HESI RN
HESI RN Exit Exam 2023
1. A client with cirrhosis is admitted with ascites and jaundice. Which assessment finding is most concerning?
- A. Peripheral edema
- B. Confusion and altered mental status
- C. Increased abdominal girth
- D. Yellowing of the skin
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Confusion and altered mental status are concerning signs of hepatic encephalopathy in a client with cirrhosis. Hepatic encephalopathy is a serious complication of liver disease that requires immediate intervention. Peripheral edema may be present due to fluid accumulation, increased abdominal girth can indicate ascites which is common in cirrhosis, and yellowing of the skin is a typical manifestation of jaundice in liver dysfunction, all of which are important but not as immediately concerning as signs of hepatic encephalopathy.
2. A client with type 2 DM is being treated with metformin (Glucophage). The nurse should include which instruction when teaching the client about this medication?
- A. Take the medication with meals.
- B. Take the medication on an empty stomach.
- C. Take the medication before bedtime.
- D. Avoid taking the medication if you miss a meal.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct instruction for a client taking metformin (Glucophage) is to take the medication with meals. This helps reduce gastrointestinal side effects and improves absorption. Choice B is incorrect because taking metformin on an empty stomach can increase the risk of side effects. Choice C is incorrect as there is no specific recommendation to take metformin before bedtime. Choice D is incorrect as missing a meal should not lead to avoiding the medication, but the client should take it with the next meal as prescribed.
3. A client is admitted with a suspected gastrointestinal bleed. What assessment finding requires immediate intervention?
- A. Bright red blood in the vomit.
- B. Elevated blood pressure and heart rate.
- C. Coffee ground emesis.
- D. Dark, tarry stools.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Dark, tarry stools indicate the presence of digested blood in the gastrointestinal tract, signifying a higher gastrointestinal bleed. This finding requires immediate intervention due to the potential severity of the bleed. Bright red blood in the vomit may indicate active bleeding but is not as concerning as digested blood. Elevated blood pressure and heart rate are common responses to bleeding but do not provide direct evidence of the source or severity of the bleed. Coffee ground emesis is indicative of partially digested blood and is a concern but not as urgent as dark, tarry stools.
4. A primigravida at term comes to the prenatal clinic and tells the nurse that she is having contractions every 5 min. The nurse monitors the client for one hour, using an external fetal monitor, and determines that the client’s contractions are 7 to 15 minutes apart, lasting 20 to 30 seconds, with mild intensity by palpation. What action should the nurse take?
- A. Tell the client to go directly to the hospital for admission to labor and delivery for active labor
- B. Send the client home and instruct her to call the clinic when her contractions occur 5 minutes apart for one hour
- C. Tell the client to check into the hospital within the next hour for evaluation of possible urinary tract infection
- D. Advise the client to rest and hydrate, then return if contractions become more regular
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The client should be instructed to call when contractions are 5 minutes apart for an hour to ensure she is in active labor before going to the hospital.
5. Which of the following organelles is the site of cellular respiration?
- A. Nucleus
- B. Mitochondria
- C. Lysosomes
- D. Ribosomes
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Mitochondria. Mitochondria are known as the powerhouse of the cell because they generate most of the cell's supply of ATP through cellular respiration. The other organelles listed, such as the nucleus (choice A), lysosomes (choice C), and ribosomes (choice D), do not play a direct role in cellular respiration. The nucleus contains genetic material, lysosomes are involved in digestion and waste removal, and ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis.