HESI RN
Mental Health HESI
1. What assessment questions should the nurse ask when attempting to determine a teenager’s mental health resilience? Select all that apply.
- A. How did you cope when your father deployed with the Army for a year in Iraq?
- B. Who did you go to for advice while your father was away for a year in Iraq?
- C. How do you feel about talking to a mental health counselor?
- D. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The question 'How do you feel about talking to a mental health counselor?' is the most appropriate to assess the teenager's mental health resilience as it directly addresses their willingness to seek help and cope effectively. Choices A and B focus on coping mechanisms during a specific event, which may not reflect the teenager's overall resilience. Choice D is more related to future aspirations rather than assessing current mental health resilience.
2. A client with hyperthyroidism is admitted for total thyroidectomy. What is the nurse's priority post-operative intervention?
- A. Monitor the client's calcium levels for hypocalcemia.
- B. Monitor for signs of respiratory distress.
- C. Administer oral calcium supplements.
- D. Elevate the head of the bed to 45 degrees.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is to monitor the client's calcium levels for hypocalcemia. After a total thyroidectomy, there is a risk of accidental removal or damage to the parathyroid glands, leading to hypocalcemia. This complication can manifest within the first 24-48 hours post-op. Monitoring calcium levels is crucial to prevent serious complications such as tetany or seizures. While monitoring for respiratory distress is important, it is not the priority in this case. Administering oral calcium supplements should only be done based on the healthcare provider's prescription and after assessing the client's calcium levels. Elevating the head of the bed to 45 degrees is beneficial for respiratory function but is not the priority intervention for a client at risk for hypocalcemia post-thyroidectomy.
3. A client in a long term care facility complains of pain. The nurse collects data about the client's pain. The first step in pain assessment is for the nurse to
- A. have the client identify coping methods
- B. get the description of the location and intensity of the pain
- C. accept the client's report of pain
- D. determine the client's status of pain
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'get the description of the location and intensity of the pain.' When a client complains of pain, the initial step in pain assessment is to gather information about the location and intensity of the pain. This helps the nurse understand the nature of the pain and lays the groundwork for further assessment and management. Choice A is incorrect because identifying coping methods comes later in the assessment process. Choice C is incorrect as accepting the client's report of pain is important, but not the first step. Choice D is incorrect as determining the client's pain status also comes after gathering information about the pain.
4. A male client is admitted for treatment of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). Which nursing intervention is appropriate?
- A. Infusing I.V. fluids rapidly as ordered
- B. Encouraging increased oral intake
- C. Restricting fluids
- D. Administering glucose-containing I.V. fluids as ordered
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct nursing intervention for a male client with SIADH is to restrict fluids. In SIADH, there is excess release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), leading to water retention and dilutional hyponatremia. Restricting fluids helps prevent further dilutional hyponatremia by reducing water intake. Infusing I.V. fluids rapidly (choice A) would worsen the condition by adding more fluids, encouraging increased oral intake (choice B) is contraindicated as it adds more fluids, and administering glucose-containing I.V. fluids (choice D) is not a standard treatment for SIADH.
5. The healthcare provider is assessing a client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who is receiving erythropoietin therapy. Which clinical finding is most concerning?
- A. Increased fatigue
- B. Elevated blood pressure
- C. Elevated hemoglobin
- D. Low urine output
Correct answer: B
Rationale: In a client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) receiving erythropoietin therapy, elevated blood pressure is the most concerning finding. Elevated blood pressure can indicate worsening hypertension, which requires immediate intervention to prevent further damage to the kidneys and other organs. Increased fatigue (choice A) is a common symptom in CKD but may not be as acutely concerning as elevated blood pressure. Elevated hemoglobin (choice C) can be an expected outcome of erythropoietin therapy and is not necessarily concerning. Low urine output (choice D) is important to monitor in CKD but may not be as immediately concerning as elevated blood pressure in this context.