HESI RN
Community Health HESI 2023 Quizlet
1. A client with a history of coronary artery disease is admitted with chest pain. Which finding requires immediate intervention?
- A. Heart rate of 90 beats per minute.
- B. Blood pressure of 130/80 mm Hg.
- C. Respiratory rate of 20 breaths per minute.
- D. Chest pain radiating to the left arm.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. Chest pain radiating to the left arm can be a sign of myocardial infarction (heart attack) and requires immediate intervention. This symptom is known as a classic presentation of a heart attack and warrants urgent medical attention to prevent further cardiac damage. Choices A, B, and C are not directly indicative of an acute cardiac event and may not require immediate intervention in this scenario. While heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate are important vital signs to monitor, they do not specifically indicate the urgency associated with chest pain radiating to the left arm in a patient with a history of coronary artery disease.
2. The healthcare provider is caring for a client with hyperparathyroidism. Which laboratory result requires immediate intervention?
- A. Serum calcium of 11 mg/dL.
- B. Serum phosphorus of 3 mg/dL.
- C. Serum magnesium of 1.8 mg/dL.
- D. Serum albumin of 4 g/dL.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: A serum calcium level of 11 mg/dL indicates hypercalcemia, which can be a complication of hyperparathyroidism and requires immediate intervention. Hypercalcemia can lead to serious complications such as cardiac dysrhythmias, renal failure, and neurologic symptoms. Monitoring and managing serum calcium levels are crucial in clients with hyperparathyroidism. Serum phosphorus, magnesium, and albumin levels are important to assess in clients with hyperparathyroidism, but they do not require immediate intervention as hypercalcemia poses a more urgent risk.
3. During a home visit, the nurse observes an elderly client with disabilities slip and fall. What action should the nurse take first?
- A. provide the client with 4 ounces of orange juice
- B. call 911 to summon emergency assistance
- C. check the client for lacerations or fractures
- D. assess the client's blood sugar level
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take first after an elderly client with disabilities slips and falls is to check the client for lacerations or fractures. This is crucial to assess the extent of injuries and provide appropriate medical attention promptly. Option A, providing orange juice, is not a priority in this situation and does not address the potential injuries. While calling 911 (Option B) may be necessary, assessing for immediate injuries takes precedence. Assessing the client's blood sugar level (Option D) is not the immediate priority after a fall unless there is a specific indication or suspicion of hypoglycemia.
4. During a home visit, the nurse observes that an elderly client has numerous bruises on her arms and appears fearful of her caregiver. What should the nurse do first?
- A. report the findings to adult protective services
- B. ask the client how she got the bruises
- C. document the observations in the client's medical record
- D. discuss the observations with the caregiver
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The initial step for the nurse should be to ask the client how she got the bruises. This approach allows the nurse to directly assess the situation, gather information from the client, and potentially uncover signs of abuse. Reporting to adult protective services should come after obtaining more details from the client to ensure appropriate action. Documenting the observations is important but should follow gathering information from the client. Discussing the observations with the caregiver may not be appropriate as the caregiver could be the source of abuse, and involving them first may jeopardize the client's safety.
5. The nurse is caring for a client with cirrhosis of the liver. Which laboratory result requires immediate intervention?
- A. Serum albumin of 3.5 g/dL.
- B. Prothrombin time (PT) of 12 seconds.
- C. Hemoglobin of 10 g/dL.
- D. Serum ammonia level of 180 mcg/dL.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D, the serum ammonia level of 180 mcg/dL. An elevated serum ammonia level indicates hepatic dysfunction and can lead to hepatic encephalopathy, which is a medical emergency requiring immediate intervention. Options A, B, and C are within normal ranges or slightly abnormal values for clients with cirrhosis and do not pose an immediate threat. Serum albumin levels may indicate malnutrition, prothrombin time may reflect liver synthetic function, and hemoglobin levels can be affected by various factors but do not require immediate intervention in this scenario.
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