HESI RN
HESI Medical Surgical Practice Exam
1. A client with chronic renal failure is receiving epoetin alfa (Epogen). The nurse should assess the client for which of the following complications?
- A. Hypertension.
- B. Hypotension.
- C. Hyperglycemia.
- D. Edema.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Hypertension. Epoetin alfa (Epogen) is known to increase blood pressure by stimulating red blood cell production. Monitoring for hypertension is crucial to prevent complications such as heart failure or stroke. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because hypotension, hyperglycemia, and edema are not typically associated with epoetin alfa therapy in clients with chronic renal failure.
2. The healthcare provider is assessing an older Caucasian male who has a history of peripheral vascular disease. The healthcare provider observes that the man's left great toe is black. The discoloration is probably a result of:
- A. Atrophy.
- B. Contraction.
- C. Gangrene.
- D. Rubor.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Gangrene refers to dead, blackened tissue, often a result of chronic ischemia in clients with peripheral vascular disease. Atrophy (Choice A) is the wasting away or decrease in size of tissue or organ. Contraction (Choice B) refers to the shortening or tightening of a muscle or other body part. Rubor (Choice D) is a red discoloration of the skin, often associated with inflammation or poor circulation, but not typically presenting as blackening like gangrene.
3. The healthcare provider should observe most closely for drug toxicity when a client receives a medication that has which characteristic?
- A. Low bioavailability
- B. Rapid onset of action
- C. Short half-life
- D. Narrow therapeutic index
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D, narrow therapeutic index. Narrow therapeutic index (NTI) drugs are defined as those drugs where small differences in dose or blood concentration may lead to serious therapeutic failures or adverse drug reactions. Choices A, B, and C are not directly related to the risk of drug toxicity. Low bioavailability (Choice A) refers to the amount of drug that enters the bloodstream unchanged after administration. Rapid onset of action (Choice B) and short half-life (Choice C) are characteristics related to drug effectiveness and metabolism but do not necessarily indicate a higher risk of drug toxicity.
4. What prompted Zambia to implement family planning services?
- A. The nation started to experience the effects of rapid population growth on the economy and individual welfare.
- B. Donors provided free family planning pills.
- C. Mothers were delivering twice a year.
- D. There were too many abortions.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. Rapid population growth's impact on the economy and individual welfare prompted Zambia to implement family planning services. This is because a rapidly growing population can strain resources, lead to unemployment, poverty, and inadequate access to healthcare. Choice B is incorrect because the provision of free family planning pills by donors may have been a subsequent intervention rather than the initial reason for implementing family planning services. Choice C is irrelevant as the frequency of deliveries by mothers does not directly relate to the implementation of family planning services. Choice D is also incorrect as high abortion rates may be a consequence of inadequate family planning services rather than the reason for their implementation.
5. The healthcare provider is caring for a client with a chest tube following thoracic surgery. Which intervention should the healthcare provider include in the plan of care?
- A. Clamp the chest tube for 30 minutes every 2 hours.
- B. Milk the chest tube to ensure patency.
- C. Keep the drainage system at the level of the chest.
- D. Ensure that the chest tube is not clamped or kinked.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Ensuring that the chest tube is not clamped or kinked is essential to maintain proper drainage and prevent complications. Clamping the chest tube can lead to a buildup of pressure in the pleural space, causing potential harm to the client. Milking the chest tube is not recommended as it can cause damage to the delicate tubing. Keeping the drainage system at the level of the chest ensures proper drainage by gravity, preventing backflow of fluids, but ensuring the tube is not clamped or kinked takes precedence in this scenario.