HESI LPN
Pediatric HESI Practice Questions
1. An 8-year-old girl was diagnosed with a closed fracture of the radius at approximately 2 p.m. The fracture was reduced in the emergency department and her arm placed in a cast. At 11 p.m. her mother brings her back to the emergency department due to unrelenting pain that has not been relieved by the prescribed narcotics. Which action would be the priority?
- A. Notifying the doctor immediately
- B. Applying ice
- C. Elevating the arm
- D. Giving additional pain medication as ordered
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct action would be to notify the doctor immediately. Unrelenting pain despite medication can indicate compartment syndrome, which is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention. Applying ice, elevating the arm, or giving additional pain medication may not address the underlying cause of the unrelenting pain, which could be a sign of a serious complication like compartment syndrome. Prompt medical evaluation is crucial in this situation to prevent potential complications.
2. You have been asked to help a top nutrition researcher conduct human experiments on vitamin C. As the subjects walk into the laboratory, you distribute all the vitamin C pill bottles to the girls and all the placebo pill bottles to the boys. What should you have done?
- A. Giving all the boys the vitamin C and the girls the placebo, and telling them what they were getting.
- B. Distributing the bottles randomly, randomizing the subjects, and telling them what they were getting.
- C. Telling the subjects which group they were in, but preventing yourself from knowing the contents of the pill bottles.
- D. Preventing yourself from knowing what is in the pill bottles, and distributing the bottles randomly to the subjects.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct approach in a scientific experiment is to prevent yourself from knowing the contents of the pill bottles and distribute them randomly to the subjects. This randomization helps to avoid bias and ensures that the results are not influenced by preconceived notions. Option A is incorrect because it introduces gender bias by assigning pills based on gender. Option B is incorrect as it mentions telling the subjects what they are getting, which could lead to placebo effects. Option C is incorrect as it suggests disclosing group information to the subjects, which can also introduce bias.
3. A 3-year-old child diagnosed with celiac disease attends a daycare center. Which of the following would be an appropriate snack?
- A. Cheese crackers
- B. Peanut butter sandwich
- C. Potato chips
- D. Vanilla cookies
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is potato chips. As a child with celiac disease needs to avoid gluten, potato chips are a suitable snack choice as they are typically gluten-free. Cheese crackers (Choice A) and vanilla cookies (Choice D) contain gluten, which should be avoided by individuals with celiac disease. While peanut butter sandwiches (Choice B) could be gluten-free depending on the bread used, it is not the best choice as cross-contamination is a concern in shared environments like daycare centers.
4. After assessing an older adult with a suspected cerebrovascular accident (CVA), the nurse documents the client's right upper arm weakness and slurred speech. When the client complains of a severe headache and nausea, and the neurological assessment remains unchanged, which action should the nurse implement first?
- A. Administer an oral analgesic with antiemetic
- B. Collect blood for coagulation times
- C. Send the client for a computed tomography scan of the brain
- D. Obtain a history of medication use, recent surgery, or injury
Correct answer: C
Rationale: In this scenario, the priority action for the nurse is to send the client for a computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain. A CT scan is crucial in assessing acute changes or bleeding that could influence treatment decisions in a suspected cerebrovascular accident (CVA). While addressing symptoms like headache and nausea is important, ruling out acute changes in the brain with a CT scan takes precedence in this situation. Collecting blood for coagulation times may be necessary but is not the initial priority. Obtaining a history of medication use, recent surgery, or injury is also important but not the first action to take when a CVA is suspected.
5. A client with tuberculosis is receiving isoniazid (INH). The nurse should monitor the client for which of the following side effects?
- A. Hepatotoxicity
- B. Hyperglycemia
- C. Hypotension
- D. Hypokalemia
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Hepatotoxicity. Isoniazid (INH) can lead to hepatotoxicity, necessitating the monitoring of liver function tests. This adverse effect is characterized by liver damage and dysfunction. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because isoniazid is not typically associated with hyperglycemia, hypotension, or hypokalemia. Therefore, the nurse should focus on assessing for signs and symptoms of hepatotoxicity in a client receiving isoniazid.