HESI LPN
HESI Fundamentals Study Guide
1. A client has a closed wound drainage system. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
- A. Avoid pressing the container down to create a vacuum
- B. Wear sterile gloves while handling the drainage system
- C. Reset the container with the drainage port closed
- D. Maintain the drain in a dependent position to facilitate drainage
Correct answer: D
Rationale: In a closed wound drainage system, it is essential to maintain the drain in a dependent position to allow for proper drainage. Gravity aids in the flow of drainage, preventing fluid backflow or pooling. Avoiding pressing the container down to create a vacuum (Choice A) is crucial as it can lead to complications in the system. Wearing sterile gloves (Choice B) is important for infection control when handling the drainage system. Resetting the container with the drainage port closed (Choice C) is incorrect as it can cause spillage and contamination of the surrounding area.
2. A child weighing 20 kg has a new prescription for cefoxitin at 80 mg/kg/day administered intravenously every 6 hours. How much cefoxitin should be administered with each dose?
- A. 400 mg
- B. 200 mg
- C. 1600 mg
- D. 100 mg
Correct answer: A
Rationale: To determine the amount of cefoxitin to be administered with each dose, first, calculate the total daily dose by multiplying the child's weight (20 kg) by the prescribed dose (80 mg/kg/day): 80 mg/kg/day × 20 kg = 1600 mg/day. Since the medication is administered every 6 hours (4 doses/day), divide the total daily dose by the number of doses: 1600 mg / 4 = 400 mg. Therefore, each dose should be 400 mg. Choice B (200 mg) is incorrect because it is half the calculated dose. Choice C (1600 mg) is incorrect as it represents the total daily dose, not the dose per administration. Choice D (100 mg) is incorrect as it is a quarter of the calculated dose.
3. While assessing an 18-month-old child, a nurse observes that the toddler can crawl upstairs but needs assistance when climbing the stairs upright. What does this action indicate to the nurse?
- A. Presence of talipes equinovarus
- B. Reflective of neurologic damage
- C. Expected behavior in a toddler of this age
- D. Existence of developmental dysplasia of the hip
Correct answer: C
Rationale: At 18 months of age, needing assistance to climb stairs upright is considered normal behavior for a toddler. Crawling upstairs is a different motor skill and does not necessarily correlate with the ability to climb stairs. The child is still developing gross motor skills, and climbing stairs upright typically requires more coordination and strength, which may not be fully developed at this age. Choices A, B, and D are not relevant in this scenario as the observed behavior is within the expected range of development for an 18-month-old child.
4. A client who is in the rehabilitation facility with newly diagnosed Parkinson's disease (PD) has levodopa-carbidopa prescribed. During the care planning session for this client, the nurse discusses which aspects with the other members of the health care team? (Select all that apply.)
- A. Ask the dietician to avoid increasing the amounts of foods high in Vitamin B6.
- B. Lessening of tremors
- C. Remind others on the team that this medication will not relieve all symptoms of PD.
- D. Ask the evening shift nurses to give the last dose earlier in the day if the client has insomnia.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Levodopa-carbidopa is a medication commonly used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). It can cause side effects such as hypotension with sudden position changes. To assist the client in managing this side effect, the physical therapy assistant can help avoid sudden position changes. Additionally, if insomnia occurs, adjusting the timing of the last dose earlier in the day can be beneficial. It is important to note that drowsiness can also be a side effect of the medication and should be reported to the nurse. Foods high in Vitamin B6 can interfere with the absorption of levodopa-carbidopa; hence, it is advisable to avoid increasing the consumption of such foods. Lastly, it is crucial to remind the team that while this medication helps alleviate symptoms like tremors, it may not relieve all symptoms of PD comprehensively.
5. Which statement by the mother indicates that the mother understands safety precautions with her four-month-old infant and her 4-year-old child?
- A. I secure the infant car seat in the back seat facing backwards.
- B. I place my infant in the middle of the living room floor on a blanket to play with my 4-year-old while I make supper in the kitchen.
- C. My sleeping baby looks adorable in the crib with the little buttocks up in the air while the four-year-old naps on the sofa.
- D. I have the 4-year-old hold and help feed the four-month-old a bottle in the kitchen while I make supper.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Choice D is the correct answer because having the 4-year-old help feed the four-month-old a bottle in the kitchen while the mother makes supper shows supervision of the infant by the older child in a safe environment. This choice indicates that the mother understands safety precautions by involving the older child in a caregiving task under her supervision. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they involve unsafe practices such as placing the infant on the floor unsupervised, positioning the infant car seat in the front seat, and not providing direct supervision of the children during naptimes.