HESI LPN
HESI Fundamentals Test Bank
1. When planning home care for a 72-year-old client with osteomyelitis requiring a 6-week course of intravenous antibiotics, what is the most important action by the nurse?
- A. Investigating the client's insurance coverage for home IV antibiotic therapy
- B. Determining if there are adequate hand washing facilities in the home
- C. Assessing the client's ability to participate in self-care and/or the reliability of a caregiver
- D. Selecting the appropriate venous access device
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Assessing the client's ability to participate in self-care or evaluating the reliability of a caregiver is crucial in ensuring adherence to the treatment plan. This action helps determine if the client can manage the intravenous antibiotics at home independently or if assistance is needed. Investigating insurance coverage, ensuring hand washing facilities, and selecting the venous access device are important aspects of care but assessing the client's ability for self-care and caregiver reliability takes precedence to promote treatment success and safety.
2. What action should be taken for a 2-year-old with laryngotracheobronchitis in an oxygen tent?
- A. Restrain the child and notify the healthcare provider
- B. Increase the oxygen concentration
- C. Take the child to the playroom
- D. Ask the mother to help in comforting the child
Correct answer: B
Rationale: In laryngotracheobronchitis (croup), a child may become restless due to poor oxygenation. Increasing the oxygen concentration in the oxygen tent is crucial to improve oxygenation levels and manage symptoms effectively. Restraint is not appropriate in this situation, as it may cause distress and worsen the child's condition. Taking the child to the playroom is not indicated when the child requires oxygen therapy. While comforting the child is important, the priority in this scenario is to optimize oxygen delivery to improve respiratory distress.
3. How should a healthcare provider approach the care of a child with a suspected fracture?
- A. Immobilize the affected limb and seek medical evaluation
- B. Apply heat to the injury
- C. Allow the child to continue normal activity
- D. Administer over-the-counter pain relief only
Correct answer: A
Rationale: When a child is suspected to have a fracture, it is essential to immobilize the affected limb to prevent further injury. Seeking immediate medical evaluation is crucial for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Applying heat to a suspected fracture can worsen the condition by increasing swelling and pain. Allowing the child to continue normal activity can lead to further damage. Administering only over-the-counter pain relief is insufficient and does not address the need for immobilization and professional evaluation.
4. A client has a prescription for a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) unit for pain management during the postoperative period following a lumbar laminectomy. Which information should the PN reinforce about the action of the adjuvant pain modality?
- A. The discharge of electricity will distract the client's focus from the pain.
- B. An infusion of medication into the spinal canal will block pain perception.
- C. Pain perception in the cerebral cortex is dulled by the unit's discharge of an electrical stimulus.
- D. A mild electrical stimulus on the skin surface closes the gates of nerve conduction for severe pain.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The TENS unit works by providing a mild electrical stimulus to the skin, which helps to 'close the gate' on pain signals, reducing the perception of pain. Choice A is incorrect because distraction is not the primary mechanism of action for TENS. Choice B is incorrect as it describes a different method of pain management involving medication infusion into the spinal canal. Choice C is incorrect as it inaccurately describes the location of pain perception modulation by the TENS unit.
5. The nurse is caring for a client with an intravenous infusion of normal saline. The client reports pain and swelling at the IV site. What is the nurse’s priority action?
- A. Slow the rate of infusion
- B. Apply a warm compress to the site
- C. Discontinue the IV infusion
- D. Elevate the affected arm
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is to discontinue the IV infusion (Choice C). Pain and swelling at the IV site can indicate infiltration or phlebitis, which are serious complications that require immediate action. Slowing the rate of infusion (Choice A) may not address the underlying issue and can potentially worsen the condition. Applying a warm compress (Choice B) may provide temporary relief but does not address the need to discontinue the infusion. Elevating the affected arm (Choice D) is not the priority in this situation; discontinuing the infusion takes precedence to prevent further harm.