HESI RN
HESI Medical Surgical Exam
1. Which of the following medications is commonly prescribed for hypertension?
- A. Atenolol
- B. Aspirin
- C. Ibuprofen
- D. Metformin
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is Atenolol. Atenolol is a beta-blocker commonly prescribed to manage hypertension due to its ability to reduce the heart rate and lower blood pressure. Options B, C, and D are incorrect because aspirin, ibuprofen, and metformin are not typically used as first-line treatments for hypertension. Aspirin is more commonly used for its antiplatelet effects, ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, and metformin is primarily used for managing diabetes.
2. During spring break, a young adult presents to the urgent care clinic and reports a stiff neck, a fever for the past 6 hours, and a headache. Which intervention is most important for the nurse to implement first?
- A. Initiate isolation precautions
- B. Administer an antipyretic
- C. Draw blood cultures
- D. Prepare for lumbar puncture
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is to initiate isolation precautions. This is the priority action because the patient presents with symptoms that could be indicative of meningitis, an infectious disease that requires isolation to prevent its spread. Administering an antipyretic (Choice B) may help manage the fever but does not address the need for isolation. Drawing blood cultures (Choice C) and preparing for a lumbar puncture (Choice D) are important steps in diagnosing meningitis but should come after initiating isolation precautions to prevent potential transmission of the infection to others.
3. An emergency department nurse assesses a client with a history of urinary incontinence who presents with extreme dry mouth, constipation, and an inability to void. Which question should the nurse ask first?
- A. Are you drinking plenty of water?
- B. What medications are you taking?
- C. Have you tried laxatives or enemas?
- D. Has this type of thing ever happened before?
Correct answer: B
Rationale: In this scenario, the client's symptoms of dry mouth, constipation, and inability to void are indicative of anticholinergic side effects, which can be caused by medications like propantheline (Pro-Banthine) commonly used to treat incontinence. The first question the nurse should ask is about the client's medications to determine if they are taking anticholinergic drugs. This information is crucial as it can help differentiate between a simple side effect or a potential overdose. Asking about water intake (Choice A) may be relevant later but is not the priority in this situation. Questioning about laxatives or enemas (Choice C) and past occurrences (Choice D) are not as pertinent initially as identifying the client's current medication status.
4. A woman has been scheduled for a routine mammogram. What should the nurse tell the client?
- A. That mammography takes about 1 hour
- B. Not to eat or drink on the morning of the test
- C. That there is no discomfort associated with the procedure
- D. That deodorants, powders, or creams used in the axillary or breast area must be washed off before the test
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. The nurse should instruct the client to avoid using deodorants, powders, or creams on the day of the mammogram. These products used in the axillary or breast area can interfere with the mammogram results and must be washed off before the test. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because mammography typically takes less than 30 minutes, there is no need for fasting before the test, and some discomfort may be experienced during the procedure.
5. A nurse is suctioning a client through a tracheostomy tube. During the procedure, the client begins to cough, and the nurse hears a wheeze. The nurse tries to remove the suction catheter from the client’s trachea but is unable to do so. What should the nurse do first?
- A. Call a code
- B. Contact the physician
- C. Administer a bronchodilator
- D. Disconnect the suction source from the catheter
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Inability to remove a suction catheter is a critical situation that may indicate the presence of bronchospasm and bronchoconstriction, as evidenced by the client coughing and wheezing. The immediate action for the nurse is to disconnect the suction source from the catheter, allowing the catheter to remain in the trachea. By doing so, the nurse can then connect the oxygen source to the catheter to provide essential oxygenation to the client. Contacting the physician is necessary to notify them of the situation and to obtain further orders, typically for an inhaled bronchodilator to relieve the bronchospasm. Administering a bronchodilator without physician's orders is not within the nurse's scope of practice and should not be the first action. Calling a code would be excessive at this point and should only be done if the client's condition deteriorates and immediate resuscitation is required.
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