HESI RN
RN HESI Exit Exam Capstone
1. A client with hyperthyroidism is experiencing palpitations. What intervention should the nurse implement?
- A. Encourage the client to rest and limit activity.
- B. Administer a beta-blocker to reduce heart rate.
- C. Encourage the client to drink cool fluids.
- D. Provide the client with a cool environment.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: In clients with hyperthyroidism experiencing palpitations, administering a beta-blocker is the appropriate intervention. Beta-blockers help reduce heart rate and control symptoms in hyperthyroidism. Encouraging rest (Choice A) may be helpful but does not directly address the palpitations. Drinking cool fluids (Choice C) and providing a cool environment (Choice D) are more focused on temperature regulation and comfort, which are not the primary interventions for palpitations in hyperthyroidism.
2. A client is admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Which laboratory result would the nurse expect to find in this client?
- A. pH level of 7.45
- B. Serum calcium of 15 mg/dL
- C. Blood glucose of 450 mg/dL
- D. Sodium level of 120 mEq/L
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Clients with diabetic ketoacidosis typically present with elevated blood glucose levels, often above 300 mg/dL. This high blood glucose level, along with other symptoms, helps confirm the diagnosis of DKA. A pH level of 7.45 would be indicative of alkalosis, not the acidosis seen in DKA. A serum calcium level of 15 mg/dL is significantly elevated and is not a typical finding in DKA. A sodium level of 120 mEq/L indicates hyponatremia, which is not a characteristic laboratory finding in DKA.
3. A young male client is admitted to rehabilitation following a right above-knee amputation (AKA) and reports aching in his right foot. Which intervention is most important for the nurse to implement?
- A. Encourage discussion about feelings of limb loss.
- B. Administer a prescription for gabapentin.
- C. Teach the client how to wrap the stump with an elastic bandage.
- D. Offer assistance to move to a quiet room to relax.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Administer a prescription for gabapentin. Gabapentin is used to treat phantom limb pain, which is common after amputations. Encouraging discussion about feelings of limb loss (choice A) is important for emotional support but does not address the physical pain. Teaching the client how to wrap the stump with an elastic bandage (choice C) is not indicated for aching in the 'right foot' as described. Offering assistance to move to a quiet room to relax (choice D) may provide comfort but does not address the underlying issue of phantom limb pain.
4. A 60-year-old male client had a hernia repair in an outpatient surgery clinic. He is awake and alert but has not been able to void since he returned from surgery 6 hours ago. He received 1000 mL of IV fluid. Which action would be most likely to help him void?
- A. Have him drink several glasses of water
- B. Crede the bladder from the bottom to the top
- C. Assist him to stand by the side of the bed to void
- D. Wait 2 hours and have him try to void again
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Assisting the client to stand by the side of the bed to void is the most appropriate action in this situation. Standing to void often helps relieve the bladder, especially after surgery. Option A, having him drink several glasses of water, may not be as effective as the client might already be adequately hydrated. Option B, Crede maneuver, is a technique for emptying the bladder by applying manual pressure and is not the first-line intervention for a client who cannot void post-surgery. Option D, waiting 2 hours before trying to void again, may delay necessary intervention if the client is experiencing urinary retention.
5. On admission to the Emergency Department, a female client who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder 3 years ago reports that this morning, she took a handful of medications and left a suicide note for her family. Which information is most important for the nurse to obtain?
- A. Client's current mood and affect
- B. When the client last took medications for bipolar disorder
- C. History of previous suicide attempts
- D. Details of the medications ingested
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Determining the specific medications ingested is the priority for guiding immediate treatment in the Emergency Department. Knowing when the client last took medications and her current mood are also important, but the ingested medications are the most urgent information needed. The client's current mood and affect are crucial for assessing her immediate state, but the priority is to identify the substances she ingested to provide appropriate interventions. While understanding the history of previous suicide attempts is relevant for assessing the client's risk, the immediate focus should be on the medications taken during this specific incident.
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