HESI RN
HESI RN Exit Exam 2023 Capstone
1. The nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection to an adult client. Which site should the nurse select?
- A. Deltoid muscle
- B. Ventrogluteal muscle
- C. Vastus lateralis muscle
- D. Dorsogluteal muscle
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The ventrogluteal site is preferred for intramuscular injections in adults because it is free from major blood vessels and nerves, reducing the risk of injury. The deltoid muscle can be used for smaller volumes of medication, primarily vaccines. The vastus lateralis muscle is commonly used in infants, toddlers, and young children. The dorsogluteal muscle site is discouraged due to its proximity to the sciatic nerve, increasing the risk of injury or nerve damage.
2. The nurse is assessing a client 2 hours postoperatively following an appendectomy. The nurse should intervene for which abnormal finding?
- A. Heart rate of 88 beats per minute
- B. Blood pressure of 100/60
- C. Oxygen saturation of 94%
- D. Respiratory rate of 16
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C. Oxygen saturation levels below 95% indicate hypoxia and require immediate intervention. A heart rate of 88 beats per minute, a blood pressure of 100/60, and a respiratory rate of 16 are within normal ranges and do not require immediate intervention. Oxygen saturation is a critical parameter reflecting the client's oxygenation status.
3. Nurse Ronn is assessing a client with possible Cushing's syndrome. In a client with Cushing's syndrome, the nurse would expect to find:
- A. Hypotension.
- B. Thick, coarse skin.
- C. Deposits of adipose tissue in the trunk and dorsocervical area.
- D. Weight gain in arms and legs.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: In Cushing's syndrome, the characteristic features include central obesity with deposits of adipose tissue in the trunk and dorsocervical area, often referred to as a 'buffalo hump.' Hypotension (Choice A) is not typically associated with Cushing's syndrome; instead, hypertension is more common. Thick, coarse skin (Choice B) is seen in conditions like hypothyroidism, not specifically in Cushing's syndrome. Weight gain in the arms and legs (Choice D) is not a typical finding in Cushing's syndrome; rather, weight gain is more prominent in the central areas of the body.
4. The nurse is preparing a discharge teaching plan for a liver transplant client. Which instruction is most important to include in this plan?
- A. Ensure daily follow-up with the healthcare provider
- B. Take immunosuppressant medications as prescribed
- C. Avoid crowds for the first two months after surgery
- D. Return to work in three months
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The most critical instruction to include in the discharge teaching plan for a liver transplant client is to take immunosuppressant medications as prescribed. This is vital to prevent organ rejection and ensure the success of the transplant. While ensuring daily follow-up with the healthcare provider is important for monitoring progress, avoiding crowds for the first two months after surgery helps reduce the risk of infections but is not as crucial as medication adherence. Returning to work in three months is a consideration but not the most important aspect immediately post-transplant.
5. On admission to the Emergency Department, a female client who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder 3 years ago reports that this morning, she took a handful of medications and left a suicide note for her family. Which information is most important for the nurse to obtain?
- A. Client's current mood and affect
- B. When the client last took medications for bipolar disorder
- C. History of previous suicide attempts
- D. Details of the medications ingested
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Determining the specific medications ingested is the priority for guiding immediate treatment in the Emergency Department. Knowing when the client last took medications and her current mood are also important, but the ingested medications are the most urgent information needed. The client's current mood and affect are crucial for assessing her immediate state, but the priority is to identify the substances she ingested to provide appropriate interventions. While understanding the history of previous suicide attempts is relevant for assessing the client's risk, the immediate focus should be on the medications taken during this specific incident.