HESI LPN
HESI Fundamentals Practice Questions
1. The healthcare professional is preparing to administer a tuberculin skin test. Which site is most appropriate for this injection?
- A. Deltoid muscle
- B. Vastus lateralis muscle
- C. Abdomen
- D. Inner forearm
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The inner forearm is the most appropriate site for administering a tuberculin skin test. This test requires an intradermal injection, which is administered just below the surface of the skin. The inner forearm provides a flat, easily accessible surface for this type of injection. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because the tuberculin skin test should not be administered into a muscle (deltoid muscle or vastus lateralis muscle) or into the abdomen. The test requires precise placement within the dermal layer of the skin on the inner forearm to accurately assess for a reaction.
2. A 22-year-old male client is admitted to the emergency center following a suicide attempt. His records reveal that this is his third suicide attempt in the past two years. He is conscious, but does not respond to verbal commands for treatment. Which assessment finding should prompt the nurse to prepare the client for gastric lavage?
- A. He ingested the drug 3 hours prior to admission to the emergency center.
- B. The family reports that he took an entire bottle of acetaminophen (Tylenol).
- C. He is unresponsive to instructions and is unable to cooperate with emetic therapy.
- D. Those with repeated suicide attempts desire punishment to relieve their guilt.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because the client's unresponsiveness and inability to cooperate with emetic therapy indicate the need for gastric lavage. Gastric lavage is a procedure used to remove toxic substances from the stomach in cases where the patient is unresponsive or unable to cooperate. Choice A is incorrect as the time of ingestion alone does not indicate the need for gastric lavage. Choice B, although indicating a significant overdose, does not directly necessitate gastric lavage. Choice D is incorrect as it provides information about the possible psychological motivation for repeated suicide attempts, but it is not directly related to the immediate need for gastric lavage in this scenario.
3. Which patient is exercising their right to autonomy in the context of patient rights?
- A. An 86-year-old female who remains independent in terms of the activities of daily living.
- B. An unemancipated 16-year-old who chooses to not have an intravenous line.
- C. A 32-year-old who does not need the help of the nurse to bathe and groom themselves.
- D. A 99-year-old who wants CPR despite the fact that the nurse and doctor do not think that it would be successful.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. A 99-year-old exercising their right to autonomy in the context of patient rights by choosing CPR. Autonomy in healthcare refers to the patient's right to make their own decisions about their care, even if healthcare providers may disagree. In this scenario, the 99-year-old patient is exercising autonomy by making an informed choice about their medical treatment, despite healthcare professionals having a different opinion. Choices A, B, and C do not directly demonstrate the exercise of autonomy in decision-making regarding medical treatment, making them incorrect.
4. What is the most common cause of shock (hypoperfusion) in infants and children?
- A. infection
- B. cardiac failure
- C. accidental poisoning
- D. severe allergic reaction
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Infection is the leading cause of shock in infants and children due to their heightened vulnerability to sepsis. Infants and children possess developing immune systems, rendering them more susceptible to infections that can progress to septic shock. While cardiac failure is a severe condition, it is not as commonly the primary cause of shock in this age group. Accidental poisoning, though a potential shock inducer, is less prevalent in infants and children compared to infections. Severe allergic reactions, though significant, are not as frequent as infections in precipitating shock in infants and children.
5. Which situation is a violation of client confidentiality, as described in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)?
- A. A sign-in sheet kept at the front desk listing clients' last names and the time of their arrival
- B. A nurse's handwritten notes from a telephone report discarded in the office wastebasket
- C. A computer monitor screen located at the nurse's station in a high-traffic area
- D. Privileged Health Information (PHI) given to an ambulance driver for the transfer of a client
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Choice C is a violation of client confidentiality as it exposes patient information to unauthorized individuals due to its location in a high-traffic area. HIPAA regulations require that electronic protected health information (ePHI) be safeguarded against unauthorized access, making the situation described in choice C a violation. Choices A, B, and D do not directly involve the exposure of patient information to unauthorized individuals. While choices A and B may pose some risks, they are not as severe as the direct exposure described in choice C. Choice D involves sharing information with an ambulance driver for a legitimate purpose, which does not violate HIPAA if done securely and in compliance with regulations.