HESI LPN
Adult Health Exam 1
1. The nurse is assessing a client who has just received a blood transfusion. The client reports chills and back pain. What is the nurse's priority action?
- A. Slow the rate of transfusion.
- B. Administer an antipyretic.
- C. Stop the transfusion immediately.
- D. Notify the healthcare provider.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Stop the transfusion immediately. Chills and back pain are indicative of a possible transfusion reaction, which is a critical situation. Stopping the transfusion is crucial to prevent further complications and ensure the client's safety. Slowing the rate of transfusion (Choice A) is not sufficient in this case as immediate action is required. Administering an antipyretic (Choice B) may help with fever but does not address the potential severe reaction. Notifying the healthcare provider (Choice D) can be done after stopping the transfusion, but the priority is to halt the infusion to prevent harm.
2. Before administering an intramuscular injection, the nurse's finger is stuck with the needle. Which action should the nurse take?
- A. Go to the emergency room to have blood drawn
- B. Prepare the medication using a new syringe
- C. Apply clean gloves before giving the medication
- D. Review the medical history in the client's chart
Correct answer: B
Rationale: In this scenario, if the nurse's finger is stuck with the needle before administering the injection, the correct action is to prepare the medication using a new syringe. This step is crucial to prevent contamination and ensure the safety of the patient. Going to the emergency room to have blood drawn is unnecessary and does not address the immediate issue of contamination. Applying clean gloves is important for infection control but does not address the potential contamination from the needlestick. Reviewing the medical history in the client's chart is important for overall patient care but is not the priority in this situation where immediate action is required to prevent harm.
3. When assessing the respiratory system for complications of immobility, what action should the nurse take?
- A. Inspect chest wall movements primarily during the expiratory cycle.
- B. Auscultate the entire lung region to assess lung sounds.
- C. Focus auscultation on the upper lung fields.
- D. Assess the patient at least every 4 hours.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct action for the nurse when assessing the respiratory system for complications of immobility is to auscultate the entire lung region. This approach allows the nurse to identify any diminished breath sounds, crackles, or wheezes that may indicate respiratory issues. Inspecting chest wall movements primarily during the expiratory cycle (Choice A) may not provide a comprehensive assessment of lung sounds. Focusing auscultation on the upper lung fields (Choice C) may miss important findings in the lower lung fields. Assessing the patient at least every 4 hours (Choice D) is important for monitoring overall patient condition but does not specifically address the assessment of respiratory complications related to immobility.
4. An infant is diagnosed with Hirschsprung disease. What nursing intervention is essential before surgery?
- A. Administering antibiotics
- B. Ensuring bowel rest
- C. Performing regular enemas
- D. Maintaining NPO status
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct nursing intervention essential before surgery for an infant with Hirschsprung disease is maintaining NPO (nothing by mouth) status. This is important to prevent aspiration during and after the surgical procedure. Administering antibiotics (Choice A) may be necessary in some cases but is not the priority intervention before surgery. Ensuring bowel rest (Choice B) is not directly related to preparing for surgery and may not be the most critical intervention. Performing regular enemas (Choice C) is not recommended before surgery for Hirschsprung disease as it can aggravate the condition.
5. Following morning care, a client with C-5 spinal cord injury who is sitting in a wheelchair becomes flushed and complains of a headache. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
- A. Check for any kinks or obstructions in the client’s Foley tubing
- B. Assess the client’s blood pressure every 15 minutes
- C. Administer a prescribed PRN dose of hydralazine (Apresoline)
- D. Educate the client on recognizing symptoms of dysreflexia
Correct answer: B
Rationale: In a client with a C-5 spinal cord injury experiencing flushing and a headache, the priority intervention is to assess the client's blood pressure every 15 minutes. These symptoms could indicate autonomic dysreflexia, a potentially life-threatening condition. Assessing the blood pressure is crucial to identify and address this emergency situation promptly. Checking for kinks or obstructions in the Foley tubing (Choice A) is important but not the priority in this scenario. Administering hydralazine (Choice C) without knowing the blood pressure could be harmful as it may lead to a sudden drop in blood pressure. Educating the client on recognizing symptoms of dysreflexia (Choice D) is important for long-term management but is not the immediate action needed in this acute situation.