HESI LPN
CAT Exam Practice
1. After a sudden loss of consciousness, a female client is taken to the ED, and initial assessment indicates that her blood glucose level is critically low. Once her glucose level is stabilized, the client reports that she was recently diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and is being treated at an outpatient clinic. Which intervention is more important to include in this client’s discharge plan?
- A. Describe the importance of maintaining stable blood glucose levels.
- B. Encourage a balanced and nutritious diet.
- C. Reinforce the need to continue outpatient treatment.
- D. Educate on the risks of untreated anorexia nervosa.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Continuing outpatient treatment is crucial for managing anorexia nervosa and preventing future complications. Reinforcing the need to continue outpatient treatment ensures ongoing support, monitoring, and therapy for the client's anorexia nervosa. Describing the importance of maintaining stable blood glucose levels (Choice A) is relevant but does not address the underlying eating disorder directly. Encouraging a balanced and nutritious diet (Choice B) is important; however, specific dietary recommendations should be tailored to the individual's condition by healthcare providers. Educating on the risks of untreated anorexia nervosa (Choice D) is informative but does not provide a direct actionable step for the client's immediate discharge plan, unlike the importance of continuing outpatient treatment.
2. Which instruction is most important for the client who receives a new prescription for risedronate sodium to treat osteoporosis?
- A. Remain upright for 30 minutes after taking the medication
- B. Increase intake of foods rich in vitamin D
- C. Begin a low-impact exercise routine
- D. Take the medication with a full glass of water
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The most important instruction for a client receiving risedronate sodium to treat osteoporosis is to remain upright for 30 minutes after taking the medication. Risedronate sodium can cause esophageal irritation, and staying upright helps prevent this side effect. While increasing vitamin D intake, starting a low-impact exercise routine, and taking the medication with a full glass of water are all beneficial for managing osteoporosis, the immediate need is to prevent esophageal irritation caused by risedronate sodium.
3. A client has had several episodes of clear, watery diarrhea that started yesterday. What action should the nurse implement?
- A. Administer a prescribed PRN antiemetic
- B. Assess the client for the presence of hemorrhoids
- C. Check the client’s hemoglobin level
- D. Review the client’s current list of medications
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to implement in a client experiencing clear, watery diarrhea is to review the client's current list of medications. Certain medications can cause diarrhea as a side effect, so identifying any potential culprits is essential. Administering an antiemetic (Choice A) is not appropriate for diarrhea, as antiemetics are used to control nausea and vomiting, not diarrhea. Assessing for hemorrhoids (Choice B) is not the priority when the client is experiencing watery diarrhea; addressing the root cause is crucial. Checking the client’s hemoglobin level (Choice C) is not the immediate action needed for this situation as it does not directly address the cause of diarrhea.
4. The school nurse is screening students for spinal abnormalities and instructs each student to stand up and then touch their toes. Which finding indicates that a student should be referred for scoliosis evaluation?
- A. Inability to touch their toes
- B. Asymmetry of the shoulders when standing upright
- C. Audible crepitus when bending
- D. An exaggerated upper thoracic convex curvature
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Asymmetry of the shoulders when standing upright is a common indicator of scoliosis. This finding suggests a possible spinal abnormality and should prompt further evaluation. Choices A, C, and D are not specific indicators of scoliosis. Inability to touch their toes may indicate flexibility issues or tightness in the hamstrings. Audible crepitus when bending may suggest joint degeneration or inflammation. An exaggerated upper thoracic convex curvature could indicate poor posture or other spinal abnormalities but is not directly indicative of scoliosis.
5. To prevent aspiration in a client on mechanical ventilation receiving continuous enteral feedings through a nasogastric tube, which intervention is most important for the nurse to implement?
- A. Verify the feeding tube position with a daily chest x-ray
- B. Maintain head of bed elevated while enteral feeding is infusing
- C. Check feeding tube placement with air bolus prior to use
- D. Aspirate stomach contents every 4 hours to assess residuals
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The most important intervention to prevent aspiration in a client receiving continuous enteral feedings through a nasogastric tube while on mechanical ventilation is to maintain the head of the bed elevated while the feeding is infusing. This position helps reduce the risk of regurgitation and aspiration. Options A, C, and D are not as crucial as maintaining proper positioning to prevent aspiration. Verifying tube position with a daily chest x-ray is important but not the most crucial. Checking tube placement with an air bolus and aspirating stomach contents are important procedures but do not directly address the prevention of aspiration during enteral feedings.
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