HESI RN
HESI Nutrition Practice Exam
1. The nurse is caring for a client post appendectomy. The client has developed a fever, and the incision site is red and swollen. Which of these assessments is a priority for the nurse to perform?
- A. Check the client's blood pressure
- B. Assess the client's pain level
- C. Inspect the incision site
- D. Monitor the client's respiratory status
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Inspecting the incision site is a priority in this situation because the redness and swelling indicate a potential infection. This assessment helps the nurse determine the extent of infection and the appropriate intervention, such as administering antibiotics or notifying the healthcare provider. Checking the client's blood pressure (Choice A) may be important but is not the priority in this scenario where signs of infection are present. Assessing the client's pain level (Choice B) is also important but addressing the infection takes precedence. Monitoring the client's respiratory status (Choice D) is essential but not the priority when dealing with a localized infection at the incision site.
2. An 86-year-old nursing home resident who has decreased mental status is hospitalized with pneumonic infiltrates in the right lower lobe. When the nurse assists the client with a clear liquid diet, the client begins to cough. What should the nurse do next?
- A. Add a thickening agent to the fluids
- B. Check the client's gag reflex
- C. Feed the client only solid foods
- D. Increase the rate of intravenous fluids
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Checking the client's gag reflex is crucial in this situation as coughing while consuming liquids can indicate a risk of aspiration. Assessing the gag reflex can help determine if the client is safe to swallow without inhaling fluids into the lungs, which could lead to further respiratory complications. Adding a thickening agent may not address the underlying issue of aspiration risk. Feeding the client only solid foods is not appropriate without assessing the swallowing safety first. Increasing the rate of intravenous fluids does not directly address the client's difficulty with liquid intake.
3. A client is being discharged with a prescription for chlorpromazine (Thorazine). Before leaving for home, which of these findings should the nurse teach the client to report?
- A. Change in libido, breast enlargement
- B. Sore throat, fever
- C. Abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea
- D. Dsypnea, nasal congestion
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: "Sore throat and fever." These symptoms can indicate a serious side effect of chlorpromazine and should be reported immediately. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because they are not typically associated with adverse effects of chlorpromazine. Changes in libido and breast enlargement are not commonly linked to this medication. Abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea are more likely to be gastrointestinal side effects. Dyspnea and nasal congestion are not commonly reported adverse effects of chlorpromazine.
4. The client is being taught to select foods rich in potassium to help prevent digitalis toxicity. Which choice indicates the client understands dietary needs?
- A. Three apricots
- B. Medium banana
- C. Naval orange
- D. Baked potato
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. A baked potato is high in potassium and helps prevent digitalis toxicity by maintaining adequate potassium levels. While choices A, B, and C all contain some potassium, a baked potato is a more concentrated source of potassium compared to three apricots, a medium banana, or a naval orange. Therefore, the client should choose a baked potato to better meet the dietary needs for preventing digitalis toxicity.
5. A nurse is providing care to a primigravida whose membranes spontaneously ruptured (ROM) 4 hours ago. Labor is to be induced. At the time of the ROM the vital signs were T-99.8 degrees F, P-84, R-20, BP-130/78, and fetal heart tones (FHT) 148 beats/min. Which assessment findings taken now may be an early indication that the client is developing a complication of labor?
- A. FHT 168 beats/min
- B. Temperature 100 degrees Fahrenheit
- C. Cervical dilation of 4 cm
- D. BP 138/88
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. Fetal heart rate elevation can indicate distress, making it an early sign of labor complications. Choices B, C, and D are not the best answers in this scenario. Choice B, an elevated temperature, could indicate infection but is not a direct sign of labor complications. Choice C, cervical dilation of 4 cm, is a normal part of labor progression for a primigravida. Choice D, a blood pressure of 138/88, falls within normal limits and is not an early indication of labor complications.
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