HESI LPN
HESI Mental Health Practice Exam
1. A female client with bulimia nervosa is admitted to the hospital. Which intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care?
- A. Allow the client to eat meals alone to reduce stress.
- B. Observe the client for 30 minutes after meals.
- C. Provide the client with a high-calorie diet.
- D. Encourage the client to weigh herself daily.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct intervention for a client with bulimia nervosa is to observe the client for 30 minutes after meals. This helps prevent purging behaviors, such as vomiting or using laxatives, which are common in bulimia nervosa. Choice A is incorrect because eating meals alone may enable the client to engage in purging behaviors without being observed. Choice C is incorrect as a high-calorie diet may exacerbate the client's concerns about weight gain. Choice D is incorrect because encouraging daily weigh-ins can reinforce obsessive thoughts about weight and body image.
2. A client is preparing to attend a Gamblers Anonymous meeting for the first time. The prototype used by this group is the 12-step program developed by Alcoholics Anonymous. Number in order of priority how the steps would be addressed.
- A. Admitting to oneself and to another human being the exact nature of one's wrongs
- B. Acknowledging that one is entirely ready to have his or her defects of character removed
- C. Admitting that oneself is powerless over gambling and that one's life has become unmanageable
- D. Making an effort to practice the 12-step principles in all affairs, and to carry out this message to other compulsive gamblers
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct order of addressing the 12-step program typically begins with admitting powerlessness over the addiction and recognizing the unmanageability of one's life (Choice C). Following this, individuals move towards acknowledging their wrongs and sharing them with others (Choice A), then being ready to work on changing their character defects (Choice B), and finally, integrating the 12-step principles into their daily lives and helping others (Choice D). Choices A, B, and C are important steps in the program but come after admitting powerlessness and unmanageability, which is why Choice D is the correct answer.
3. What complication of mumps is crucial for adolescents to prevent?
- A. Sterility
- B. Hypopituitarism
- C. Decreased libido
- D. Decreased androgens
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A, Sterility. Mumps can lead to sterility, particularly in adolescent males, highlighting the significance of vaccination to prevent this serious complication. While hypopituitarism (choice B) can be a potential complication of mumps, it is not as crucial to prevent in adolescents compared to the risk of sterility. Choices C and D, Decreased libido and Decreased androgens, are not direct complications of mumps and are not the primary concerns for adolescents in relation to mumps prevention.
4. The nurse is caring for a client who has just returned from surgery with a urinary catheter in place. What is the most important action to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs)?
- A. Irrigate the catheter daily
- B. Ensure the catheter bag is always below bladder level
- C. Change the catheter every 48 hours
- D. Administer prophylactic antibiotics
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is to ensure the catheter bag is always below bladder level. This positioning helps prevent backflow of urine, reducing the risk of CAUTIs. Choice A, irrigating the catheter daily, is not recommended as it can introduce pathogens into the bladder. Changing the catheter too frequently (Choice C) can increase the risk of introducing pathogens. Administering prophylactic antibiotics (Choice D) is not the primary intervention for preventing CAUTIs and can lead to antibiotic resistance.
5. When initiating cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), what assessment finding must the healthcare provider confirm before beginning chest compressions?
- A. Absence of a pulse
- B. Presence of a pulse
- C. Respiratory rate
- D. Blood pressure
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Absence of a pulse. Prior to initiating chest compressions during CPR, it is essential to confirm the absence of a pulse. Chest compressions are indicated when there is no detectable pulse as it signifies cardiac arrest. Checking for a pulse is a critical step to ensure that CPR is performed on individuals who truly require it. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because focusing on the presence of a pulse, respiratory rate, or blood pressure before starting chest compressions can delay life-saving interventions in a person experiencing cardiac arrest.