HESI LPN
Medical Surgical HESI
1. Twelve hours following a unilateral total knee replacement, a client reports being unable to sleep because of severe incisional pain. What is the best initial nursing action?
- A. Administer a prescribed sedative.
- B. Reposition the client for comfort.
- C. Apply ice packs to the surgical site.
- D. Instruct the client in the use of the prescribed patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Instructing the client in the use of the PCA pump is the best initial nursing action for managing severe incisional pain after knee replacement surgery. The PCA pump allows the client to self-administer pain medication effectively, promoting better pain management. Administering a sedative may mask the pain temporarily but doesn't address the root cause. Repositioning the client for comfort or applying ice packs may provide some relief but doesn't address the need for effective pain control as the PCA pump does.
2. A unit of Girl Scouts went hiking over Mt. Makiling. While resting, scout Jaymee, 14 years of age, complained of a sudden moderately bearable toothache. In checking their first-aid kit, they found none of mefenamic acid, BUT they luckily chanced upon a home that uses alternative pain-relieving medicinal plants. What would this plant be?
- A. Bawang
- B. Lagundi
- C. Sambong
- D. Tsaang gubat
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A, Bawang (garlic), which is traditionally used for its pain-relieving properties. While Lagundi, Sambong, and Tsaang gubat are also medicinal plants with various health benefits, they are not specifically known for their pain-relieving properties like garlic.
3. A 3-year-old child is brought to the clinic by his grandmother to be seen for 'scratching his bottom and wetting the bed at night.' Based on these complaints, the nurse would initially assess for which problem?
- A. Allergies
- B. Scabies
- C. Regression
- D. Pinworms
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D, Pinworms. Pinworms are a common cause of itching around the anal area, especially at night, in young children. Scratching the bottom and bedwetting can be indicative of a pinworm infection. Allergies (Choice A) are less likely given the symptoms described. Scabies (Choice B) may cause itching but is less common in causing bedwetting. Regression (Choice C) is not a common cause of these specific symptoms in a 3-year-old child.
4. A nurse enters a client's room and finds her on the floor. The client's roommate reports that the client was trying to get out of bed and fell over the bedrail onto the floor. Which of the following statements should the nurse document about this incident?
- A. ''Incident report completed.''
- B. ''Client climbed over the bedrails.''
- C. ''Client found lying on the floor.''
- D. ''Client was trying to get out of bed.''
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: ''Client found lying on the floor.'' In this situation, the nurse should document factual, objective information without making assumptions. Stating that the client was found lying on the floor directly reflects what was observed. Choice A, ''Incident report completed,'' is not a statement about the incident itself and does not provide relevant information. Choice B, ''Client climbed over the bedrails,'' introduces unnecessary speculation and assumption which should be avoided when documenting incidents. Choice D, ''Client was trying to get out of bed,'' focuses on the client's behavior rather than the objective observation of the client's position when found.
5. The nurse is admitting a client from the post-anesthesia unit to the postoperative surgical care unit. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
- A. Advance to clear liquids as tolerated
- B. Straight catheterization if unable to void
- C. Administer Cefazolin 1 gram IVPQ q6 hours
- D. Obtain a complete blood cell count (CBC) in the morning
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is to perform straight catheterization if the client is unable to void. This action is essential to prevent urinary retention and its potential complications following anesthesia. Option A, advancing to clear liquids, is not the priority upon admission as the focus should be on urinary function first. Option C involves administering an antibiotic, which is important but not the immediate priority. Option D, obtaining a CBC, can be done later and is not as crucial as ensuring proper urinary function postoperatively.