HESI LPN
HESI Fundamental Practice Exam
1. A client is admitted to the hospital in the terminal stage of cancer. The nurse enters the client’s room to administer medications and finds the client crying. The appropriate nursing action is to:
- A. Sit and hold the client’s hand
- B. Ask why the client is crying
- C. Leave the room to give the client privacy
- D. Administer the medications and leave
Correct answer: A
Rationale: In end-of-life care, providing comfort and emotional support is essential. Sitting with the client, holding their hand, and offering a compassionate presence can help the client feel supported during a difficult time. Asking why the client is crying may not always be necessary as the focus should be on providing comfort rather than probing for information. Leaving the room to provide privacy or just administering medications and leaving may neglect the client's emotional needs and miss an opportunity to provide holistic care.
2. During which of the following periods does the development of arms and legs occur in a pregnancy?
- A. Development of the lungs
- B. Development of the heart
- C. Development of arms and legs
- D. Development of the stomach
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C. The development of arms and legs occurs during the critical period of the fourth to eighth weeks of pregnancy. This timeframe is crucial for the formation of limbs and other key body parts. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because the development of the lungs, heart, and stomach respectively occurs at different stages of fetal development and is not primarily associated with the fourth to eighth weeks of pregnancy.
3. How should the healthcare provider schedule the administering of propylthiouracil (PTU)?
- A. Offer both drugs together with a meal
- B. Give parental dose once every 24 hours
- C. Schedule both medications at bedtime
- D. Administer iodine one hour before PTU
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Administering iodine one hour before PTU is crucial to ensure proper absorption and effectiveness of PTU. This timing helps optimize the therapeutic benefits of PTU by allowing it to be absorbed efficiently without interference from iodine, ultimately leading to better treatment outcomes for the patient. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because offering both drugs together with a meal, giving parental dose once every 24 hours, and scheduling both medications at bedtime do not address the specific timing requirement of administering iodine before PTU for optimal absorption.
4. What is a common sign of hypothyroidism in children?
- A. Weight loss
- B. Increased heart rate
- C. Dry skin and constipation
- D. Elevated blood pressure
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Dry skin and constipation are typical signs of hypothyroidism in children. Hypothyroidism results from an underactive thyroid gland, leading to symptoms such as dry skin and constipation. Weight loss (Choice A) is more commonly associated with hyperthyroidism, where the thyroid gland is overactive. Increased heart rate (Choice B) and elevated blood pressure (Choice D) are also more characteristic of hyperthyroidism rather than hypothyroidism. Therefore, the correct answer is dry skin and constipation (Choice C) when identifying signs of hypothyroidism in children.
5. How should the nurse record the observation of a child with Duchenne muscular dystrophy rising from the floor by walking up the thighs with the hands?
- A. Hand assistance
- B. Leg crawling
- C. Gowers sign
- D. Bright sign
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct term for a child with Duchenne muscular dystrophy rising from the floor by walking up the thighs with the hands is known as the Gowers sign. This maneuver is characteristic of Duchenne muscular dystrophy due to proximal muscle weakness. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not specifically describe the action of walking up the thighs with the hands, which is a distinctive feature of the Gowers sign.