HESI LPN
HESI Fundamentals Study Guide
1. A healthcare professional is preparing to administer medications to a client. Which of the following client identifiers should the healthcare professional use to ensure medication safety?
- A. Ask the client to state their full name.
- B. Ask the client for their date of birth.
- C. Compare the client's wristband with the medication administration record.
- D. Ask the client for their room number.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Comparing the client's wristband with the medication administration record is a crucial step in ensuring medication safety. The wristband typically contains unique identifiers such as the client's name, date of birth, and medical record number, which should be cross-checked with the medication administration record to confirm the correct patient. Asking the client to state their name (Choice A) or date of birth (Choice B) may not be as reliable as the information can be misunderstood or miscommunicated. Asking for the room number (Choice D) is not a reliable client identifier for medication administration and does not confirm the patient's identity accurately.
2. During the care of a client with Legionnaire's disease, which finding would require the nurse's immediate attention?
- A. Pleuritic pain on inspiration
- B. Dry mucus membranes in the mouth
- C. A decrease in respiratory rate from 34 to 24
- D. Decrease in chest wall expansion
Correct answer: D
Rationale: A decrease in chest wall expansion suggests that the client may be experiencing a serious complication, such as worsening pneumonia or respiratory failure, requiring immediate medical attention. This finding indicates a potential decrease in lung function, which could lead to respiratory distress. Pleuritic pain on inspiration may be related to the disease process but does not indicate an immediate need for intervention. Dry mucus membranes in the mouth may require attention but are not as critical as a decrease in chest wall expansion. A decrease in respiratory rate could be concerning but is not as urgent as a decrease in chest wall expansion, which directly impacts respiratory function.
3. Which membrane lines the abdominal cavity?
- A. Perineum
- B. Pericardium
- C. Pleura
- D. Peritoneum
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D, Peritoneum. The peritoneum is the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity, providing support to abdominal organs and serving as a conduit for their blood vessels. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. The perineum refers to the area between the anus and the external genitalia, the pericardium is the membrane enclosing the heart, and the pleura is the membrane surrounding the lungs.
4. The nurse is assigned to a newly delivered woman with HIV/AIDS. The student asks the nurse about how it is determined that a person has AIDS other than a positive HIV test. The nurse responds:
- A. The complaints of at least 3 common findings.
- B. The absence of any opportunistic infection.
- C. CD4 lymphocyte count is less than 200.
- D. Developmental delays in children.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C. A CD4 count less than 200 cells/mm³ is a diagnostic criterion for AIDS. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. Choice A is vague and does not reflect the diagnostic criteria for AIDS. Choice B is not accurate, as the presence of opportunistic infections, not their absence, is indicative of AIDS. Choice D is unrelated to the diagnosis of AIDS in adults.
5. While assessing an Rh-positive newborn whose mother is Rh-negative, the nurse recognizes the risk for hyperbilirubinemia. Which of the following should be reported immediately?
- A. Jaundice evident at 26 hours
- B. Hematocrit of 55%
- C. Serum bilirubin of 12 mg/dL
- D. Positive Coombs test
Correct answer: C
Rationale: A serum bilirubin level of 12 mg/dL in a newborn is concerning and can indicate a significant risk of hyperbilirubinemia, which requires immediate medical intervention to prevent complications like kernicterus. Jaundice at 26 hours (Choice A) is a symptom, not a laboratory result, and needs monitoring but not an immediate report. Hematocrit of 55% (Choice B) may be elevated but is not indicative of hyperbilirubinemia. A positive Coombs test (Choice D) indicates the presence of antibodies on the newborn's red blood cells but does not directly correlate with the risk of hyperbilirubinemia.