HESI LPN
HESI Practice Test for Fundamentals
1. A client with a new colostomy is being taught how to irrigate the ostomy. The healthcare provider realizes that the client needs further teaching when the client:
- A. Positions the irrigating solution bag 30 inches below the stoma
- B. Uses an open system for irrigation
- C. Irrigates the colostomy twice a day
- D. Cleans the stoma with harsh chemicals
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. Positioning the irrigating solution bag 30 inches below the stoma would cause discomfort and ineffective irrigation as the bag should be positioned at a lower level. Option B is incorrect because a closed system for irrigation is the preferred method for colostomy irrigation. Option C is incorrect as colostomy irrigation is typically done once a day unless otherwise instructed by a healthcare provider. Option D is incorrect as the stoma should be cleaned with mild soap and water to prevent skin irritation and damage.
2. A client who is at full-term gestation is in active labor and complains of a cramp in her leg. Which intervention should the PN implement?
- A. Massage the calf and foot
- B. Elevate the leg above the heart
- C. Check the pedal pulse in the affected leg
- D. Extend the leg and flex the foot
Correct answer: D
Rationale: During labor, muscle cramps are common due to prolonged muscle tension. The correct intervention to alleviate a cramp in the leg is to extend the leg and flex the foot. This action helps relieve the muscle spasm by stretching and contracting the muscles. Massaging the calf and foot (Choice A) may not be as effective in relieving the cramp as extending and flexing the leg. Elevating the leg above the heart (Choice B) is not necessary and may not directly address the cramp. Checking the pedal pulse (Choice C) is important for assessing circulation, but it does not directly address the muscle cramp.
3. When assessing a newborn infant with low set ears, short palpebral fissures, flat nasal bridge, and an indistinct philtrum, a priority maternal assessment by the nurse should be to ask about
- A. Alcohol use during pregnancy
- B. Usual nutritional intake
- C. Family genetic disorders
- D. Maternal and paternal ages
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Alcohol use during pregnancy. The physical features mentioned are indicative of fetal alcohol syndrome, a condition caused by maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy. It is crucial for the nurse to inquire about alcohol use as it can help in diagnosing and managing the infant's condition. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as they are not directly associated with the physical findings described in the newborn, which specifically point towards a potential history of alcohol exposure during pregnancy.
4. Rotating injection sites when administering insulin prevents which of the following complications?
- A. Insulin edema
- B. Insulin lipodystrophy
- C. Insulin resistance
- D. Systemic allergic reactions
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Rotating injection sites when administering insulin helps prevent insulin lipodystrophy, which is the abnormal distribution of fat at injection sites. Insulin edema (choice A) is not prevented by rotating injection sites; it is characterized by swelling at the site of insulin injection due to increased capillary permeability. Insulin resistance (choice C) is a condition where the body's cells become less responsive to insulin, and rotating injection sites does not directly prevent this. Systemic allergic reactions (choice D) are not specifically prevented by rotating injection sites; they are related to an allergic response to insulin.
5. Which of the following most accurately describes a current concern in health care today?
- A. Health care-associated (nosocomial) infections continue to increase, not limited to health-care settings.
- B. Despite preventable deaths increasing from the opioid crisis, life expectancy in the United States has slightly risen over the last 2 years.
- C. Although adverse drug events persist, medication errors have not been completely eliminated through the use of electronic medication administration records.
- D. Gun violence has become a growing public health concern.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Gun violence has become a growing public health concern due to the increasing rates of injury and death caused by the misuse of firearms. Choice A is incorrect because health care-associated infections are not limited to health-care settings and continue to increase. Choice B is inaccurate as preventable deaths from the opioid crisis have not led to a rise in life expectancy in the United States. Choice C is incorrect as medication errors have not been completely eliminated despite the use of electronic medication administration records.