HESI RN
HESI RN CAT Exit Exam
1. A nurse is planning care for a client who is newly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Which instruction should the nurse include in this client’s teaching plan?
- A. Avoid all forms of sugar
- B. Check blood glucose levels once a week
- C. Rotate insulin injection sites
- D. Monitor urine ketone levels
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Rotating insulin injection sites prevents lipodystrophy and ensures proper insulin absorption.
2. An RN is providing education to the family of a client diagnosed with schizophrenia who is being treated with clozapine (Clozaril). The RN should instruct the family to report which symptom immediately?
- A. Sore throat
- B. Weight loss
- C. Constipation
- D. Lightheadedness
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Sore throat. Clozapine can lead to agranulocytosis, a condition characterized by a significant decrease in white blood cells. A sore throat can be an early sign of agranulocytosis, a potentially life-threatening adverse effect of clozapine. The family should report this symptom immediately to the healthcare provider for further evaluation and management. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because weight loss, constipation, and lightheadedness are not typically associated with the serious adverse effect of agranulocytosis related to clozapine therapy.
3. The nurse is caring for a patient who has a central venous access device (CVAD). Which action by the nurse is appropriate?
- A. Avoid using friction when cleaning around the CVAD insertion site.
- B. Use the push-pause method to flush the CVAD after giving medications.
- C. Obtain an order from the healthcare provider to change the CVAD dressing.
- D. Position the patient’s face away from the CVAD during injection cap changes.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because using the push-pause method to flush the CVAD after giving medications helps remove debris from the CVAD lumen and decreases the risk for clotting. Choice A is incorrect because friction should be used when cleaning the CVAD insertion site to decrease infection risk. Choice C is incorrect because obtaining an order from the healthcare provider to change the CVAD dressing is not necessary; the dressing should be changed when damp, loose, or visibly soiled. Choice D is incorrect because the patient should face away from the CVAD during cap changes to minimize the risk of contamination.
4. What action is most important for the RN to implement within the first 24 hours after treatment is initiated for a homeless client who reports feeling sad and depressed and has only had 4 hours of sleep in the past 2 days?
- A. Allow the client to rest and sleep.
- B. Ensure the client attends groups addressing coping skills for dealing with depression.
- C. Begin planning for the client’s discharge.
- D. Encourage verbalization of feelings.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: A: Addressing the client’s immediate need for rest and sleep is crucial for stabilization and recovery. It is essential to prioritize the client's physical well-being and provide the opportunity for adequate rest. B: Group therapy and coping skills are important but secondary to ensuring immediate needs are met. C: Discharge planning is important but should follow stabilization of the client’s immediate needs. D: Encouraging verbalization of feelings is supportive but not as urgent as addressing basic needs like rest.
5. A client with schizophrenia is experiencing paranoia. What is the nurse's priority intervention?
- A. Reassure the client that their fears are unfounded.
- B. Place the client in a private room to reduce stimuli.
- C. Provide the client with a distraction to redirect their attention.
- D. Encourage the client to express their concerns and validate their feelings.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Encouraging clients with paranoia to express their concerns and validating their feelings is crucial as it helps establish trust and reduce anxiety. This approach also aids in building a therapeutic relationship. Reassuring the client that their fears are unfounded (Choice A) may invalidate their feelings and worsen trust. Placing the client in a private room to reduce stimuli (Choice B) may be helpful in some situations but does not address the underlying issue of paranoia. Providing a distraction (Choice C) may temporarily shift the client's focus but does not address the root cause of the paranoia. Therefore, the priority intervention is to encourage the client to express their concerns and validate their feelings.