HESI RN
HESI Pediatric Practice Exam
1. In a 7-year-old child with a history of asthma experiencing an acute asthma exacerbation and displaying wheezing and the use of accessory muscles to breathe, what is the nurse’s priority intervention?
- A. Administer a nebulized bronchodilator
- B. Obtain an arterial blood gas
- C. Start the child on oxygen therapy
- D. Notify the healthcare provider
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is to administer a nebulized bronchodilator. During an acute asthma exacerbation in a child with wheezing and increased work of breathing, the priority intervention is to provide immediate bronchodilation to dilate the airways, relieve bronchospasm, and improve breathing. This intervention aims to manage the acute asthma attack effectively and prevent further respiratory distress. Obtaining an arterial blood gas, starting oxygen therapy, or notifying the healthcare provider are important actions, but administering a bronchodilator takes precedence in addressing the acute respiratory compromise.
2. When a 3-year-old boy asks a nurse why his baby sister is eating his mommy’s breast, how should the nurse respond? (Select the response that does not apply.)
- A. Remind him that his mother breastfed him too
- B. Clarify that breastfeeding is the mother’s choice
- C. Reassure the older brother that it does not hurt his mother
- D. Explain that newborns get milk from their mothers in this way
Correct answer: A
Rationale: In this scenario, the nurse should avoid reminding the older sibling about his own breastfeeding experience as it does not directly address the question posed by the boy. Providing simple explanations about breastfeeding and newborn feeding patterns helps the older sibling understand the natural process without bringing up personal experiences. Choice B is correct because clarifying that breastfeeding is the mother's choice helps the older sibling understand the concept of personal decisions. Choice C is appropriate as reassuring the older brother that it does not hurt his mother addresses a common concern children may have. Choice D is also suitable as it explains in simple terms how newborns receive milk from their mothers.
3. An adolescent’s mother calls the primary HCP’s office to inquire about the results of her daughter’s serum test that was drawn last week. Since it is the teenager’s 18th birthday, how should the nurse respond to this mother’s inquiry?
- A. Ask when the adolescent was last seen in the clinic
- B. Tell the mother to have the teenager call the clinic
- C. Since the serum sample was drawn last week, provide the mother with the findings
- D. Explain that the information cannot be released without the 18-year-old's permission
Correct answer: D
Rationale: When an individual turns 18, they are considered a legal adult and have the right to privacy regarding their medical information. Therefore, the nurse should explain to the mother that without the 18-year-old's permission, the results cannot be disclosed.
4. A child with Graves' disease who is taking propranolol (Inderal) is seen in the clinic. The nurse should monitor the child for which therapeutic response?
- A. Increased weight gain
- B. Decreased heart rate
- C. Reduced headaches
- D. Diminished fatigue
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'Decreased heart rate.' Propranolol is a beta-blocker commonly used to manage symptoms of hyperthyroidism, including tachycardia. Monitoring for a decreased heart rate is important as it indicates the drug's therapeutic response in controlling the elevated heart rate associated with Graves' disease. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because weight gain, reduced headaches, and diminished fatigue are not typical therapeutic responses to propranolol in the context of managing Graves' disease.
5. The child is 3 years old and is 2 hours postop from a cardiac catheterization via the right femoral artery. Which assessment finding indicates arterial obstruction?
- A. Blood pressure is decreasing, and the pulse is rapid and irregular.
- B. The right foot feels cool to the touch and appears pale and blanched.
- C. The pulse distal to the femoral artery is weaker in the left foot than the right foot.
- D. The pressure dressing at the right femoral area is damp and oozing blood.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: A cool, pale, and blanched foot is indicative of arterial obstruction, leading to poor blood flow. This finding requires immediate intervention to prevent further complications such as tissue damage or necrosis. Monitoring for signs of arterial compromise, such as color changes, temperature, and capillary refill, is crucial in detecting and managing vascular complications post-cardiac catheterization. Choices A, C, and D do not directly indicate arterial obstruction. While a decreasing blood pressure and rapid, irregular pulse may suggest compromise, these findings are more nonspecific. A weaker pulse distal to the femoral artery indicates reduced perfusion but not necessarily arterial obstruction. Finally, a damp, oozing pressure dressing suggests a dressing issue rather than arterial obstruction.
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