HESI RN
HESI Pediatric Practice Exam
1. An adolescent female who comes to the school clinic is reluctant to confide her concerns to the practical nurse (PN). The PN tells the teen that confidentiality and privacy are maintained unless a life-threatening situation arises. Which principle supports the PN's response?
- A. The adolescent should be encouraged to seek help outside of the school clinic.
- B. Disclosures from the adolescent should be kept confidential.
- C. Honest information ensures establishing a trusting relationship.
- D. Minor adolescents should not be encouraged to disclose private concerns.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct principle supporting the practical nurse's response is that honest information ensures establishing a trusting relationship. By assuring confidentiality and privacy to the adolescent unless there is a life-threatening situation, the practical nurse fosters an environment where the teen feels safe to share their concerns openly. This approach helps build trust, encouraging effective communication and support for the adolescent's well-being. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because encouraging seeking help outside the school clinic, keeping disclosures confidential, and discouraging minor adolescents from sharing private concerns do not address the immediate need to build trust and ensure the well-being of the adolescent in a school setting.
2. A child who weighs 25 kg is receiving IV ampicillin 300 mg/kg/24 hours in equally divided doses every 4 hours. How many milligrams should the nurse administer to the child for each dose?
- A. 1875 mg
- B. 625 mg
- C. 2000 mg
- D. 1500 mg
Correct answer: A
Rationale: To calculate the dose for each administration, multiply the child's weight (25 kg) by the dose (300 mg/kg/24 hours) and divide by the number of doses per day (6, as doses are every 4 hours). This gives us (25 kg * 300 mg/kg / 24 hours) / 6 doses = 1875 mg. Therefore, the nurse should administer 1875 mg for each dose. Choice B, 625 mg, is incorrect as it does not consider the correct calculation based on the weight and prescribed dose. Choice C, 2000 mg, is incorrect as it is not derived from the correct dosage calculation. Choice D, 1500 mg, is incorrect as it does not reflect the accurate dosage calculation based on the weight of the child and the prescribed dose.
3. A client with a history of chronic heart failure is admitted with shortness of breath and crackles in the lungs. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
- A. Administer oxygen therapy as prescribed.
- B. Administer a loop diuretic as prescribed.
- C. Administer intravenous morphine as prescribed.
- D. Obtain an arterial blood gas (ABG) sample.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Administering oxygen therapy is the priority intervention for a client with chronic heart failure presenting with shortness of breath and crackles in the lungs. Oxygen therapy helps improve oxygenation, which is crucial in managing respiratory distress. Loop diuretics (Choice B) may be indicated to manage fluid overload in heart failure but are not the immediate priority in this case. Administering morphine (Choice C) is not the first-line intervention for shortness of breath in heart failure and should be considered after addressing oxygenation and underlying causes. Obtaining an arterial blood gas sample (Choice D) can provide valuable information but is not the initial action needed to address the client's acute respiratory distress.
4. Effective leaders must communicate a vision for the future. Which of the following is the best method for communicating a vision for the future?
- A. Involve others in creating the vision and connect daily work tasks to the vision.
- B. Encourage staff nurses to openly discuss practice and possible improvements.
- C. Critically analyze and discuss advances in practice with other nurses on staff.
- D. Actively listen to the recommendations of others.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The best method for communicating a vision for the future is to involve others in creating the vision and connect daily work tasks to the vision. This approach fosters ownership and commitment among team members, as they feel part of the vision-building process and understand how their daily tasks contribute to achieving that vision. Choice B, encouraging staff nurses to openly discuss practice and possible improvements, is important for fostering communication but doesn't directly address creating and communicating a vision. Choice C, critically analyzing and discussing advances in practice with other nurses, focuses on professional development and knowledge sharing rather than specifically communicating a future vision. Choice D, actively listening to recommendations, is valuable for gathering input but may not be sufficient on its own for effectively communicating a future vision.
5. A client with elevated levels of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) triggers the release of this hormone due to which disorder?
- A. Pneumonia
- B. Dehydration
- C. Renal failure
- D. Edema
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) increases tubular permeability to water, causing more water absorption into the capillaries. ADH is released in response to a rising extracellular fluid osmolarity, such as in dehydration. Pneumonia, renal failure, and edema do not typically lead to the release of ADH. Pneumonia is an inflammatory lung condition, renal failure affects kidney function, and edema is the accumulation of excess fluid in the tissues, none of which directly stimulate the release of ADH.