HESI LPN
HESI PN Exit Exam 2024
1. While caring for a client with a new tracheostomy, the nurse notices that the client is attempting to speak but is unable to. What should the nurse explain to the client regarding their inability to speak?
- A. Speaking is not possible because the tracheostomy tube blocks the vocal cords.
- B. The tracheostomy tube prevents air from reaching the vocal cords, making speech difficult.
- C. The client will regain the ability to speak once the tracheostomy tube is removed.
- D. The tracheostomy tube must be replaced with a speaking valve for the client to speak.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. The tracheostomy tube bypasses the vocal cords, preventing air from reaching them, which is necessary for speech. This makes speaking difficult but not impossible. Removing the tracheostomy tube does not automatically restore the ability to speak (choice C). While a speaking valve can be added later to allow speech, initially, the tracheostomy tube itself hinders air from reaching the vocal cords, making speech difficult (choice D is incorrect). Choice A is incorrect as the tracheostomy tube does not block the vocal cords directly; instead, it prevents air from reaching them.
2. A parent and 3-month-old infant are visiting the well-baby clinic for a routine examination. What should the nurse include in the accident prevention teaching plan?
- A. Remove small objects from the floor.
- B. Cover electric outlets with safety plugs.
- C. Remove toxic substances from low areas.
- D. Test the temperature of water before bathing.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Testing the temperature of water before bathing is crucial to prevent burns, which is a significant risk for infants due to their sensitive skin. Infants have delicate skin that can easily be burned by water that is too hot. Testing the water temperature before bathing ensures that the water is at a safe and comfortable level for the infant. While choices A, B, and C are also important in accident prevention, such as reducing choking hazards, preventing electric shocks, and avoiding poisoning, testing the water temperature before bathing is the most immediate and direct action to prevent harm to the infant during bathing.
3. Rubella, also called German measles, is a viral infection passed from the mother to the fetus that can cause birth defects such as deafness, intellectual disabilities, blindness, and heart disease in the embryo.
- A. Rubella
- B. Syphilis
- C. Cystic fibrosis
- D. Phenylketonuria
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Rubella, also known as German measles, is a viral infection that can lead to severe birth defects when contracted by a mother during pregnancy. Rubella is the correct answer because it is specifically associated with causing birth defects such as deafness, intellectual disabilities, blindness, and heart disease in the embryo. Syphilis (Choice B) can be passed from mother to fetus but does not cause the mentioned birth defects associated with Rubella. Cystic fibrosis (Choice C) and Phenylketonuria (Choice D) are genetic conditions and not infections transmitted from mother to fetus, making them incorrect choices in this context.
4. A parent tearfully tells a nurse, 'They think our child is developmentally delayed. We are thinking about investigating a preschool program for cognitively impaired children.' What is the nurse’s most appropriate response?
- A. Praise the parent for the decision and encourage the plan.
- B. Ask for more specific information related to the developmental delays.
- C. Advise the parent to have the healthcare provider help choose an appropriate program.
- D. Explain that this may be a premature action and the developmental delays could disappear.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The most appropriate response for the nurse in this situation is to ask for more specific information related to the developmental delays. By seeking additional details, the nurse can better understand the situation, offer appropriate support, and provide guidance tailored to the child's specific needs. Praising the parent or encouraging the plan without understanding the full context may not be beneficial. Advising the parent to have the healthcare provider help choose a program assumes the parent has not already involved the healthcare provider, which may not be the case. Explaining that the developmental delays could disappear is not appropriate as it may give false hope or minimize the parent's concerns.
5. After a discussion with the healthcare provider, the parents of an infant with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) ask the nurse to explain once again what PDA is. How should the nurse respond?
- A. The diameter of the aorta is enlarged.
- B. The wall between the right and left ventricles is open.
- C. It is a narrowing of the entrance to the pulmonary artery.
- D. It is a connection between the pulmonary artery and the aorta.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is an abnormal connection between the pulmonary artery and the aorta. In a fetus, the ductus arteriosus is a normal connection between these two vessels, allowing blood to bypass the lungs. However, it should close shortly after birth. When it remains open (patent), it leads to PDA. Choices A, B, and C do not accurately describe PDA. Choice A describes an enlarged aorta, choice B describes a ventricular septal defect, and choice C describes pulmonary stenosis, which are different cardiac conditions.