HESI LPN
Community Health HESI Exam
1. A public health nurse can say that she is beginning to achieve her goal of more optimal health for her community when:
- A. people learn self-care
- B. people become involved in determining health care policy
- C. all these indicators are present
- D. people assume responsibility for their own health
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Achieving optimal health for a community involves multiple factors and indicators. For a public health nurse to begin achieving this goal, it is essential that all relevant indicators are present, not just one or a few. While choices A, B, and D are important components of promoting community health, optimal health for a community encompasses a comprehensive approach where all indicators are considered and addressed. Therefore, the correct answer is C.
2. The nurse is caring for a child who has been admitted for a sickle cell crisis. What would the nurse do first to provide adequate pain management?
- A. Administer a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) as ordered.
- B. Use guided imagery and therapeutic touch.
- C. Administer meperidine as ordered.
- D. Initiate pain assessment with a standardized pain scale.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Initiating pain assessment with a standardized pain scale is crucial in effectively managing pain during a sickle cell crisis. This initial step helps the nurse understand the severity of the pain, which guides subsequent interventions. Administering medications, such as NSAIDs or meperidine, should only be done after a thorough pain assessment to ensure appropriate and individualized treatment. Using guided imagery and therapeutic touch may be beneficial as adjunct interventions, but they should not replace the essential first step of assessing the pain level accurately.
3. A client with a history of alcoholism is admitted to the hospital for detoxification. The nurse knows that the client's risk for withdrawal symptoms is greatest within:
- A. 2-4 hours
- B. 4-6 hours
- C. 6-12 hours
- D. 12-24 hours
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: 12-24 hours. Withdrawal symptoms typically begin within 12-24 hours after the last drink. This period is when the client is at the highest risk for experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not align with the typical timeline for alcohol withdrawal symptoms to manifest. Symptoms usually peak within the first 24 to 48 hours after the last drink, making the 12-24 hour window critical for monitoring and managing any potential withdrawal complications.
4. A full-term, 24-hour-old infant in the nursery regurgitates and suddenly turns cyanotic. Which immediate intervention should the PN implement?
- A. Stimulate the infant to cry
- B. Give oxygen by positive pressure
- C. Suction the oral and nasal passages
- D. Turn the infant onto the right side
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Suctioning the oral and nasal passages is the correct immediate intervention in this scenario. Regurgitation leading to cyanosis indicates a potential airway obstruction, which requires prompt action to clear. Stimulating the infant to cry (Choice A) may not address the underlying issue of airway obstruction. Giving oxygen by positive pressure (Choice B) can be beneficial, but clearing the airway obstruction takes precedence. Turning the infant onto the right side (Choice D) does not directly address the need to clear the airway.
5. A nurse manager is preparing to review practice guidelines with a group of newly licensed nurses. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include that is within the RN scope of practice?
- A. Insert an implanted port
- B. Close a laceration with sutures
- C. Place an endotracheal tube
- D. Initiate an enteral feeding through a gastrostomy tube
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Initiate an enteral feeding through a gastrostomy tube. It is within the RN scope of practice for nurses to initiate enteral feedings through nasoenteric, gastrostomy, and jejunostomy tubes. Options A, B, and C involve procedures that typically fall within the scope of other healthcare professionals. Inserting an implanted port is often performed by specialized nurses or physicians, closing a laceration with sutures is usually done by healthcare providers with specific training in wound care, and placing an endotracheal tube is a procedure commonly carried out by anesthesiologists or respiratory therapists.