HESI LPN
HESI Fundamentals Study Guide
1. When lifting a bedside cabinet to move it closer to a client who is sitting in a chair, which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent self-injury?
- A. Bend at the waist
- B. Keep feet close together
- C. Use back muscles for lifting
- D. Stand close to the cabinet when lifting it
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is to stand close to the cabinet when lifting it. This action keeps the object close to the nurse's center of gravity, reducing the risk of back strain. Bending at the waist (Choice A) can increase the risk of back injury as it puts strain on the lower back. Keeping feet close together (Choice B) does not provide a stable base of support for lifting a heavy object. Using back muscles for lifting (Choice C) is incorrect as it can lead to back strain and injury. Therefore, standing close to the cabinet when lifting it is the safest and most effective approach to prevent self-injury.
2. A charge nurse is assigning client care for four clients. Which of the following tasks should the nurse assign to a PN?
- A. Creating a plan of care for a client who is recovering following a stroke.
- B. Assessing a pressure injury on a client who is on bed rest.
- C. Providing nasopharyngeal suctioning for a client who has pneumonia.
- D. Teaching a client who has asthma to use a metered-dose inhaler.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is providing nasopharyngeal suctioning for a client who has pneumonia. This task falls within the practical nurse's scope of practice, as it involves direct patient care and basic interventions. Creating a plan of care for a client recovering from a stroke involves critical thinking and comprehensive assessment, which are typically responsibilities of registered nurses. Assessing a pressure injury requires specialized wound care knowledge, often performed by wound care specialists or registered nurses with wound care training. Teaching a client to use a metered-dose inhaler involves patient education and requires a thorough understanding of asthma management, making it more suitable for a registered nurse.
3. A client with a history of heart failure is prescribed spironolactone. The nurse should monitor for which potential side effect?
- A. Hyperkalemia
- B. Hypokalemia
- C. Hyponatremia
- D. Hypernatremia
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Hyperkalemia. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic, which can lead to an excess of potassium in the body, causing hyperkalemia. This medication inhibits the action of aldosterone, leading to decreased potassium excretion and potential retention. Monitoring potassium levels is essential to prevent complications such as cardiac arrhythmias, especially in clients with heart failure.
4. In a long term rehabilitation care unit a client with spinal cord injury complains of a pounding headache. The client is sitting in a wheelchair watching television in the assigned room. Further assessment by the nurse reveals excessive sweating, a splotchy rash, pilomotor erection, facial flushing, congested nasal passages and a heart rate of 50. The nurse should do which action next?
- A. Take the client's respirations, blood pressure (BP), temperature and then pupillary responses
- B. Place the client into the bed and administer the ordered PRN analgesic
- C. Check the client for bladder distention and the client's urinary catheter for kinks
- D. Turn the television off and then assist client to use relaxation techniques
Correct answer: C
Rationale: These symptoms suggest autonomic dysreflexia, often triggered by bladder distention.
5. The nurse is assessing a client with a suspected diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Which clinical sign is most indicative of DVT?
- A. Redness and warmth over the affected area
- B. Decreased peripheral pulses
- C. Cyanosis of the toes
- D. Muscle cramps in the calf
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Corrected Rationale: Redness and warmth over the affected area are classic signs of inflammation, which commonly occur in deep vein thrombosis (DVT) due to the obstruction of blood flow. These symptoms result from the body's inflammatory response to the blood clot. Choices B, C, and D are less indicative of DVT. Decreased peripheral pulses may occur in arterial insufficiency rather than DVT. Cyanosis of the toes indicates decreased oxygenation and is more characteristic of arterial issues. Muscle cramps in the calf are nonspecific and can be caused by various conditions, not solely DVT.