HESI LPN
HESI Fundamentals Study Guide
1. While providing care to a group of patients, which patient should the nurse prioritize seeing first?
- A. A patient with a hip replacement on prolonged bed rest reporting chest pain and dyspnea
- B. A bedridden patient with a reddened area on the buttocks who needs to be turned
- C. A patient on bed rest with renal calculi who needs to go to the bathroom
- D. A patient post-knee surgery who needs range of motion exercises
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The nurse should prioritize seeing the patient with a hip replacement on prolonged bed rest reporting chest pain and dyspnea first. This patient is at higher risk for deep vein thrombosis due to prolonged bed rest, which can lead to a life-threatening embolus. Chest pain and dyspnea could also indicate a potential pulmonary embolism, which requires immediate assessment and intervention. The other patients, while requiring care, do not present with symptoms that suggest an immediate life-threatening situation, making them lower priority at this time. Therefore, option A is the correct choice as it addresses a potentially critical condition that requires immediate attention.
2. The nurse is caring for a 75-year-old male client who is beginning to form a decubitus ulcer at the coccyx. Which intervention will be most helpful in preventing further development of the decubitus ulcer?
- A. Encourage the client to eat foods high in protein
- B. Assess the client for daily range of motion exercises
- C. Teach the family how to perform sterile wound care
- D. Ensure the IV fluids are administered as prescribed
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Encouraging the client to eat foods high in protein is crucial in preventing further development of decubitus ulcers as high protein foods support tissue repair and skin integrity. Adequate protein intake is essential for wound healing. Assessing the client for daily range of motion exercises is important for preventing complications related to immobility, but it may not directly address the prevention of decubitus ulcers. Teaching the family how to perform sterile wound care is significant for wound management but may not be the most effective intervention to prevent further development of decubitus ulcers. Ensuring IV fluids are administered as prescribed is essential for maintaining hydration status but is not the most relevant intervention for preventing decubitus ulcers.
3. A client has an indwelling urinary catheter. Which of the following assessment findings indicates that the catheter requires irrigation?
- A. Bladder scan shows 525 mL of urine
- B. Urine has a strong odor
- C. The client reports abdominal discomfort
- D. The catheter is blocked or not draining
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because if the catheter is blocked or not draining, it may need irrigation to restore proper flow. Option A, 'Bladder scan shows 525 mL of urine,' does not necessarily indicate the need for irrigation as it could be within the expected range for catheter drainage. Option B, 'Urine has a strong odor,' may indicate a urinary tract infection but does not directly correlate with the need for catheter irrigation. Option C, 'The client reports abdominal discomfort,' could indicate various issues but does not specifically suggest the need for catheter irrigation.
4. What causes sickle-cell anemia?
- A. A chromosomal abnormality.
- B. A single segment found only on the Y chromosome.
- C. A recessive gene.
- D. A decrease in estrogen levels.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Sickle-cell anemia is a genetic disorder caused by inheriting two copies of a recessive gene, one from each parent. The correct answer is C. Choice A is incorrect because sickle-cell anemia is not primarily caused by a chromosomal abnormality. Choice B is incorrect as the condition is not linked to a single segment found only on the Y chromosome. Choice D is unrelated as it mentions a decrease in estrogen levels, which is not a cause of sickle-cell anemia.
5. A client who has just been sexually assaulted is calm and quiet. The nurse analyzes this behavior as indicating which defense mechanism?
- A. Denial
- B. Projection
- C. Rationalization
- D. Intellectualization
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Denial. In this situation, the client's calm and quiet demeanor after a traumatic event like sexual assault may indicate denial, a defense mechanism where the individual refuses to acknowledge the reality of the distressing event. Choice B, Projection, involves attributing one's thoughts or feelings to others. Choice C, Rationalization, is a defense mechanism where logical reasoning is used to justify behaviors or feelings. Choice D, Intellectualization, is a defense mechanism where excessive reasoning or logic is used to avoid uncomfortable emotions.