HESI LPN
Pharmacology HESI 2023
1. A client with a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder is prescribed citalopram. The nurse should instruct the client that this medication may have which potential side effect?
- A. Nausea
- B. Drowsiness
- C. Insomnia
- D. Headache
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct potential side effect of citalopram is nausea. Citalopram can cause gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea, so clients should be advised to take the medication with food if nausea occurs to help minimize this side effect. While other side effects like drowsiness, insomnia, and headache may also occur with citalopram, nausea is a common side effect that clients should be informed about. Drowsiness and insomnia are more commonly associated with other medications used to treat anxiety or depression, such as benzodiazepines or certain antidepressants. Headache is a less common side effect of citalopram compared to nausea.
2. A healthcare professional is preparing to administer medications to a client. Which of the following client identifiers should the healthcare professional use to ensure medication safety?
- A. Ask the client to state their full name.
- B. Ask the client for their date of birth.
- C. Compare the client's wristband with the medication administration record.
- D. Ask the client for their room number.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Comparing the client's wristband with the medication administration record is a crucial step in ensuring medication safety. The wristband typically contains unique identifiers such as the client's name, date of birth, and medical record number, which should be cross-checked with the medication administration record to confirm the correct patient. Asking the client to state their name (Choice A) or date of birth (Choice B) may not be as reliable as the information can be misunderstood or miscommunicated. Asking for the room number (Choice D) is not a reliable client identifier for medication administration and does not confirm the patient's identity accurately.
3. The nurse identifies the presence of clear fluid on the surgical dressing of a client who just returned to the unit following lumbar spinal surgery. What action should the nurse implement immediately?
- A. Change the dressing using a compression bandage
- B. Test fluid on the dressing for glucose
- C. Document the findings in the electronic medical record
- D. Mark drainage area with a pen and continue to monitor
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to implement immediately upon identifying clear fluid on the surgical dressing post-lumbar surgery is to test the fluid for glucose. Clear fluid could indicate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, and testing for glucose can help confirm this. Changing the dressing using a compression bandage (Choice A) without further assessment could lead to complications. Documenting the findings (Choice C) is important but not as immediate as confirming the presence of CSF. Marking the drainage area with a pen and monitoring (Choice D) does not address the need for immediate confirmation of CSF leakage.
4. You are caring for a patient with multiple trauma. Of all of these injuries and conditions, which is the most serious?
- A. A deviated trachea
- B. Gross deformity of a lower extremity
- C. Hematuria
- D. Decreased bowel sounds
Correct answer: A
Rationale: A deviated trachea is the most serious condition among the choices provided. It can indicate a tension pneumothorax, which is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate intervention to prevent respiratory compromise. Choice B, a gross deformity of a lower extremity, while significant, is not as immediately life-threatening as a deviated trachea. Choice C, hematuria, may indicate kidney injury but is not as acutely life-threatening as a deviated trachea. Choice D, decreased bowel sounds, could indicate abdominal issues, but it is not as urgent or immediately life-threatening as a deviated trachea.
5. After meiosis, each new cell nucleus contains _____ chromosomes.
- A. 46
- B. 35
- C. 23
- D. 12
Correct answer: C
Rationale: After meiosis, each resulting cell contains 23 chromosomes. Meiosis is a process that involves two sequential divisions resulting in four daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell. In humans, the parent cell has 46 chromosomes (diploid), and after meiosis, the resulting cells (sperm or ova) have 23 chromosomes (haploid). Choice A (46 chromosomes) is incorrect because this is the number of chromosomes in a human diploid cell before meiosis. Choices B (35 chromosomes) and D (12 chromosomes) are incorrect as they do not represent the correct number of chromosomes after meiosis in human cells.