HESI RN
HESI Nutrition Exam
1. When reassigned to the emergency department, a nurse should understand that gastric lavage is a priority in which situation?
- A. An infant who has been identified to have botulism
- B. A toddler who ate a number of ibuprofen tablets
- C. A preschooler who swallowed powdered plant food
- D. A school-aged child who took a handful of vitamins
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because gastric lavage is a priority for infants with botulism to remove toxins from the stomach. Botulism is a serious condition caused by a toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Gastric lavage helps in removing the toxin from the stomach. Choice B is incorrect because gastric lavage is not typically indicated for ibuprofen ingestion. Choice C is incorrect because gastric lavage is not the first-line treatment for ingesting powdered plant food. Choice D is incorrect because gastric lavage is not routinely performed for vitamin ingestion.
2. What is the most common cause of hyperaldosteronism?
- A. Excessive sodium intake
- B. A pituitary adenoma
- C. Deficient potassium intake
- D. An adrenal adenoma
Correct answer: D
Rationale: An adrenal adenoma is the most common cause of primary hyperaldosteronism. Hyperaldosteronism is typically caused by an adrenal adenoma, a benign tumor in the adrenal gland that leads to excessive aldosterone production. Excessive sodium intake (Choice A) does not directly cause hyperaldosteronism. Pituitary adenoma (Choice B) is associated with conditions like Cushing's disease, not hyperaldosteronism. Deficient potassium intake (Choice C) can lead to hypokalemia but is not a common cause of hyperaldosteronism.
3. A client who has received sodium bicarbonate in large amounts is at risk for metabolic alkalosis. For which of the following signs and symptoms does the nurse assess this client?
- A. Disorientation and dyspnea
- B. Drowsiness, headache, and tachypnea
- C. Tachypnea, dizziness, and paresthesias
- D. Dysrhythmias and decreased respiratory rate and depth
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. A client with metabolic alkalosis may present with dysrhythmias and a decreased respiratory rate and depth as the body tries to compensate by retaining carbon dioxide. Options A, B, and C do not typically correlate with the signs and symptoms of metabolic alkalosis. Disorientation, dyspnea, drowsiness, headache, tachypnea, dizziness, and paresthesias are not commonly associated with metabolic alkalosis. Therefore, they are incorrect choices.
4. After confirming that liquids are allowed, which assessment action should the nurse consider a priority for a client who is fully awake after a gastroscopy?
- A. Listen to bilateral lung and bowel sounds.
- B. Obtain the client's pulse and blood pressure.
- C. Assist the client to the bathroom to void.
- D. Check the client's gag and swallow reflexes.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: After a gastroscopy, it is crucial for the nurse to prioritize checking the client's gag and swallow reflexes before allowing them to drink anything. This is because the effects of local anesthesia need to dissipate, and the airway's protective reflexes, including the gag and swallow reflexes, must have returned to prevent aspiration. Listening to lung and bowel sounds (Choice A) may be important but does not take precedence over ensuring the client's safety post-gastroscopy. Obtaining the client's pulse and blood pressure (Choice B) is also important but not the priority in this scenario. Assisting the client to the bathroom to void (Choice C) is a routine nursing action and is not directly related to the immediate safety concern of checking the client's gag and swallow reflexes post-gastroscopy.
5. A male client who has been taking propranolol (Inderal) for 18 months tells the nurse the healthcare provider discontinued the medication because his blood pressure has been normal for the past three months. Which instruction should the nurse provide?
- A. Abruptly stop the medication.
- B. Continue the medication at the same dose.
- C. Ask the healthcare provider about tapering the drug dose over the next week.
- D. Increase the dose of the medication.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Gradually tapering the dose over one to two weeks should be recommended to prevent rebound tachycardia, hypertension, and ventricular dysrhythmias.