HESI RN
Biology Practice Test
1. Protein synthesis begins with a process known as transcription. Where does this process occur?
- A. In the cytoplasm
- B. In the nuclear envelope
- C. In the ribosome unit
- D. In the nucleus
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: In the nucleus. Transcription, the initial step of protein synthesis, takes place in the nucleus where DNA is transcribed into mRNA. This mRNA then leaves the nucleus and enters the cytoplasm where translation occurs on the ribosomes. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because transcription specifically occurs in the nucleus, not in the cytoplasm, nuclear envelope, or ribosome unit.
2. A 5-year-old child is brought to the emergency department with severe abdominal pain and vomiting. The child’s parent reports that the pain started suddenly and is located in the lower right abdomen. What should the nurse do first?
- A. Administer pain medication
- B. Notify the healthcare provider immediately
- C. Start an IV line for fluid administration
- D. Obtain a complete blood count
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is to notify the healthcare provider immediately. The child's presentation of sudden, severe abdominal pain in the lower right abdomen is highly concerning for appendicitis, a medical emergency. Promptly notifying the healthcare provider is crucial for further evaluation and management. Administering pain medication as the first action might mask symptoms and delay diagnosis. Starting an IV line for fluid administration and obtaining a complete blood count are important interventions but should come after healthcare provider notification.
3. A client with heart failure receiving furosemide develops muscle weakness. What is the nurse's priority action?
- A. Administer potassium supplements as prescribed.
- B. Monitor the client’s potassium levels.
- C. Instruct the client to increase their salt intake.
- D. Discontinue the furosemide.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Muscle weakness in a client receiving furosemide (a diuretic) is often a sign of hypokalemia, as furosemide increases potassium loss. Monitoring potassium levels is essential to identify and address any imbalances and prevent complications such as arrhythmias. Administering potassium supplements without monitoring the levels can lead to hyperkalemia, which has its own set of serious complications. Instructing the client to increase salt intake is not appropriate in this situation as it does not address the underlying electrolyte imbalance. Discontinuing furosemide abruptly can worsen heart failure symptoms; therefore, monitoring potassium levels and adjusting the treatment accordingly is the most appropriate action.
4. The healthcare provider is caring for a client with a urinary tract infection. Which finding requires immediate intervention?
- A. Dysuria.
- B. Hematuria.
- C. Fever.
- D. Urinary frequency.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Fever can indicate a severe infection, such as pyelonephritis, in a client with a urinary tract infection and requires immediate intervention. Hematuria and dysuria are common symptoms of a urinary tract infection but may not always require immediate intervention unless severe. Urinary frequency is also a common symptom and does not indicate the severity of the infection as fever does.
5. Where does fertilization normally occur?
- A. Ampulla
- B. Interstitial portion
- C. Isthmus
- D. Infundibulum
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Fertilization typically occurs in the ampulla of the fallopian tube. The ampulla provides the ideal environment for fertilization due to the presence of cilia that help transport the egg and sperm, as well as the nourishing fluid within this region. The interstitial portion, isthmus, and infundibulum of the fallopian tube are not the primary sites for fertilization. The interstitial portion connects the fallopian tube to the uterine cavity, the isthmus is the narrowest part near the uterus, and the infundibulum is the funnel-shaped end near the ovary, where the egg is captured after ovulation.