HESI LPN
Community Health HESI Study Guide
1. A child is diagnosed with poison ivy. The mother tells the nurse that she does not know how her child contracted the rash since he had not been playing in wooded areas. As the nurse asks questions about possible contact, which of the following would the nurse recognize as highest risk for exposure?
- A. Playing with toys in a backyard flower garden
- B. Eating small amounts of grass while playing 'farm'
- C. Playing with cars on the pavement near burning leaves
- D. Throwing a ball to a neighborhood child who has poison ivy
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C. Poison ivy can be contracted through smoke from burning plants, which can carry the urushiol oil that causes the rash. Playing near burning leaves would be the highest risk for exposure in this scenario. Choices A, B, and D do not involve direct contact with burning plants or leaves, making them lower-risk activities for exposure to poison ivy.
2. A nurse is developing a teaching plan for an 8-year-old child who has recently been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. What developmental characteristic of a child this age should the nurse consider?
- A. Child is in the concrete operational stage of cognition.
- B. Child’s dependence on peer influence is increasing.
- C. Child will welcome opportunities for participation in self-care.
- D. Child is exploring their sense of self-identity.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C. At the age of 8, children are typically eager to take on responsibilities and participate in self-care activities. This is a crucial developmental characteristic to consider when educating a child about managing a chronic condition like type 1 diabetes. Choice A is incorrect as children at this age are usually in the concrete operational stage, not abstract level, of cognition. Choice B is incorrect because while peer influence is important, it does not reach its peak at this age. Choice D is incorrect as exploring self-identity is more characteristic of adolescence, not 8-year-old children.
3. A nurse is teaching the parents of a child with a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus about insulin administration. What should the nurse emphasize?
- A. Rotate injection sites
- B. Administer insulin before meals
- C. Store insulin in the refrigerator
- D. Administer insulin at bedtime
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is to rotate injection sites. Rotating injection sites is crucial in insulin administration to prevent lipodystrophy, which is the breakdown of subcutaneous fat at the injection site. It also helps ensure consistent insulin absorption. Administering insulin before meals (choice B) is important to match insulin peak action with the rise in blood glucose after eating. Storing insulin in the refrigerator (choice C) is correct to maintain its potency and stability. Administering insulin at bedtime (choice D) may not be suitable for all patients and is not a universal recommendation for insulin administration.
4. The nurse is caring for a group of clients with the help of a practical nurse (PN). Which nursing actions should the nurse assign to the PN? (Select all that apply)
- A. Administer a dose of insulin per sliding scale for a client with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM)
- B. Obtain postoperative vital signs for a client one day following unilateral knee arthroplasty
- C. Perform daily surgical dressing change for a client who had an abdominal hysterectomy
- D. Initiate patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pumps for two clients immediately postoperative
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. Obtaining postoperative vital signs for a client one day following unilateral knee arthroplasty is a task within the scope of practice for a practical nurse (PN) and contributes to the client's recovery. Administering insulin (Choice A) involves medication administration, which typically requires a higher level of nursing education. Performing daily surgical dressing changes (Choice C) after an abdominal hysterectomy involves wound care management that is usually beyond the scope of practice for a PN. Initiating patient-controlled analgesia pumps (Choice D) is a complex nursing intervention that requires specialized training and knowledge, exceeding the typical responsibilities of a PN.
5. A client who is in hospice care complains of increasing amounts of pain. The healthcare provider prescribes an analgesic every four hours as needed. Which action should the LPN/LVN implement?
- A. Give an around-the-clock schedule for administration of analgesics.
- B. Administer analgesic medication as needed when the pain is severe.
- C. Provide medication to keep the client sedated and unaware of stimuli.
- D. Offer a medication-free period to allow the client to engage in daily activities.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct action for the LPN/LVN to implement is to give an around-the-clock schedule for administration of analgesics. This approach helps maintain consistent pain management by providing the medication regularly, preventing the pain from becoming severe. Choice B is incorrect because waiting for severe pain before administering the analgesic may lead to uncontrolled pain levels. Choice C is inappropriate as the goal of pain management in hospice care is to provide comfort without unnecessary sedation. Choice D is also incorrect as offering a medication-free period may result in inadequate pain control for the client.