HESI RN
HESI RN Medical Surgical Practice Exam
1. A female patient who is allergic to penicillin will begin taking an antibiotic to treat a lower respiratory tract infection. The patient tells the nurse that she almost always develops a vaginal yeast infection when she takes antibiotics and that she will take fluconazole (Diflucan) with the antibiotic being prescribed. Which macrolide should the nurse question for this patient?
- A. Azithromycin (Zithromax)
- B. Clarithromycin (Biaxin)
- C. Erythromycin (E-Mycin)
- D. Fidaxomicin (Dificid)
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The nurse should question the prescription of erythromycin for this patient. When erythromycin is given concurrently with fluconazole, erythromycin blood concentration and the risk of sudden cardiac death increase. Therefore, it is not recommended to use erythromycin in combination with fluconazole for this patient. Azithromycin, clarithromycin, and fidaxomicin are alternative macrolide antibiotics that can be considered for this patient without the same risk of interactions when used with fluconazole.
2. A child newly diagnosed with sickle cell anemia (SCA) is being discharged from the hospital. Which information is most important for the nurse to provide the parents prior to discharge?
- A. Nutritional guidelines to support blood health
- B. Signs of infection to monitor for
- C. When to give pain medication
- D. Instructions about how much fluid the child should drink daily
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Proper hydration is crucial in managing sickle cell anemia (SCA) as it helps prevent sickling of red blood cells and reduces blood viscosity, which can lead to painful crises. Ensuring the child drinks enough fluids is essential to maintain adequate hydration levels and reduce the risk of complications. While nutritional guidelines and recognizing signs of infection are important aspects of care, maintaining proper hydration is the most immediate and critical factor in managing SCA and preventing crises.
3. A 16-year-old female student with a history of asthma controlled with both an oral antihistamine and an albuterol (Proventil) metered-dose inhaler (MDI) comes to the school nurse. The student complains that she cannot sleep at night, feels shaky, and her heart feels like it is 'beating a mile a minute.' Which information is most important for the nurse to obtain?
- A. When she last took the antihistamine.
- B. When her last asthma attack occurred.
- C. Duration of most asthma attacks.
- D. How often the MDI is used daily.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The most important information for the nurse to obtain is how often the MDI is used daily. This is crucial to assess if the symptoms of insomnia, shakiness, and rapid heart rate are related to overuse of the inhaler, leading to potential side effects such as systemic effects of beta-2 agonists.
4. The nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with asthma. Which statement indicates the client understands how to use a rescue inhaler?
- A. I will use my rescue inhaler every morning to prevent asthma attacks.
- B. I should use my rescue inhaler when I start to experience wheezing.
- C. I will use my rescue inhaler when my peak flow meter reading is in the green zone.
- D. I will only use my rescue inhaler before going to bed.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'I should use my rescue inhaler when I start to experience wheezing.' A rescue inhaler is used during the onset of asthma symptoms, such as wheezing, to quickly open the airways. It is not intended for routine daily use or prevention, which is the role of a maintenance inhaler. Option A is incorrect because a rescue inhaler is not used for prevention but for immediate relief during an asthma attack. Option C is incorrect because the peak flow meter reading is used to monitor asthma control, not to determine when to use a rescue inhaler. Option D is incorrect because using a rescue inhaler only before going to bed does not address the need for immediate relief when wheezing or experiencing asthma symptoms.
5. The parents of a gifted child note that their child has been showing signs of rebellion and acting out. Which is one important thing to teach the parents about gifted children?
- A. They need boundaries like any other child.
- B. Intense emotions require an outlet, not punishment.
- C. All discipline models approve of physical aggression.
- D. Gifted children should be allowed to freely express themselves.
Correct answer: They need boundaries like any other child.
Rationale: Gifted children, like all children, require boundaries to feel loved and safe. Setting boundaries helps in guiding their behavior and providing a sense of security. Punishment should be reserved for behavior that is unsafe or violates these boundaries. It is incorrect to assume that all discipline models advocate for physical aggression; discipline should be applied appropriately and in a non-violent manner. While it's important for gifted children to express themselves, this should be within the limits of acceptable behavior and not as a means to overstep boundaries or rules.