HESI LPN
HESI Fundamental Practice Exam
1. A client has had their diet prescription changed to a mechanical soft diet. Which of the following food items should the nurse remove from the client's breakfast tray?
- A. smoothie
- B. sliced banana
- C. pancakes
- D. sunny side up (fried) eggs
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is 'D: sunny side up (fried) eggs.' Fried eggs should be removed as they are not suitable for a mechanical soft diet due to their texture. The yolk of a fried egg is usually too hard and can be difficult for a client on a mechanical soft diet to chew and swallow. Poached or scrambled eggs are better alternatives for this diet as they are softer and easier to consume. Choices A, B, and C are all suitable for a mechanical soft diet as they are softer in texture and easier to chew and swallow.
2. A nurse working in a community health setting is performing primary health screenings. Which individual is at highest risk for contracting an HIV infection?
- A. A 17-year-old who is sexually active with numerous partners.
- B. A 45-year-old lesbian who has been sexually active with two partners in the past year.
- C. A 30-year-old cocaine user who inhales the drug and works in a topless bar.
- D. A 34-year-old male homosexual who is in a monogamous relationship.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. A 17-year-old who is sexually active with numerous partners is at the highest risk for contracting an HIV infection due to engaging in risky sexual behavior with multiple partners, increasing the likelihood of exposure to the virus. Choice B is less risky as the individual has had a relatively lower number of sexual partners in the past year. Choice C, although involving drug use, does not directly correlate with a higher risk of contracting HIV unless needles are shared. Choice D, a 34-year-old male homosexual in a monogamous relationship, has a lower risk compared to choice A as long as the relationship remains monogamous.
3. The instructor is educating 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.
- B. The process occurs in a head-to-toe fashion.
- C. Myelination speeds up nerve impulses.
- D. Myelination increases the specificity and efficiency 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 because myelination continues beyond 4 years of age and into adolescence. Choice C is incorrect as myelination speeds up nerve impulses rather than slowing them down. Choice D is incorrect because myelination increases the specificity and efficiency of nerve impulses, making them more focused and precise.
4. Which of the following is designed to help clients reduce the risk of illness and maintain the maximum level of function?
- A. illness prevention
- B. crisis intervention
- C. rehabilitation
- D. health promotion
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is 'D: health promotion.' Health promotion strategies are aimed at helping individuals reduce the risk of illness and maintain their maximum level of function by emphasizing preventive measures, healthy behaviors, and lifestyle choices. Illness prevention (choice A) focuses on specific actions to avoid illness but may not necessarily address overall function. Crisis intervention (choice B) refers to immediate assistance during emergencies rather than long-term prevention. Rehabilitation (choice C) involves restoring function after illness or injury rather than primarily focusing on preventive measures and maintaining maximum function.
5. A client is scheduled for an abdominal ultrasound in the morning and has been instructed to fast overnight. The client asks the nurse why fasting is necessary. What is the best response?
- A. It helps reduce the production of intestinal gases.
- B. It ensures clearer imaging by emptying the stomach.
- C. It prevents the risk of aspiration during the procedure.
- D. It is a standard procedure for all surgical interventions.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'It ensures clearer imaging by emptying the stomach.' Fasting before an abdominal ultrasound is essential to empty the stomach, allowing for better visualization of the abdominal organs. This improves the quality of the imaging and enhances diagnostic accuracy. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because reducing intestinal gases, preventing aspiration, and being a standard procedure for surgical interventions are not the primary reasons for fasting before an abdominal ultrasound.