HESI RN
HESI 799 RN Exit Exam Capstone
1. A client with osteoarthritis is prescribed acetaminophen. What is the most important teaching the nurse should provide?
- A. Take the medication with food to improve absorption.
- B. Avoid taking other pain medications to prevent liver damage.
- C. Take acetaminophen on an empty stomach to prevent stomach upset.
- D. Monitor liver function tests regularly to detect any liver damage.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage if taken in excessive amounts or in combination with other medications containing acetaminophen. Clients should be advised to avoid other pain medications to prevent liver toxicity. Choice A is incorrect because acetaminophen is usually taken with or without food, not specifically on an empty stomach. Choice C is incorrect because taking acetaminophen with food can help prevent stomach upset. Choice D is incorrect because while monitoring liver function tests is important for long-term acetaminophen use, the most crucial teaching is to avoid other pain medications to prevent liver damage.
2. The nurse is caring for a 2-day old neonate who has not passed meconium and has a swollen abdomen. The healthcare provider reviews the flat plate X-ray of the abdomen and makes a tentative diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease. Which pathophysiological process is consistent with this neonate's clinical picture?
- A. The congenital absence of parasympathetic ganglion cells to large intestine produces no peristalsis.
- B. Pyloric obstruction causes reflux and projectile hematemesis.
- C. Partial imperforated anal opening limits passage of stools.
- D. Peristalsis moving against the intestinal obstruction causing hyperactivity of the bowel.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Hirschsprung's disease is caused by the absence of parasympathetic ganglion cells in the large intestine, leading to a lack of peristalsis and obstruction.
3. The nurse is assessing on the first postoperative day following thyroid surgery. Which laboratory value is most important for the nurse to monitor?
- A. Calcium
- B. Sodium
- C. Chloride
- D. Potassium
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Corrected Rationale: Monitoring calcium levels is crucial post-thyroid surgery to detect hypocalcemia, a common complication due to injury or removal of the parathyroid glands. Monitoring sodium, chloride, or potassium levels is not as vital in the immediate post-thyroid surgery period.
4. During which stage of photosynthesis is solar energy converted to chemical energy?
- A. During phosphate synthesis
- B. During light reactions
- C. During the Krebs cycle
- D. During the Calvin cycle
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B, during the light reactions. During the light reactions of photosynthesis, solar energy is absorbed by chlorophyll and converted into chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH. Choice A is incorrect as phosphate synthesis does not involve the conversion of solar energy. Choice C, the Krebs cycle, is a part of cellular respiration, not photosynthesis. Choice D, the Calvin cycle, is responsible for fixing carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and does not involve the direct conversion of solar energy to chemical energy.
5. A client presents to the labor and delivery unit with a report of leaking fluid that is greenish-brown vaginal discharge. Which action should the nurse take first?
- A. Notify the healthcare provider immediately
- B. Begin continuous fetal monitoring
- C. Check the amniotic fluid pH
- D. Assess maternal vital signs
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Greenish-brown discharge likely indicates meconium in the amniotic fluid, which poses a risk to the fetus. Continuous fetal monitoring should be initiated immediately to assess for signs of fetal distress. Meconium-stained amniotic fluid can lead to meconium aspiration syndrome in the newborn, so timely monitoring is crucial. Checking the amniotic fluid pH can help confirm the presence of meconium but is not the priority over fetal monitoring. Assessing maternal vital signs is important but secondary to monitoring the fetal well-being in this urgent situation. Notifying the healthcare provider can follow once the immediate fetal assessment is underway.