long have you been smoking?"3. "Have you ever had chest pain?" 4. "Do you have a partial dental bridge?" 4 - ANSWER-The nurse cares for the client with a client controlled analgesia (PCA)pump. The nurse determines that the client has pressed the button 11 times and received 6 doses of morphine during the last hour. Which is the MOST appropriateaction for the nurse to take? 1. Assess the patency of the PCA IV tubing. 2. Determine the client's understanding of the PCA pump function.3. Obtain an order to begin a PCA infusion of fentanyl. 4. Ask the client to describe the pain. 3 - ANSWER-A pregnant woman receives an epidural anesthetic. After administration ofthe epidural anesthetic, the client's blood pressure changes from 120/84 to 94/50. Which action by the nurse is MOST appropriate?1. Place the client flat on her back. 2. Elevate the head of the bed 30 degrees. 3. Place the client on her left side with her legs flexed. 4. Place the client supine with the foot of the bed elevated 1 - ANSWER-A nursing order, "Increase fluid intake" is written for a client diagnosedwith dehydration. Which finding BEST indicates improving fluid status? 1. Urinary output of 1,500 mL in 24 hours.2. Serum hematocrit 52%. 3. Oral fluid intake of 900 mL in 24 hours.4. Blood pressure of 100/82. 2 - ANSWER-The nurse prepares to administer the initial dose of oral enalapril (Vasotec) 20 mg in the morning. Which medication should the nurse question giving tothe client? 1. 20 mg oral escitalopram (Celexa) in the morning.2. 40 mg oral furosemide (Lasix) in the morning. 3. 300 mg of oral gabapentin (Neurontin) twice daily.4. 10 mg zolpidem (Ambien) at bedtime. 3 - ANSWER-The home care nurse visits a client with a halo fixator traction device.Which client statement MOST concerns the nurse? 1. "My wife looks at the pin sites every day."2. "I like to bathe in the tub." 3. "I drove to the library yesterday."4. "I drink with a straw." 1 - ANSWER-the nurse cares for a client diagnosed with depression. Which statementby the client indicates improvement? 1. "I have been sleeping 6 hours at night."2. "I have lost 2 lbs in the past week." 3. "Lately, I have trouble watching television."4. "I have much less muscle tension now." 1 - ANSWER-The nurse on the maternity unit must accept a transfer client from amedical/surgical unit. The nurse considers which transfer client appropriate? 1. A 38-year-old client with a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus. 2. A 45-year-old client receiving daily external radiation therapy treatments for breastcancer. 3. A 58-year-old client receiving antibiotic treatment for cellulitis of the left leg.4. A 74-year-old client who has received intravenous antibiotics for 7 days. 4 - ANSWER-The nurse in the outclient surgery unit prepares a 4-year-old child forsurgery. It is MOST important for the nurse to make which of these statements? 1. "Your parents are going to leave a half hour before the surgery." 2. "You're going to talk with some other children who had this surgery."3. "If you have this surgery, your parents will buy you a new toy." 4. "Take this doll and show me where the operation will be done. 4 - ANSWER-The nurse cares for a client diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The client is confused and incontinent of urine. What is the MOST important action for thenurse to take? 1. Insert an indwelling urinary drainage catheter. 2. Perform intermittent catheterization every 4 hours.3. Offer the bedpan to the client every 2 hours. 4. Assist the client to a bedside commode every 2 hours. 2 - ANSWER-The nurse cares for a client with a history of type 1 diabetes mellitus whohas just returned to the surgical acute-care unit after a right below-knee amputation. The client's capillary blood glucose is 480 mg/dL. The postoperative orders indicate 6 units of regular insulin subcutaneously should be administered. Which of the following isthe FIRST action the nurse should take? 1. Check the client records to see if insulin was given prior to surgery.2. Administer the 6 units of regular insulin subcutaneously. 3. Administer the insulin when oral fluids are tolerated.4. Contact the healthcare provider. 4 - ANSWER-During the admission interview, the client reports a red, itchy raised rashon the chest and lip swelling after use of aspirin and penicillin. The admission orders include bed rest, soft diet as tolerated, naproxen (Naprosyn), and cefaclor (Ceclor). Which is the BEST description of expected breath sounds heard during auscultation?1. Administer the Ceclor as ordered; do not administer the naproxen. 2. Administer the naproxen as ordered; do not administer the Ceclor. 3. Administer both the Ceclor and naproxen as ordered; document the client's response.4. Do not administer the Ceclor or naproxen; notify the healthcare provider. 