HESI LPN
HESI Fundamentals Exam
1. In an emergency department, a nurse is assessing a client who reports right lower quadrant pain, nausea, and vomiting for the past 48 hours. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
- A. Auscultate bowel sounds.
- B. Administer an antiemetic.
- C. Offer pain medication.
- D. Palpate the abdomen.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct action the nurse should take first is to auscultate bowel sounds. This step is crucial to assess bowel activity before proceeding with palpation or administering medications. Assessing bowel sounds can provide valuable information about bowel motility and potential obstructions. Administering an antiemetic or offering pain medication may be necessary but should come after assessing bowel sounds to ensure appropriate treatment. Palpating the abdomen should be avoided initially to prevent potential discomfort or complications, especially if there is suspected abdominal pathology.
2. A nurse is providing an in-service about client rights for a group of nurses. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the service?
- A. A nurse can disclose information to a family member with the client's permission
- B. A nurse can apply restraints on an as-needed basis
- C. A nurse can administer medications without consent to a client as part of a research study
- D. A nurse is responsible for informing clients about treatment options
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct statement to include in the in-service about client rights is that a nurse can disclose information to a family member with the client's permission. This respects the client's autonomy and privacy. Choice B is incorrect because restraints should only be applied based on a specific assessment and order, not on an as-needed basis. Choice C is incorrect as administering medications without consent is a violation of ethical principles and legal standards. Choice D is incorrect because while nurses should educate clients about treatment options, the ultimate decision lies with the client after being informed.
3. A nurse is caring for a client postoperatively. When the nurse prepares to change the dressing, the client says it hurts. Which intervention is the nurse’s priority action?
- A. Administer pain medication 45 minutes prior to dressing change.
- B. Change the dressing quickly to minimize pain.
- C. Provide reassurance to the client that the pain will pass.
- D. Use a less painful dressing technique.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Administering pain medication before the dressing change is the priority action to help manage the client's pain effectively. This intervention ensures that the client is comfortable during the procedure. Changing the dressing quickly may cause more discomfort to the client. Providing reassurance is important but does not address the immediate pain concern. Using a less painful dressing technique may be helpful, but administering pain medication first is the priority to address the client's pain promptly.
4. The nurse is planning care for a client with pneumococcal pneumonia. Which of the following would be most effective in removing respiratory secretions?
- A. Administration of cough suppressants
- B. Increasing oral fluid intake to 3000 cc per day
- C. Maintaining bed rest with bathroom privileges
- D. Performing chest physiotherapy twice a day
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Increasing oral fluid intake to 3000 cc per day is the most effective in removing respiratory secretions in a client with pneumococcal pneumonia. Adequate hydration helps thin secretions, making them easier to expectorate. Administration of cough suppressants (Choice A) may hinder the removal of secretions by suppressing the cough reflex. Maintaining bed rest with bathroom privileges (Choice C) is important but does not directly address the removal of respiratory secretions. Performing chest physiotherapy (Choice D) is beneficial for mobilizing secretions but may not be as effective as increasing fluid intake in thinning and facilitating the removal of secretions.
5. Congenital heart defects have traditionally been divided into acyanotic or cyanotic defects. Based on the nurse’s knowledge of congenital heart defects, this system in clinical practice is
- A. helpful because it explains the hemodynamics involved
- B. helpful because children with cyanotic defects are easily identified
- C. problematic because cyanosis is rarely present in children
- D. problematic because children with acyanotic heart defects may develop cyanosis
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The classification system of congenital heart defects into acyanotic or cyanotic defects is problematic because children with acyanotic heart defects may develop cyanosis, complicating the differentiation. Cyanosis can occur in some acyanotic defects due to various reasons such as right-to-left shunting or decreased pulmonary blood flow, making the classification based solely on cyanosis misleading. Choice A is incorrect because while the classification may involve hemodynamics, the main issue lies in the potential for acyanotic defects to develop cyanosis. Choice B is incorrect as the ease of identifying children with cyanotic defects does not address the main problem with the classification system. Choice C is also incorrect as the presence of cyanosis is not the only factor determining the classification's validity.