HESI LPN
Mental Health HESI 2023
1. The nurse is admitting a male client who takes lithium carbonate (Eskalith) twice a day. Which information should the nurse report to the healthcare provider immediately?
- A. Short-term memory loss.
- B. Depressed affect.
- C. Five-pound weight gain.
- D. Nausea and vomiting.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Nausea and vomiting should be reported immediately because they could indicate lithium toxicity, which requires urgent medical attention to prevent more severe effects. Short-term memory loss, depressed affect, and weight gain are common side effects of lithium but do not require immediate medical attention compared to symptoms of toxicity like nausea and vomiting.
2. What dietary modification is important for a child with celiac disease?
- A. Increase dairy intake
- B. Avoid gluten-containing foods
- C. Decrease protein intake
- D. Increase fiber intake
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Avoid gluten-containing foods. For a child with celiac disease, it is crucial to eliminate gluten from their diet to manage the condition effectively. Gluten triggers an immune response in individuals with celiac disease, leading to symptoms and damage to the small intestine. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because increasing dairy intake, decreasing protein intake, or increasing fiber intake are not specific dietary modifications for managing celiac disease.
3. A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is dividing care for four clients. The nurse should identify which of the following situations as an ethical dilemma?
- A. A client who has a new colostomy refuses to take instructions from the ostomy therapist because she 'doesn't like him.'
- B. A surgeon who removed the wrong kidney during a surgical procedure refuses to take responsibility for her actions.
- C. The family of a client who has a terminal illness asks the provider not to tell the client the diagnosis.
- D. A client who has Crohn's disease reports that his prescription drug plan will not pay for his medications.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because an ethical dilemma involves conflicting moral principles. In this scenario, the family's request not to disclose the terminal diagnosis to the client raises the moral question of truth-telling and patient autonomy. Choice A does not present an ethical dilemma but rather a challenge in client compliance. Choice B involves professional responsibility and accountability, not an ethical dilemma. Choice D relates to financial concerns and insurance coverage, which do not constitute an ethical dilemma but rather a financial issue.
4. When preparing to discharge a male client who has been hospitalized for an adrenal crisis, the client expresses concern about having another crisis. He tells the nurse that he wants to stay in the hospital a few more days. Which intervention should the nurse implement?
- A. Administer antianxiety medication before providing discharge instructions
- B. Schedule a follow-up appointment for an outpatient psychosocial assessment
- C. Obtain a blood cortisol level before discharge
- D. Encourage the client to remain in the hospital for a few more days
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct intervention is to schedule a follow-up appointment for an outpatient psychosocial assessment. This option addresses the client's concerns and provides support for managing stress and preventing future crises, which is crucial for the client's long-term care. Administering antianxiety medication before providing discharge instructions (Choice A) may not effectively address the underlying concerns. Obtaining a blood cortisol level before discharge (Choice C) is important but not the priority in this situation. Encouraging the client to remain in the hospital for a few more days (Choice D) is not the best course of action as it may not address the client's anxiety and could potentially lead to other issues.
5. What intervention best meets a major developmental need of a newborn in the immediate postoperative period?
- A. Giving a pacifier to the newborn
- B. Placing a mobile over the newborn's crib
- C. Providing the newborn with a soft, cuddly toy
- D. Warming the newborn's formula before feeding
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is giving a pacifier to the newborn. Sucking is a natural reflex and a source of comfort for newborns, especially postoperatively. Offering a pacifier can help meet their developmental needs by providing comfort and a soothing mechanism. Placing a mobile over the crib (choice B) may provide visual stimulation but does not directly address the newborn's developmental needs for comfort and self-soothing. Providing a soft, cuddly toy (choice C) may offer some comfort but may not be as effective in meeting the specific developmental need for sucking postoperatively. Warming the newborn's formula before feeding (choice D) relates more to feeding practices than directly addressing a major developmental need in the postoperative period.