HESI Comprehensive RN Exam

HESI Comprehensive RN Exam

VERSION 4

• The nurse is correct in withholding an older adult client's dose of

nifedipine if which assessment finding is obtained?

• Blood pressure of 90/56 mm Hg
• Apical pulse rate of 68 beats/min
• Potassium level of 3.3 mEq/L
• Urine output of 200 mL in 4 hours

Rationale:

Nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker that causes a decrease in blood pressure. It should be withheld if the blood pressure is lowered, and 90/56 mm Hg is a low blood pressure for an adult male. A pulse rate <60 beats/min is an indication to withhold the drug. A potassium level of 3.3 mEq/L is low (normal, 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L), but this finding does not affect the administration of Procardia. Urine output of more than 30 mL/hr, or 120 mL in 4 hours, is normal. Although a 200-mL output in 4 hours is slightly less than normal and warrants follow-up, it is not an indication to withhold a nifedipine (Procardia) dose.

• Until the census on the obstetrics (OB) unit increases, an

unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) who usually works in labor and delivery and the newborn nursery is assigned to work on the postoperative unit. Which client would be best for the charge nurse to assign to this UAP?

• An adolescent who was readmitted to the

hospital because of a postoperative infection

• A woman with a new colostomy who

requires discharge teaching

• A woman who had a hip replacement and

may be transferred to the home care unit 1 / 4

• A man who had a cholecystectomy and

currently has a nasogastric tube set to intermittent suction

Rationale:

A hip replacement is considered a clean case, and transferring the client to another unit is likely to involve physically moving the client and her belongings. The charge nurse will be responsible for providing a report to the home care unit if the transfer occurs. The adolescent client is infected, and an employee who works on an OB unit should be assigned to clean cases in case the employee is required to return to the OB unit.This requires the skills of a registered nurse (RN) to do discharge teaching and provide emotional support. This may require skills beyond the level of this UAP.

• A very busy hospital unit has had several discharges and the

census is unusually low. What is the best way for the charge nurse to use the time of the nursing staff?

• Encourage staff to participate in online in-

service education.

• Assign staff to make sure that all

equipment is thoroughly cleaned.

• Ask which staff members would like to go

home for the remainder of the day.

• Notify the supervisor that the staff needs

additional assignments.

Rationale:

Online educational programs are available around the clock, so staff can engage in continuing education programs when the opportunity arises, such as during periods of low census. Option B is not the responsibility of the nursing staff. Option C is not the best use of staff and does not 2 / 4

use the extra time provided by the low census. The charge nurse should use the time to improve the unit, and requesting additional assignments is not necessary.

• When the administration at a large urban medical center decides to

establish a unit to care for clients with infectious diseases, such as ebola and the avian flu, several employees express fear related to caring for these clients. When choosing staff to work on this unit, which action is best for the nurse-manager to take?

• Make it clear that no one who is afraid to

care for clients with rare disorders will be permitted to work on the unit.

• Conduct an education program about

infectious diseases and then assess the staff's willingness to work with these clients.

• Introduce the staff to the family of a client

who has been treated for SARS and ask the staff to share their fears with this family.

• Assign staff based on the needs of the unit,

providing peer counseling for those staff members who express fear.

Rationale:

Fear is often related to a lack of knowledge and an education program about the relevant disorders would be appropriate, but after the education program, the nursing staff should be reassessed regarding their willingness to work with these clients. Option A is too authoritarian and does not permit education to play a role in reducing fears. Option C is likely to be intrusive to the family member. Arbitrary staffing without education does not reduce staff fears, even with the provision of peer counseling. 3 / 4

• The nurse is planning a community teaching program regarding the

use of folic acid to prevent neural tube birth defects. Which community group is likely to benefit most from this program?

• Parents of children with spina bifida
• High school girls in a health class
• Class of people interested in having

children

• Postpartum women attending a baby care

class

Rationale:

Folic acid is needed early in pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects; the group most likely to be considering pregnancy is option C. Parents with children who already have a neural tube defect such as spina bifida are not as invested in the content as option C. High school age students may have interest in the topic but as a group are less likely to anticipate the likelihood that problems could occur in their lives than option C.Option D may be interested if planning future pregnancies, but have higher learning priorities during the postpartum period.

• Staff on a cardiac unit consists of an RN, two practical nurses

(PNs), and one UAP. Team 1's assignment includes two clients who are both 1 day postangioplasty and two clients with unstable angina. Team 2's assignment includes all stable clients, but two clients are bedridden and incontinent. Which staffing plan represents the best use of available staff?

• Team 1: RN team leader, PN; team 2: PN

team leader, UAP

• Team 1: RN team leader, UAP; team 2: PN

team leader, PN

• Team 1: PN team leader, PN; team 2: RN

team leader, UAP

• / 4