3 - ANSWER-The nurse teaches a client about how to care for an ileostomy. Which comment, if made by the client to the nurse, indicates further teaching is needed? 1. "The skin around the stoma should be cleaned with warm water and thoroughly dried." 2. "The appliance should fit snugly around the ileostomy opening." 3. "I should take polyethylene glycol (MiraLax) with a large glass of water."4. "I will continue to take a daily multi-vitamin." 3 - ANSWER-The nurse cares for a client diagnosed with chronic bronchitis and peripheral vascular disease. The nurse expects to assess which of these breathsounds? 1. Continuous, high-pitched musical sounds heard on expiration.2. Soft, high-pitched interrupted sounds heard on inspiration. 3. Deep, low-pitched rumbling sounds are heard mainly on expiration.4. Harsh, grating sounds heard best during inspiration. 2 - ANSWER-The nurse prepares to administer gentamicin (Garamycin) to the 65-year-old client. Which is the MOST important action for the nurse to take prior to administration of the medication? 1. Request a daily hemoglobin and hematocrit test.2. Monitor the serum BUN and creatinine. 3. Request a highly-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) test.4. Monitor the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). 4 - ANSWER-The nurse cares for the client in the labor unit. During the transitional phase of labor, the umbilical cord becomes prolapsed. It is MOST important for the nurse to take which action? 1. Place the client on her back with thighs flexed on her abdomen.2. Place the client on her left side with legs flexed. 3. Place the client supine with the head of the bed elevated 30°.4. Place the client supine with the foot of the bed elevated 2 - ANSWER-The nurse cares for the client diagnosed with lung cancer. The familystates that the client has become confused and that urinary output has decreased during the previous 24 hours. Which finding MOST concerns the nurse? 1. 2+ pitting pretibial edema.2. Sodium 128 mEq/L. 3. Weight gain of 2 kg in 24 hours.4. Urine specific gravity 1.008. 3 - ANSWER-The home care nurse cares for a client who is diagnosed with hypertension and mild depression. The client's daughter states that her mother hasbeen falling frequently. WWhich response by the nurse is BEST? 1. "Let's get your mother a walker." 2. "Do you think it's time to put your mother in a nursing home?"3. "When does your mother fall?" 4. "Does your mother seem to be more confused lately?" 2 - ANSWER-A femoral angiogram is scheduled for a client. It is MOST important for thenurse to take which action prior to the angiogram? 1. Clean and shave the catheter insertion-site area. 2. Locate and note the presence of peripheral pulses.3. Encourage the client to increase oral fluid intake. 4. Teach coughing and deep-breathing exercises. 3 - ANSWER-A child sustains a crushing chest injury in a car accident. In the emergency room, an endotracheal tube is inserted. Several hours later the nurse entersthe client's room and finds the child in respiratory distress. It is MOST important for the nurse to take which action prior to the angiogram? 1. Observe the color of the client's fingernail beds. 2. Assess the client's blood pressure in both arms. 3. Listen to the client's breath sounds. 4. Assess for intercostal retractions. 2 - ANSWER-The nurse cares for an elderly man diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Itis MOST important for the nurse to take which action? 1. Leave the television on all day in the client's room. 2. Frequently inform the client of the room and bathroom location.3. Provide the client with newspapers and magazines. 4. Assign a staff member to check on the client every 15 minutes. 3 - ANSWER-The nurse is responsible for triage of injured residents of an apartment building that collapsed during a tornado. Which client should the emergency personnelsee FIRST? 1. A 38-year-old client with potential fracture left femur. Blood pressure 110/78, pulse 92/minute, shallow respirations at 16/minute. 2. A 42-year-old client with ecchymotic areas on the left anterior and posterior chest.Blood pressure 142/90, pulse 88/minute, shallow respirations at 20/minute. 3. A 48-year-old client with severe head trauma. Blood pressure 168/52, pulse 58 perminute, irregular respirations at 12/minute. 4. A 64-year-old client complaining of left hand and wrist pain asking, "Where am I?"Blood pressure 128/72, pulse 88/minute, respirations unlabored at 16/minute 3 - ANSWER-The nurse cares for a client diagnosed with Crohn's disease. The nurse instructs the client about diet. Which menu selection indicates to the nurse that teachingis effective? 