HESI LPN
Community Health HESI Questions
1. A client tells the nurse he is fearful of planned surgery because of evil thoughts about a family member. What is the best initial response by the nurse?
- A. Call a chaplain
- B. Deny the feelings
- C. Cite recovery statistics
- D. Listen to the client
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is to listen to the client. Listening allows the nurse to establish therapeutic communication, understand the client's fears and concerns, provide emotional support, and help alleviate anxiety. Calling a chaplain (Choice A) may be appropriate if the client requests spiritual support but should not be the initial response. Denying the feelings (Choice B) is dismissive and can hinder trust and communication. Citing recovery statistics (Choice C) is irrelevant and does not address the client's immediate emotional needs.
2. A 5-year-old child with a diagnosis of asthma is being evaluated for medication management. What is an important assessment for the nurse to perform?
- A. Assess the child's sleep patterns
- B. Assess the child's dietary intake
- C. Assess the child's academic performance
- D. Assess the child's behavior at home
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Assessing the child's dietary intake is crucial in managing asthma as certain foods can trigger symptoms or exacerbate the condition. Monitoring the child's diet can help identify triggers, ensure proper nutrition, and support the child's overall health. Assessing sleep patterns (Choice A) may be relevant but is not as directly linked to asthma management as dietary intake. Academic performance (Choice C) and behavior at home (Choice D) are important aspects of a child's well-being but are not directly related to asthma management.
3. For a client with pneumonia, the prescription states, “Oxygen at liters/min per nasal cannula PRN difficult breathing.” Which nursing intervention is effective in preventing oxygen toxicity?
- A. Avoiding the administration of oxygen at high levels for extended periods.
- B. Administering a sedative at bedtime to slow the client’s respiratory rate.
- C. Removing the nasal cannula during the night to prevent oxygen buildup.
- D. Running oxygen through a hydration source prior to administration.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Choice A is the correct answer because prolonged exposure to high levels of oxygen can lead to oxygen toxicity. Administering oxygen at high levels for extended periods can overwhelm the body's natural defenses against high oxygen levels, causing toxicity. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect. Choice B is unrelated to preventing oxygen toxicity. Choice C is unsafe as removing the nasal cannula can deprive the client of necessary oxygen. Choice D, running oxygen through a hydration source, is not a standard practice for preventing oxygen toxicity.
4. A client with active tuberculosis (TB) is receiving isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RMP) daily, so direct observation therapy (DOT) is initiated while the client is hospitalized. Which instruction should the nurse provide this client?
- A. Describe feelings about taking daily medications
- B. Take medications in the presence of the nurse
- C. Notify the nurse after self-medication is completed
- D. Keep a daily record of all medications taken
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct instruction for the nurse to provide the client undergoing direct observation therapy for TB is to take medications in the presence of the nurse. This approach ensures that the client is actually taking the medications as prescribed, reducing the risk of noncompliance. Choice A is incorrect because the focus should be on ensuring the client physically takes the medications rather than discussing feelings. Choice C is incorrect as it does not ensure direct observation. Choice D is incorrect because self-reporting or keeping a record does not guarantee that the client is actually taking the medications.
5. A nurse is precepting a newly licensed nurse who is preparing to help a client perform tracheostomy care. The nurse should intervene if the equipment the preceptee gathered included:
- A. Cotton balls
- B. Sterile gloves
- C. A suction catheter
- D. Tracheostomy tubes
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Cotton balls. Cotton balls are not suitable for tracheostomy care due to the risk of lint and contamination. When performing tracheostomy care, sterile supplies such as sterile gloves, a suction catheter, and tracheostomy tubes are essential. Sterile gloves are needed to maintain asepsis, a suction catheter is necessary for airway clearance, and tracheostomy tubes are crucial for maintaining a patent airway. Cotton balls should be avoided to prevent introducing lint or fibers into the tracheostomy site, which can lead to infection or airway obstruction.