HESI Medical Surgical Practice Test 2026-2027 and Free Sample Questions

A nurse is caring for a patient with type 2 diabetes who reports numbness, tingling, and burning pain in both feet. Which complication of diabetes does this finding most likely represent?

A nurse is caring for a patient who had a stroke and now has difficulty swallowing. Which nursing intervention best reduces this patient's risk of aspiration during meals?

A nurse is caring for a patient admitted with acute myocardial infarction who is prescribed nitroglycerin for chest pain. Which finding should the nurse monitor for as a common side effect of nitroglycerin?

A nurse is caring for a patient with chronic kidney disease who has a serum potassium level of 6.4 mEq per L. Which dietary instruction should the nurse reinforce?

A nurse is assessing a patient with heart failure. Which group of findings indicates fluid volume overload?

A nurse is teaching a patient with a peptic ulcer about lifestyle changes. Which instruction should the nurse include to help reduce gastric irritation?

A nurse is caring for a patient with a newly applied plaster cast on the leg. Which assessment finding should the nurse report immediately?

A nurse is assessing a patient with newly diagnosed hypothyroidism. Which group of findings is most consistent with this condition?

A nurse is caring for a postoperative patient receiving opioid analgesics. Which assessment finding is the priority for the nurse to monitor for as a serious adverse effect of opioids?

A nurse is teaching a patient with a new colostomy about stoma care. Which finding should the nurse teach the patient indicates a healthy stoma?

A nurse is caring for a patient on prolonged bed rest. Which finding in the patient's lower leg should prompt the nurse to suspect a deep vein thrombosis?

A nurse is caring for a patient hospitalized with pneumonia. Which intervention helps mobilize and clear secretions from the airways?

A nurse is caring for a patient with cirrhosis who has developed hepatic encephalopathy. Which dietary or medication intervention does the nurse expect to help reduce ammonia levels?

A nurse is caring for a patient with a known seizure disorder. Which item should the nurse keep readily available at the bedside for seizure safety?

A nurse is caring for a patient with a head injury. Which group of findings indicates increasing intracranial pressure?

A nurse is teaching an older adult patient about preventing recurrent urinary tract infections. Which instruction should the nurse include?

A nurse is preparing a patient for surgery scheduled in the morning. The patient asks why nothing can be eaten or drunk after midnight. Which response by the nurse is most accurate?

A nurse is teaching a patient with iron deficiency anemia about taking an oral iron supplement. Which instruction should the nurse include to enhance iron absorption?

A nurse is caring for a patient who suddenly develops a rapid irregular pulse and reports palpitations and lightheadedness. The cardiac monitor shows atrial fibrillation. Which complication is this patient at increased risk for?