1. Cheeseburger on a whole-wheat bun, french fries, and an apple.2. Tomato soup, saltines, and a slice of unfrosted angel food cake.3. Baked cod, biscuit without butter, fruit roll-up. 4. Macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, 2 macaroon cookies 3 - ANSWER-The nursing team consists of one RN, one LPN/LVN and two nursing assistive personnel (NAPs). Which assignment is MOST appropriate for the LPN/LVN?1. A 38-year-old client diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome receiving plasmapheresis therapy. 2. A 72-year-old client admitted yesterday with a 10-day history of oral antibiotic therapyand a 24-hour history of watery diarrhea. 3. A 78-year-old client diagnosed with a thrombotic cerebrovascular accident 5 daysago. 4. A 86-year-old client just admitted with malaise, a productive cough, and WBC 17,000mm3. 1 - ANSWER-The nurse cares for a client during a 24-hour urine specimen collection. Several hours later, the client tells the nurse that she has started to menstruate. Whichaction by the nurse is MOST appropriate? 1. Inform the health care provider that the client is menstruating. 2. Send the urine collected prior to the onset of the client's menstruation to the lab. 3. Insert an indwelling bladder catheter during the remainder of the collection period. 4. Request a separate urine collection container from the laboratory to be used duringthe remainder of the urine collection period. 2 - ANSWER-The nurse cares for the client in the recovery room after a knee surgery procedure. The client has an oral airway in place. Which is the BEST indicator that theoral airway can be removed? 1. The client has a forceful cough during repositioning .2. The client tries to chew on the oral airway.. 3. The client tries to push the airway out with his tongue.4. The client is able to swallow. 2 - ANSWER-The nurse cares for clients in the antepartum clinic. Which client shouldthe nurse see FIRST? 1. An 18-year-old multigravida client at 28 weeks gestation with a positive indirect Coombs' test. 2. A 24-year-old multigravida client at 32 weeks gestation with moderate facial edema.3. A 30- year-old client at 26 weeks gestation with bilateral yellow breast exudate. 4. A 43-year-old primigravida client at 18 weeks of gestation reporting an absence offetal movement. 3 - ANSWER-The nurse instructs a client about include digoxin (Lanoxin), furosemide (Lasix), spironolactone (Aldactone), and a low-sodium diet. Which statement by the client indicates the need for further instruction? 1. "I should weigh myself every morning and call the health care provider if I gain morethan a couple of pounds in a few days." 2. "I should call the health care provider immediately if I start to feel nauseated or have difficulty breathing with normal activities." 3. "I plan to use salt substitutes now that I have to limit my sodium intake." 4. "I should read food and nonprescription medication labels to check the ingredients." 2 - ANSWER-The nurse cares for a client scheduled for a femoral popliteal bypass procedure. When the nurse approaches the client with the informed consent form, theclient says, "I don't need to talk to anybody about this procedure. I already know everything I need to know about it." Which response by the nurse is BEST? 1. "After I explain the operation to you, both of us will sign the form for legal purposesand it will be placed in your chart." 2. "Tell me what the healthcare provider told you about the risks and benefits of this operation." 3. "Can I answer any questions that you have about the procedure?" 4. "You should read all these materials to be sure that you understand everything aboutthis procedure." 1 - ANSWER-A man scheduled for a vasectomy tells the nurse that he and his wife areinvolved in a monogamous relationship. Which statement by the nurse is BEST? 1. "You will need to wear a condom when having sexual intercourse for 6 weeks following the vasectomy." 2. "No other form of birth control is necessary for you or your wife at this time." 3. "You do not need to wear a condom when having sexual intercourse for the next fewweeks, but your wife should use spermicidal jelly." 4. "Always wear a condom when having sexual intercourse because not all vasectomiesare successful." 1 - ANSWER-The nurse prepares to assign a client requiring a capillary blood glucosetest to a newly hired nursing assistive personnel. Which action should the nurse take FIRST? 1. "Show me how you check a capillary glucose level." 2. "How many of these glucose checks have you done in the past?" 3. "Would you like for me to go with you when you do the glucose test?" 4. "Was this procedure covered during your nursing assistive personnel class?" 1 - ANSWER-A 12-year-old diagnosed boy with a fractured right femur is placed in balanced suspension traction with a Thomas splint and Pearson attachment. The nurseis MOST concerned by which client statement? 1. "I will experience more muscle spasms and pain while my leg is in traction." 