HESI LPN
HESI Focus on Maternity Exam
1. A new parent is receiving discharge teaching about car seat safety from a nurse. Which statement by the parent indicates an understanding of the teaching?
- A. “I should position my baby’s car seat at a 45-degree angle in the car.”
- B. “I should place the car seat rear-facing until my baby is 12 months old.”
- C. “I should place the harness snugly in a slot above my baby’s shoulders.”
- D. “I should position the retainer clip at the top of my baby’s abdomen.”
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. Positioning the car seat at a 45-degree angle is crucial to prevent the baby's head from falling forward, which can obstruct the airway. Choice B is incorrect because the recommendation is to keep the car seat rear-facing until the baby reaches the height or weight limit set by the car seat manufacturer, typically beyond 12 months. Choice C is incorrect as the harness should be snugly placed at or below the baby's shoulders, not above. Choice D is incorrect as the retainer clip should be positioned at armpit level to secure the harness straps properly.
2. Which nursing intervention is most important when caring for a client receiving aspirin 600mg po QID?
- A. Monitor temperature q4h
- B. Use 10-point pain scale to assess pain
- C. Assess for dyspepsia and nausea
- D. Check stool for occult blood
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is to check the stool for occult blood when caring for a client receiving aspirin 600mg po QID. Aspirin can lead to gastrointestinal bleeding, and checking for occult blood in the stool is essential to monitor for this serious adverse effect. Monitoring temperature, assessing pain, and checking for dyspepsia and nausea are important interventions but not as critical as monitoring for gastrointestinal bleeding when a client is receiving aspirin.
3. The nurse is assessing a client with left-sided heart failure who reports nocturia and dyspnea. The nurse identifies pulsus alternans and crackles in all lung fields. Which action is best to include in the client’s plan of care?
- A. Begin client education about positive inotropic medications.
- B. Place the client in Trendelenburg position.
- C. Prepare the client for an emergency cardiac catheterization.
- D. Monitor serum Troponin, CK, and CK-MB levels.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: In the scenario described, the client is exhibiting signs of left-sided heart failure, such as dyspnea, nocturia, pulsus alternans, and crackles in all lung fields. Positive inotropic medications are commonly used in the treatment of heart failure to improve cardiac contractility and output. Therefore, beginning client education about positive inotropic medications is the best action to include in the client's plan of care. Choice B is incorrect because placing the client in Trendelenburg position is not indicated in the management of left-sided heart failure. Choice C is incorrect as emergency cardiac catheterization is not typically the initial intervention for left-sided heart failure. Choice D is incorrect as monitoring serum Troponin, CK, and CK-MB levels is more pertinent to assessing for myocardial infarction rather than managing heart failure.
4. A client is admitted with a diagnosis of pneumonia. Which intervention should the nurse implement to promote airway clearance?
- A. Administer bronchodilators as prescribed.
- B. Encourage increased fluid intake.
- C. Perform chest physiotherapy.
- D. Provide humidified oxygen.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Encouraging increased fluid intake is the most appropriate intervention to promote airway clearance in a client with pneumonia. Adequate hydration helps to thin respiratory secretions, making it easier for the client to cough up and clear the airways. Administering bronchodilators (Choice A) may help with bronchospasm but does not directly promote airway clearance. Chest physiotherapy (Choice C) can be beneficial in certain cases but may not be the initial intervention for promoting airway clearance. Providing humidified oxygen (Choice D) can help improve oxygenation but does not specifically target airway clearance in pneumonia.
5. Why is a client with gestational diabetes being scheduled for an amniocentesis when the fetus has an estimated weight of eight pounds (3629 grams) at 36 weeks gestation? What information is the amniocentesis seeking to obtain?
- A. Presence of a neural tube defect.
- B. Chromosomal abnormalities.
- C. Gender of the fetus.
- D. Fetal lung maturity.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: An amniocentesis in this scenario is most likely being performed to assess fetal lung maturity. This is necessary when considering early delivery due to macrosomia (large fetal size), which is a common concern in gestational diabetes. Evaluating fetal lung maturity is crucial to determine if the fetus's lungs are developed enough to support breathing independently outside the womb. The presence of a neural tube defect and chromosomal abnormalities are not typically assessed through amniocentesis in this situation, and determining the gender of the fetus is not the primary purpose of the procedure here.