HESI LPN
Pediatric Practice Exam HESI
1. Why might a healthcare provider question a health care provider's order for a tap water enema for a 6-month-old infant with suspected Hirschsprung disease?
- A. The result could lead to loss of necessary nutrients.
- B. It could cause a fluid and electrolyte imbalance.
- C. It could increase the fear of intrusive procedures.
- D. The result could cause shock from a sudden drop in temperature.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. Tap water enemas can cause significant fluid and electrolyte imbalances, particularly in infants, making them unsafe for this age group. Choice A is incorrect because tap water enemas are unlikely to lead to loss of necessary nutrients. Choice C is incorrect as it does not directly relate to the physiological risk of tap water enemas. Choice D is incorrect as shock from a sudden drop in temperature is not a common concern with tap water enemas.
2. How should you care for an alert 4-year-old child with a mild airway obstruction, who has respiratory distress, a strong cough, and normal skin color?
- A. Back blows, abdominal thrusts, transport
- B. Oxygen, avoiding agitation, transport
- C. Assisting ventilations, back blows, transport
- D. Chest thrusts, finger sweeps, transport
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct approach for an alert 4-year-old child with a mild airway obstruction, respiratory distress, a strong cough, and normal skin color is to provide oxygen, avoid agitation, and arrange for transport. Oxygen helps support breathing, avoiding agitation prevents worsening of the obstruction, and transport ensures the child receives further medical evaluation and treatment. Choices A, C, and D involve techniques that are not recommended for a mild airway obstruction in this scenario. Back blows, abdominal thrusts, chest thrusts, and finger sweeps are interventions used for different situations and not suitable for a child with the described symptoms.
3. A new father asks the nurse the reason for placing an ophthalmic ointment in his newborn's eyes. What information should the nurse provide?
- A. Possible exposure to an environmental staphylococcus infection can infect the newborn's eyes and cause visual deficits
- B. The newborn is at risk for blindness from a corneal syphilitic infection acquired from a mother's infected vagina
- C. Treatment prevents tear duct obstruction with harmful exudate from a vaginal birth that can lead to dry eyes in the newborn
- D. State law mandates all newborns receive prophylactic treatment to prevent gonorrheal or chlamydial ophthalmic infection
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because informing about state law emphasizes the legal requirement and public health rationale behind prophylactic eye treatment to prevent serious infections like gonorrheal or chlamydial ophthalmic infection. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. Choice A focuses on staphylococcus infection, which is not the primary concern addressed by the prophylactic ointment. Choice B mentions a specific infection acquired from the mother's infected vagina, which is not the main reason for the ophthalmic ointment. Choice C discusses tear duct obstruction and dry eyes, which are not the primary concerns addressed by the prophylactic ointment.
4. The nurse is caring for a client with a tracheostomy who is unable to clear secretions by coughing. What is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?
- A. Encourage the client to take deep breaths.
- B. Provide humidified oxygen via tracheostomy collar.
- C. Suction the tracheostomy tube as needed.
- D. Change the tracheostomy dressing daily.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Suctioning the tracheostomy tube as needed is the most appropriate action in this scenario. When a client with a tracheostomy is unable to clear secretions by coughing, suctioning helps remove the excess secretions from the airway, ensuring proper breathing. Encouraging deep breaths (Choice A) may not effectively address the immediate need to clear secretions. Providing humidified oxygen (Choice B) can help with oxygenation but does not directly address the issue of clearing secretions. Changing the tracheostomy dressing daily (Choice D) is important for maintaining cleanliness but is not the priority when the client is unable to clear secretions.
5. The nurse is teaching a group of students about myelination in a child. Which statement by the students indicates that the teaching was successful?
- A. Myelination continues into adolescence and beyond.
- B. The process occurs in a cephalocaudal (head-to-toe) pattern.
- C. Myelination decreases the speed of nerve impulses.
- D. Myelination decreases the specificity of nerve impulses.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. Myelination occurs in a cephalocaudal (head-to-toe) pattern, improving nerve function progressively. Choice A is incorrect as myelination continues into adolescence and beyond, not just during childhood. Choice C is incorrect because myelination actually increases the speed of nerve impulses rather than decreasing it. Choice D is incorrect as myelination enhances the specificity of nerve impulses, making them more efficient and precise rather than less specific.