2. "I can lift my body up while I grab the overhead trapeze and bend my left leg." 3. "The health care provider told me it is okay to move the head of my bed up and downby myself." 4. "I need to put the phone where I can reach for it without moving onto my side." 2 - ANSWER-The nurse prioritizes the needs of a client who has been raped. Whichnursing action is MOST important? 1. Observe the client for withdrawn, tearful behavior.2. Determine if the client sustained any injuries. 3. Obtain information about events which preceded the rape. 4. Accurately document the client's comments about the rape. 2 - ANSWER-A child in a new plaster walking cast has dusky, swollen toes. Whichaction by the nurse is MOST appropriate? 1. Get Doppler studies to check the pulse.2. Notify the healthcare provider. 3. Determine if the cast is dry. 4. Check the client's vital signs 3 - ANSWER-The nurse reviews medications with a 35-year-old female. The client takes200 mg carbamazepine (Tegretol) orally twice daily. The client asks the nurse about future pregnancies. Which statement by the nurse is MOST appropriate? 1. "If you take 5 mg folic acid daily while trying to conceive, you should be able to get pregnant." 2. "It is recommended that you take carbamazepine suspension instead of the tabletswhen trying to get pregnant." 3. "You should contact your health care provider and discuss your concerns about pregnancy." 4. "If you avoid drinking grapefruit juice, there should be no problem with conception." 3 - ANSWER-The nurse cares for the client 3 days after a stroke. It is MOST importantfor the nurse to take which action? 1. Instruct the client to push with the feet while moving client up in bed.2. Offer the client soft foods on request. 3. Auscultate the client's lungs every 4 hours. 4. Observe the client's legs for warm, reddened, and tender areas every 4 hours. 2 - ANSWER-The nurse cares for the client diagnosed with schizophrenia. Whichquestion is MOST important for the nurse to ask the client's spouse? 1. "Have you noticed loud talking and excessive restlessness lately?" 2. "Has your spouse seemed withdrawn and less responsive to you during the last fewweeks?" 3. "How would you describe your spouse's daily consumption of alcohol?"4. "Does your spouse appear to have lost weight recently?" 2 - ANSWER-The nurse cares for the client immediately after an ileostomy procedure.Which is the best INITIAL action for the nurse to take during client teaching? 1. Schedule the teaching demonstrations during family visits. 2. Encourage the client to discuss any concerns and to ask questions.3. Show a video demonstrating ileostomy care. 4. Perform care for the ileostomy until the client is able to do it herself. 4 - ANSWER-The nurse cares for an 84-year-old man who appears disheveled, restlessand confused. The nurse prepares to administer medication and observes that the client's armband is missing. Which is the MOST appropriate action for the nurse to take? 1. Ask the client's roommate to identify the client.2. Ask the client to state his name. 3. Ask another nurse to identify the client. 4. Look in the chart at the picture of the client. 4 - ANSWER-The nurse performs an assessment of a newborn boy. The nurse is MOST concerned if which of the by which observation? 1. The respiratory rate is 40 per minute with short periods of apnea. 2. The heart rate is 140 beats per minute with variation during sleeping and wakingstates. 3. A sudden loud noise causes abduction of the infant's arms and flexion of his elbows.4. Stroking the outer sole of the infant's foot upward causes his toes to curl downward. 4 - ANSWER-The nurse cares for the client diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The client isscheduled for a renal computed tomography scan with contrast media at 10 a.m. The nurse is MOST concerned if the client makes which statement? 1. "My blood sugar was 124 mg/dL this morning."2. "I drank a glass of water at midnight." 3. "Sometimes I get dizzy when I first get out of bed." 4. "I took my metformin (Glucophage ER) at 6 A.M. this morning." 3 - ANSWER-The nurse cares for clients in a mental health center. The nurse observesthe client, formerly homeless and malnourished, diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia putting food from lunch into a plastic bag. Which statement by the nurse is MOST appropriate? 1. "We don't allow people to take food from the dining room."2. "What are you going to do with the food?" 3. "We will be serving snacks and juice at 3 P.M."4. "Let's go watch a movie with the others." 1 - ANSWER-The nurse plans care for a client admitted with fever, vomiting, anddiarrhea. Which laboratory value demonstrates an improvement in the client's condition?1. Specific gravity of urine 1.020 and hematocrit 42%. 2. Specific gravity of urine 1.039 and hematocrit 50%. 