HESI RN
HESI 799 RN Exit Exam
1. A nurse plans to call the healthcare provider to report an 0600 serum potassium level of 2 mEq/L or mmol/L (SI), but the charge nurse tells the nurse that the healthcare provider does not like to receive early morning calls and will make rounds later in the morning. What action should the nurse take?
- A. Contact the healthcare provider immediately to report the laboratory value regardless of the advice.
- B. Document the finding and report it when the healthcare provider makes rounds.
- C. Notify the charge nurse that you are following the chain of command.
- D. Administer a potassium supplement and notify the provider later.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: A nurse should contact the healthcare provider immediately to report a critically low potassium level of 2 mEq/L. Potassium levels below the normal range can lead to life-threatening complications such as cardiac arrhythmias. Prompt notification is essential to ensure timely intervention and prevent harm to the patient. Option B is incorrect as delaying reporting such a critical value can jeopardize patient safety. Option C is not the priority in this situation; the focus should be on patient care. Option D is dangerous and inappropriate as administering a potassium supplement without healthcare provider's guidance can be harmful, especially with a critically low level.
2. The nurse enters a client's room and observes the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) making an occupied bed. What action should the nurse take first?
- A. Place the side rails in an up position.
- B. Assist the UAP in turning the client.
- C. Provide instructions on proper bed-making techniques.
- D. Ask the client if they are comfortable.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is to place the side rails in an up position first. This action is essential to prevent the client from falling while the bed is being made. Assisting the UAP in turning the client (Choice B) is not the immediate priority. Providing instructions on bed-making techniques (Choice C) can wait until the safety of the client is ensured. Asking the client if they are comfortable (Choice D) is important but should come after ensuring the client's safety by raising the side rails.
3. The nurse is assessing a client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who is receiving erythropoietin therapy. Which assessment finding is most concerning?
- A. Increased fatigue
- B. Elevated blood pressure
- C. Low urine output
- D. Elevated hemoglobin
Correct answer: B
Rationale: In a client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) receiving erythropoietin therapy, an elevated blood pressure is the most concerning assessment finding. Elevated blood pressure can indicate worsening hypertension, which requires immediate intervention. Increased fatigue may be expected due to anemia associated with CKD and erythropoietin therapy. Low urine output may indicate impaired kidney function but is not as immediately concerning as elevated blood pressure. Elevated hemoglobin levels are the desired outcome of erythropoietin therapy, indicating an appropriate response to treatment.
4. A client with a history of severe rheumatoid arthritis is receiving a corticosteroid. Which assessment finding should the nurse report to the healthcare provider immediately?
- A. Blood glucose level of 180 mg/dL
- B. Weight gain of 2 pounds in 24 hours
- C. Blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg
- D. Increased joint pain
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Elevated blood pressure (140/90 mmHg) is a significant finding that the nurse should report immediately. Hypertension can be a severe side effect of corticosteroid therapy, especially in clients with preexisting conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. It requires prompt intervention to prevent complications such as cardiovascular events. The other options, while important to monitor, are not as critical as elevated blood pressure in this context. A blood glucose level of 180 mg/dL may indicate hyperglycemia, weight gain could be due to fluid retention, and increased joint pain is expected in a client with severe rheumatoid arthritis.
5. A client with a traumatic brain injury becomes progressively less responsive to stimuli. The client has a 'Do Not Resuscitate' prescription, and the nurse observes that the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) has stopped turning the client from side to side as previously scheduled. What action should the nurse take?
- A. Advise the UAP to resume positioning the client on schedule
- B. Notify the healthcare provider
- C. Document the UAP's actions
- D. Discuss the situation with the client’s family
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Continuing to turn the client is crucial to prevent complications such as pressure ulcers, even if the client is less responsive. Advising the UAP to resume positioning the client on schedule is the most appropriate action in this situation. This action ensures that the client's care needs are met and helps prevent potential complications. Notifying the healthcare provider or documenting the UAP's actions may delay the necessary care for the client. Discussing the situation with the client's family is important but addressing the immediate care need of turning the client takes priority.
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