HESI RN
HESI 799 RN Exit Exam
1. A client with a tracheostomy is experiencing thick, tenacious secretions. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
- A. Encourage fluid intake to thin secretions.
- B. Administer a mucolytic agent.
- C. Increase humidity in the client's room.
- D. Perform deep suctioning as needed.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Increasing humidity in the client's room is the initial intervention for managing thick, tenacious secretions in a client with a tracheostomy. Adequate humidity helps to hydrate secretions, making them easier to clear, thus improving airway clearance. Encouraging fluid intake (Choice A) can be beneficial but is not the first-line intervention. Administering a mucolytic agent (Choice B) may be considered if increasing humidity alone is insufficient. Performing deep suctioning (Choice D) should be reserved for when other measures like increasing humidity have been ineffective.
2. An elderly client admitted after a fall begins to seize and loses consciousness. What action by the nurse is appropriate to do next?
- A. Stay with the client and observe for airway obstruction
- B. Collect pillows and pad the side rails of the bed
- C. Place an oral airway in the mouth and suction
- D. Announce a cardiac arrest and assist with intubation
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take next is to stay with the client and observe for airway obstruction. This is crucial as it ensures immediate intervention if there is any airway compromise. Choice B is incorrect as padding the side rails of the bed is not the priority in this situation. Choice C is incorrect because inserting an oral airway and suctioning should only be done if there is evidence of airway obstruction, and it is not the initial step. Choice D is incorrect as announcing a cardiac arrest and assisting with intubation is not the immediate action needed when a client is seizing and losing consciousness.
3. A client with a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is prescribed enoxaparin. What teaching should the nurse provide?
- A. Rotate injection sites to prevent bruising.
- B. Administer the injection in the abdomen only.
- C. Report any unusual bleeding or bruising.
- D. Avoid contact sports to prevent injury.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct teaching for a client prescribed enoxaparin for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is to report any unusual bleeding or bruising. Enoxaparin is an anticoagulant, and these symptoms could indicate excessive anticoagulation. Choice A is incorrect because with enoxaparin, injections are usually given in the abdomen, not rotated to different sites. Choice D is not directly related to the medication but is a general precaution for individuals at risk of injury.
4. A female client has been taking a high dose of prednisone, a corticosteroid, for several months. After stopping the medication abruptly, the client reports feeling 'very tired'. Which nursing intervention is most important for the nurse to implement?
- A. Measure vital signs
- B. Auscultate breath sounds
- C. Palpate the abdomen
- D. Observe the skin for bruising
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is to measure vital signs. Abrupt withdrawal of exogenous corticosteroids can precipitate adrenal insufficiency, potentially leading to shock. Monitoring vital signs is crucial in identifying any signs of adrenal insufficiency, such as hypotension or tachycardia. Auscultating breath sounds (choice B) may be important in other situations, such as respiratory conditions, but it is not the priority in this case. Palpating the abdomen (choice C) and observing the skin for bruising (choice D) are not directly related to the potential complications of corticosteroid withdrawal and adrenal insufficiency.
5. Which of the following is used to differentiate abdominal mass from pelvic mass on clinical examination?
- A. Size
- B. Site
- C. Margins
- D. Lower border
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The lower border is used to differentiate between an abdominal mass and a pelvic mass during clinical examination. The lower border of the mass provides important information about its location and origin. The size (Choice A) alone may not always clearly distinguish between abdominal and pelvic masses. The site (Choice B) and margins (Choice C) are also important factors, but they are not as specific in differentiating between abdominal and pelvic masses as the lower border.