HESI RN
HESI 799 RN Exit Exam Capstone
1. A nurse is caring for a 73-year-old male client with Alzheimer's disease. Which action should the nurse take to enhance the client's nutritional intake?
- A. Encourage the client to eat large meals in one sitting.
- B. Offer the client frequent snacks of foods he enjoys.
- C. Provide the client with foods high in fiber to improve digestion.
- D. Discourage eating late at night to prevent weight gain.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Offering frequent snacks of foods the client enjoys is the most appropriate action to enhance the nutritional intake of a client with Alzheimer's disease. This approach helps to ensure that the client receives an adequate amount of nutrients throughout the day, especially when larger meals might be challenging for individuals with Alzheimer's. Encouraging large meals in one sitting (Choice A) may overwhelm the client and lead to decreased food intake. While foods high in fiber (Choice C) are beneficial for digestion, the primary focus should be on providing foods the client enjoys to increase intake. Discouraging eating late at night (Choice D) is not directly related to enhancing nutritional intake in this scenario.
2. The provider has ordered Kayexalate and sorbitol to be administered to a patient. The nurse caring for this patient would expect which serum electrolyte values prior to administration of this therapy?
- A. Sodium 125 mEq/L and potassium 2.5 mEq/L
- B. Sodium 150 mEq/L and potassium 3.6 mEq/L
- C. Sodium 135 mEq/L and potassium 6.9 mEq/L
- D. Sodium 148 mEq/L and potassium 5.5 mEq/L
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Severe hyperkalemia, with a potassium level of 6.9 mEq/L, requires aggressive treatment with Kayexalate and sorbitol to increase the body’s excretion of potassium. The normal range for serum potassium is 3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L, so patients with the other potassium levels would not be treated aggressively or would need potassium supplementation. Therefore, option C (Sodium 135 mEq/L and potassium 6.9 mEq/L) is the correct choice as it indicates severe hyperkalemia warranting the administration of Kayexalate and sorbitol. Options A, B, and D have either potassium levels within normal limits, which would not necessitate this aggressive treatment, or potassium levels that are lower than what would typically prompt the need for Kayexalate and sorbitol.
3. In a client with chronic kidney disease having a serum potassium level of 6.5 mEq/L, which assessment is the most critical for the nurse to perform?
- A. Neurological status
- B. Cardiac status
- C. Respiratory status
- D. Gastrointestinal status
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Corrected Rationale: Assessing cardiac status is crucial in hyperkalemia as high potassium levels can result in life-threatening arrhythmias. Monitoring the heart rhythm and ECG findings is essential to prevent cardiac complications. Neurological status, respiratory status, and gastrointestinal status are important assessments too, but in the context of hyperkalemia, cardiac status takes precedence due to the immediate risk of cardiac arrhythmias.
4. The nurse is caring for a 4-year-old child who has been diagnosed with measles. Which intervention should the nurse implement to prevent the spread of infection?
- A. Administer antipyretics as prescribed
- B. Place the child in airborne isolation
- C. Encourage fluid intake
- D. Teach the parents about hand hygiene
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Measles is an airborne infection, so placing the child in airborne isolation is crucial to prevent the spread of the virus to others. Airborne isolation precautions help contain infectious respiratory droplets and reduce the risk of transmission to healthcare workers, other patients, and visitors. Administering antipyretics, encouraging fluid intake, and teaching parents about hand hygiene are important aspects of care but do not directly address the prevention of the spread of measles, which requires airborne precautions.
5. The public health nurse is preparing to administer flu vaccines at a community center. Which group should the nurse prioritize for vaccination?
- A. children under 5 years old
- B. adults aged 50-65
- C. pregnant women
- D. healthcare workers
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Pregnant women should be prioritized for flu vaccination as they are at higher risk for complications from the flu. During pregnancy, changes in the immune, heart, and lung functions make pregnant women more susceptible to severe illness from the flu. Vaccinating pregnant women not only protects them but also provides passive immunity to their newborns. Children under 5, adults aged 50-65, and healthcare workers are important groups for vaccination but do not have the same level of increased risk for flu complications as pregnant women.