HESI LPN
Community Health HESI Questions
1. A client with acute pancreatitis is experiencing severe abdominal pain. The nurse should implement which of the following interventions?
- A. Encourage oral intake
- B. Administer opioid analgesics
- C. Apply a heating pad to the abdomen
- D. Place the client in a supine position
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct intervention for a client with acute pancreatitis experiencing severe abdominal pain is to administer opioid analgesics. Opioids are effective in managing the severe pain associated with acute pancreatitis. Encouraging oral intake may exacerbate the symptoms and is contraindicated due to the need for bowel rest. Applying a heating pad to the abdomen can worsen inflammation and should be avoided. Placing the client in a supine position may not provide relief and could potentially lead to increased discomfort.
2. What finding signifies that children have attained the stage of concrete operations according to Piaget?
- A. Demonstrates exploration of the environment through sight and movement
- B. Thinks in mental images or word pictures
- C. Makes the moral judgment that 'stealing is wrong'
- D. Reasons that homework is time-consuming yet necessary
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C, 'Makes the moral judgment that 'stealing is wrong''. This finding signifies the attainment of the concrete operational stage according to Piaget. At this stage, children begin to understand rules and logic, including moral judgments. Choice A is incorrect because it does not specifically relate to concrete operational thinking. Choice B is incorrect as it refers more to the preoperational stage where children engage in symbolic thought. Choice D is also incorrect as it involves practical reasoning, which is not directly related to the concrete operational stage according to Piaget.
3. A client is post-operative day one following an open cholecystectomy. The nurse notices the client's drainage from the T-tube is dark green. What is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?
- A. Document the finding as normal.
- B. Notify the healthcare provider immediately.
- C. Decrease the suction on the T-tube.
- D. Flush the T-tube with saline to ensure patency.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Dark green drainage from a T-tube after a cholecystectomy is bile, which is an expected finding. Bile is normally dark green in color. It is important for the nurse to recognize this as a normal post-operative occurrence and document the finding. There is no need to notify the healthcare provider immediately as this finding is an anticipated part of the client's recovery. Decreasing the suction on the T-tube or flushing it with saline is unnecessary and may not be indicated based on the color of the drainage. Therefore, the most appropriate action for the nurse to take is to document the dark green drainage as a normal finding.
4. Which intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care for a client who has a chest tube due to hemothorax?
- A. Keep the arm and shoulder of the affected side immobile at all times.
- B. Encourage the client to breathe deeply and cough at frequent intervals.
- C. Maintain the pleura vac slightly above the chest level.
- D. Ensure there is no fluctuation in the water seal.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Encouraging deep breathing and coughing is vital for a client with a chest tube due to hemothorax as it helps prevent atelectasis and promotes lung expansion. Keeping the arm and shoulder immobile (Choice A) is not necessary for chest tube management. Maintaining the pleura vac slightly above the chest level (Choice C) is incorrect as the pleura vac should be kept below the chest level to facilitate drainage. Ensuring no fluctuation in the water seal (Choice D) is important, but it is not the priority intervention when compared to promoting lung expansion through deep breathing and coughing.
5. A child sitting on a chair in a playroom starts to have a tonic-clonic seizure with a clenched jaw. What is the nurse’s best initial action?
- A. Attempt to open the jaw.
- B. Place the child on the floor.
- C. Call out for assistance from staff.
- D. Place a pillow under the child’s head.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The best initial action during a tonic-clonic seizure is to place the child on the floor. This action helps prevent injury by providing a safe environment and allows for better management of the seizure episode. Attempting to open the jaw is not recommended as it may cause harm to the child or the nurse. Calling out for assistance is important but should not delay ensuring the child's safety first. Placing a pillow under the child's head is not advisable during a seizure as it can pose a risk of suffocation or choking.