HESI RN
HESI Nutrition Practice Exam
1. A nurse is reinforcing dietary teaching with a client who has a burn injury and adheres to a strict vegan diet. Which of the following food choices should the nurse recommend?
- A. Tuna salad
- B. Fresh fruit
- C. Vegetables
- D. Beans
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Beans are an excellent choice for a client with a burn injury who follows a strict vegan diet. They are a rich source of protein, essential for healing, making them the most suitable option among the choices provided. Tuna salad (choice A) is not suitable for a vegan diet as it contains animal products. While fresh fruit (choice B) and vegetables (choice C) are healthy options, they may not provide sufficient protein needed for healing from a burn injury.
2. A client with a history of alcohol abuse presents with confusion and unsteady gait. The nurse suspects Wernicke's encephalopathy. Which treatment should the nurse anticipate?
- A. Thiamine supplementation
- B. Folic acid replacement
- C. Intravenous glucose
- D. Magnesium sulfate administration
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Wernicke's encephalopathy is a neurological condition commonly caused by a deficiency in thiamine, often seen in clients with chronic alcohol abuse. Thiamine supplementation is the primary treatment to prevent further neurological damage. Folic acid replacement (choice B) is not the correct treatment for Wernicke's encephalopathy. Intravenous glucose (choice C) may be necessary in some cases of Wernicke's encephalopathy, but thiamine supplementation takes precedence. Magnesium sulfate administration (choice D) is not indicated as the primary treatment for Wernicke's encephalopathy.
3. A client with a history of type 2 diabetes is admitted with hyperglycemia. What is the nurse's priority action?
- A. Administer a dose of insulin as prescribed.
- B. Check the client's blood glucose level.
- C. Administer a fluid bolus to improve hydration.
- D. Monitor the client's intake and output closely.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is to check the client's blood glucose level. This is the priority action when dealing with a client admitted with hyperglycemia. Checking the blood glucose level helps determine the severity of hyperglycemia and guides further treatment. Administering insulin or fluids or monitoring intake and output are important interventions but should come after assessing the blood glucose level to inform the most appropriate course of action.
4. During the admission assessment of a 3-year-old with bacterial meningitis and hydrocephalus, which assessment finding is evidence of increased intracranial pressure (ICP)?
- A. Low blood pressure
- B. Increased respiratory rate
- C. Normal pupil reaction
- D. Sluggish and unequal pupillary responses
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Sluggish and unequal pupillary responses are indicative of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) in a child with bacterial meningitis and hydrocephalus. This finding suggests that the optic nerve is being compressed due to increased ICP, causing a delay in pupillary reactions. Such a delay is a critical sign of worsening ICP and necessitates immediate intervention. Low blood pressure and increased respiratory rate can occur in various conditions but are less specific to increased ICP than sluggish and unequal pupillary responses, which directly reflect neurological compromise.
5. In conducting a health assessment for a family with a history of diabetes, which family member should be prioritized for further evaluation and intervention?
- A. a 50-year-old mother with a history of hypertension
- B. a 45-year-old father who is overweight and has high cholesterol
- C. a 17-year-old daughter who is inactive
- D. a 12-year-old son who has a normal weight and is active
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is the 45-year-old father who is overweight and has high cholesterol. He possesses multiple risk factors for diabetes, indicating a need for prioritized evaluation and intervention. The mother's hypertension, the daughter's inactivity, and the son's normal weight and activity level are important factors to consider but do not present as immediate red flags for diabetes risk compared to the father's combination of being overweight and having high cholesterol.