3. Specific gravity of urine 1.010 and hematocrit 52%. 4. Specific gravity of urine 1.030 and hematocrit 35%. 4 - ANSWER-The nurse cares for a client who is to receive thrombolytic therapy with tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA). The nurse is MOST concerned if the client makeswhich of the following statements? 1. "I take a multivitamin tablet daily for cold and flu prevention."2. "I had major abdominal surgery a year ago." 3. "I get some stomach pain when I eat spicy foods." 4. "I hit my head and lost consciousness during a car accident 2 months ago." 2 - ANSWER-A 60-year-old client comes to the outclient clinic to receive the influenzavaccine. Which of the following questions, if asked by the nurse, is BEST? 1. "Have you had the flu in the past month?"2. "Do you have any food allergies?" 3. "Has anyone in your family been sick?"4. "Are you allergic to any medication?" 1 - ANSWER-The home care nurse is visiting an alert, oriented woman living with her daughter. The client is malnourished and has multiple bruises on her body, and the situation is reported to the appropriate authority. After counseling the client and daughter, the nurse notes the situation has not improved. The client decides to remainwith her daughter. Which action, if taken by the nurse, is MOST appropriate? 1. Respect the client's decision to stay in her daughter's home.2. Insist the client move in with her other child. 3. Begin guardianship procedures.4. Place live-in help in the home. 3 - ANSWER-A news reporter and camera person arrive on the nursing unit to videotape an interview of a client. When the nurse refuses their request, the reporter references his First Amendment rights. Which statement, if made by the nurse, is MOST appropriate? 1. "Why do you want to talk with the client?" 2. "I'll ask the client if he is ready to speak with you." 3. "I will need to call the nurse manager about your request."4. "Does the client know that you are coming?" 2 - ANSWER-The nurse teaches a client who had an above-knee amputation (AKA) 2days ago about how to care for the residual limb. Which statement, if made by the client, indicates to the nurse that the teaching is effective? 1. "I shall apply cream to the residual limb to soften the skin." 2. "I should rewrap my residual limb with elastic bandages 3 times a day."3. "I will not be able to sleep on my stomach from now on." 4. "I will no longer be able to sit in straight back chairs at home." 1 - ANSWER-The husband of an elderly client who is incontinent asks the nurse whether his wife will have to wear diapers. Which response, if made by the nurse, isMOST appropriate? 1. "Let's discuss your specific concerns about your wife." 2. "Have you tried any type of incontinence pads in the past?"3. "Let's wait and see if incontinence pads are necessary." 4. "There are many brands of adult diapers available for you to try." 3 - ANSWER-The school nurse teaches accident-prevention to the parents of school- aged children. Which statement, if made by a parent to the nurse, indicates teaching iseffective? 1. "I'm going to make sure my child wears a helmet, shin guards, and gloves when herides his bike." 2. "I keep my guns and ammunition in a locked cabinet in the basement." 3. "The next time we go to the park, I'm going to teach my child the correct way to climbon the monkey bars." 4. "I'm going to make sure my wife and I observe our child when he plays outside with friends." 2 - ANSWER-The nurse cares for a client who had a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure 4 hours ago. The client's vital signs are blood pressure 92/68, apical heart rate 112 per minute, and respiratory rate 22 per minute. Which order should the nursequestion? 1. 0.9% sodium chloride water infusion at 150 mL/hour.2. Epinephrine (Adrenalin) 1 mg bolus intravenously. 3. Monitor urinary output hourly for 24 hours. 4. 50 mL 25% albumin (human) 50 mL intravenously. 1 - ANSWER-A nurse from the surgical floor is reassigned to the pediatric unit. Which ofthe following client assignment is MOST appropriate for this nurse? 1. A 5-month-old infant after a cast application on the left extremity due to club foot. 2. A 4-year-old boy with right abdominal swelling and a decreased appetite. 3. A 6-year-old boy admitted with cystic fibrosis and a temperature of 101.5 F (38.68 C).4. A 10-year-old girl with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. 3 - ANSWER-The home care nurse observes an elderly woman on a low-sodium dieteating a dill pickle that her son gave her with lunch. Which response by the nurse is MOST appropriate? 1. "Giving your mother salty food will only make her condition worse."2. "Didn't your mother tell you she's on a low-sodium diet?" 3. "Tell me what you know about your mother's diet." 4. "Let's make an appointment for you to meet with a dietician."