HESI Comprehensive Exam
questions well solved. (263
terms)
Enalapril maleate is prescribed for a hospitalized client. Which
assessment does the nurse perform as a priority before administering
the medication?
Checking the client's blood pressure
Checking the client's peripheral pulses
Checking the most recent potassium level
Checking the client's intake-and-output record for the last 24 hours -
Answer Checking the client's blood pressure
Rationale: Enalapril maleate is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)
inhibitor used to treat hypertension. One common side effect is
postural hypotension. Therefore the nurse would check the client's
blood pressure immediately before administering each dose. Checking
the client's peripheral pulses, the results of the most recent potassium
level, and the intake and output for the previous 24 hours are not
specifically associated with this mediation.
,HESI Comprehensive Exam
questions well solved. (263
terms)
A client is scheduled to undergo an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series,
and the nurse provides instructions to the client about the test. Which
statement by the client indicates a need for further instruction?
"The test will take about 30 minutes."
"I need to fast for 8 hours before the test."
"I need to drink citrate of magnesia the night before the test and give
myself a Fleet enema on the morning of the test."
"I need to take a laxative after the test is completed, because the liquid
that I'll have to drink for the test can be constipating." - Answer "I need
to drink citrate of magnesia the night before the test and give myself a
Fleet enema on the morning of the test."
Rationale: No special preparation is necessary before a GI series, except
that NPO (nothing by mouth) status must be maintained for 8 hours
before the test. An upper GI series involves visualization of the
,HESI Comprehensive Exam
questions well solved. (263
terms)
esophagus, duodenum, and upper jejunum by means of the use of a
contrast medium. It involves swallowing a contrast medium (usually
barium), which is administered in a flavored milkshake. Films are taken
at intervals during the test, which takes about 30 minutes. After an
upper GI series, the client is prescribed a laxative to hasten elimination
of the barium. Barium that remains in the colon may become hard and
difficult to expel, leading to fecal impaction.
A nurse on the evening shift checks a primary health care provider's
prescriptions and notes that the dose of a prescribed medication is
higher than the normal dose. The nurse calls the primary health care
provider's answering service and is told that the primary health care
provider is off for the night and will be available in the morning. What
should the nurse do next?
Call the nursing supervisor
, HESI Comprehensive Exam
questions well solved. (263
terms)
Ask the answering service to contact the on-call primary health care
provider
Withhold the medication until the primary health care provider can be
reached in the morning
Administer the medication but consult the primary health care provider
when he becomes available - Answer Ask the answering service to
contact the on-call primary health care provider
Rationale: The nurse has a duty to protect the client from harm. A
nurse who believes that a primary health care provider's prescription
may be in error is responsible for clarifying the prescription before
carrying it out. Therefore the nurse would not administer the
medication; instead, the nurse would withhold the medication until the
dose can be clarified. The nurse would not wait until the next morning
to obtain clarification. It is premature to call the nursing supervisor.
questions well solved. (263
terms)
Enalapril maleate is prescribed for a hospitalized client. Which
assessment does the nurse perform as a priority before administering
the medication?
Checking the client's blood pressure
Checking the client's peripheral pulses
Checking the most recent potassium level
Checking the client's intake-and-output record for the last 24 hours -
Answer Checking the client's blood pressure
Rationale: Enalapril maleate is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)
inhibitor used to treat hypertension. One common side effect is
postural hypotension. Therefore the nurse would check the client's
blood pressure immediately before administering each dose. Checking
the client's peripheral pulses, the results of the most recent potassium
level, and the intake and output for the previous 24 hours are not
specifically associated with this mediation.
,HESI Comprehensive Exam
questions well solved. (263
terms)
A client is scheduled to undergo an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series,
and the nurse provides instructions to the client about the test. Which
statement by the client indicates a need for further instruction?
"The test will take about 30 minutes."
"I need to fast for 8 hours before the test."
"I need to drink citrate of magnesia the night before the test and give
myself a Fleet enema on the morning of the test."
"I need to take a laxative after the test is completed, because the liquid
that I'll have to drink for the test can be constipating." - Answer "I need
to drink citrate of magnesia the night before the test and give myself a
Fleet enema on the morning of the test."
Rationale: No special preparation is necessary before a GI series, except
that NPO (nothing by mouth) status must be maintained for 8 hours
before the test. An upper GI series involves visualization of the
,HESI Comprehensive Exam
questions well solved. (263
terms)
esophagus, duodenum, and upper jejunum by means of the use of a
contrast medium. It involves swallowing a contrast medium (usually
barium), which is administered in a flavored milkshake. Films are taken
at intervals during the test, which takes about 30 minutes. After an
upper GI series, the client is prescribed a laxative to hasten elimination
of the barium. Barium that remains in the colon may become hard and
difficult to expel, leading to fecal impaction.
A nurse on the evening shift checks a primary health care provider's
prescriptions and notes that the dose of a prescribed medication is
higher than the normal dose. The nurse calls the primary health care
provider's answering service and is told that the primary health care
provider is off for the night and will be available in the morning. What
should the nurse do next?
Call the nursing supervisor
, HESI Comprehensive Exam
questions well solved. (263
terms)
Ask the answering service to contact the on-call primary health care
provider
Withhold the medication until the primary health care provider can be
reached in the morning
Administer the medication but consult the primary health care provider
when he becomes available - Answer Ask the answering service to
contact the on-call primary health care provider
Rationale: The nurse has a duty to protect the client from harm. A
nurse who believes that a primary health care provider's prescription
may be in error is responsible for clarifying the prescription before
carrying it out. Therefore the nurse would not administer the
medication; instead, the nurse would withhold the medication until the
dose can be clarified. The nurse would not wait until the next morning
to obtain clarification. It is premature to call the nursing supervisor.