HESI LPN
CAT Exam Practice
1. What actions should the nurse take regarding an older adult male who had an abdominal cholecystectomy and has become increasingly confused and disoriented over the past 24 hours, found wandering into another client’s room and returned to his own room by the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)? (Select all that apply)
- A. Apply soft upper limb restraints and raise all four bed rails
- B. Report mental status change to the healthcare provider
- C. Assess the client’s breath sounds and oxygen saturation
- D. Assign the UAP to re-assess the client’s risk for falls
Correct answer: B
Rationale: In this situation, the appropriate action for the nurse to take is to report the mental status change to the healthcare provider. Confusion and disorientation post-surgery can be indicative of various factors, such as electrolyte imbalances or respiratory issues, necessitating comprehensive assessment by the healthcare team. Applying restraints and raising bed rails may not address the underlying cause of the confusion, and assigning the UAP to reassess the client's risk for falls does not directly address the cognitive changes observed.
2. 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.
3. A client is admitted to the hospital in the terminal stage of cancer. The nurse enters the client’s room to administer medications and finds the client crying. The appropriate nursing action is to:
- A. Sit and hold the client’s hand
- B. Ask why the client is crying
- C. Leave the room to give the client privacy
- D. Administer the medications and leave
Correct answer: A
Rationale: In end-of-life care, providing comfort and emotional support is essential. Sitting with the client, holding their hand, and offering a compassionate presence can help the client feel supported during a difficult time. Asking why the client is crying may not always be necessary as the focus should be on providing comfort rather than probing for information. Leaving the room to provide privacy or just administering medications and leaving may neglect the client's emotional needs and miss an opportunity to provide holistic care.
4. A client is complaining of a tingling sensation in the fingers, nose tip, and earlobes 24 hours after a total thyroidectomy. Which measure should the PN implement first?
- A. Apply sequential compression devices bilaterally
- B. Initiate prescribed L-thyroxine replacement therapy
- C. Obtain prescribed calcium gluconate for tetany
- D. Prepare for emergency tracheotomy at the bedside
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Obtain prescribed calcium gluconate for tetany. Tingling sensations post-thyroidectomy may indicate hypocalcemia, a potential complication that requires prompt treatment with calcium gluconate to prevent tetany. Initiating L-thyroxine replacement therapy (choice B) is important but not the first priority in this situation. Applying sequential compression devices (choice A) is not indicated for tingling sensations and does not address the potential complication of hypocalcemia. Preparing for an emergency tracheotomy (choice D) is not warranted based on the client's symptoms of tingling sensations.
5. A nurse is providing care to a client who has an indwelling urinary catheter. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs)?
- A. Irrigate the catheter with sterile water daily.
- B. Empty the catheter bag every 8 hours.
- C. Clean the perineal area with antiseptic solution daily.
- D. Secure the catheter to the client's thigh.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Securing the catheter to the client's thigh is the correct action to prevent CAUTIs. By securing the catheter, movement is minimized, reducing the risk of introducing bacteria into the urinary tract. Choice A is incorrect because routine irrigation of the catheter is not recommended as it can increase the risk of infection. Choice B is incorrect as emptying the catheter bag every 8 hours is important for proper drainage but does not directly prevent CAUTIs. Choice C is incorrect because cleaning the perineal area with antiseptic solution does not address the main source of CAUTIs related to catheter care.