Critical Care HESI Practice Questions k k k k
a Answer )-
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The nurse is providing postprocedure care to a client who had a cardiac catheterizati
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on. The client begins to manifest signs and symptoms associated with embolization.
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Which action should the nurse take?
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a. Notify the primary healthcare provider immediately
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b. Apply a warm, moist compress to the incision site
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c. Increase the intravenous fluid rate by 20 mL/hr
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d. Monitor vital signs more frequently k k k k
b Answer )-
k k
A nurse observes a window washer falling 25 feet (7.6 m) to the ground. The nurse r
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ushes to the scene and determines that the person is in cardiopulmonary arrest. What
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should the nurse do first?
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a. Feel for a pulse k k k
b. Begin chest compressions k k
c. Leave to call for assistance k k k k
d. Perform the abdominal thrust maneuver k k k k
d Answer )- A client reports left-
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sided chest pain after playing racquetball. The client is hospitalized and diagnosed w
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ith left pneumothorax. When assessing the client's left chest area, the nurse expects t
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o identify which finding?
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a. Dull sound on percussion
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b. Vocal fremitus on palpation k k k
,c. Rales with rhonchi on auscultation
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d. Absence of breath sounds on auscultation
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c Answer )- A client is admitted to the hospital with partial- and full-
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thickness burns of the chest and face sustained while trying to extinguish a brush fire.
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kWhich is the nurse's priority concern?
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a. Loss of skin integrity caused by the burns
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b. Potential infection as a result of the burn injury
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c. Inadequate gas exchange caused by smoke inhalationk k k k k k
d. Decreased fluid volume because of the depth of the burns
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b Answer )-
k k
During the first 48 hours after a client has sustained a thermal injury, which conditions s
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hould the nurse assess for?
k k k k
a. Hypokalemia and hyponatremia k k
b. Hyperkalemia and hyponatremia k k
c. Hypokalemia and hypernatremia k k
d. Hyperkalemia and hypernatremia k k
a Answer )-
k k
A nurse is assessing a client's ECG reading. The client's atrial and ventricular heart r
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ates are equal at 88 beats per min. The PR interval is 0.14 seconds, and the QRS widt
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h is 0.10 seconds. Rhythm is regular with normal P waves and QRS complexes. How
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will the nurse interpret this rhythm?
k k k k k k
a. Normal sinus rhythm k k
b. Sinus tachycardia k
,c. Sinus bradycardia k
d. Sinus arrhythmia k
b Answer )-
k k
The nurse is caring for a client with a diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis. Which is the
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priority concern of the nurse when caring for this client?
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a. Fluid volume k
b. Skin integrity k
c. Physical mobility k
d. Urinary elimination k
c Answer )-
k k
A client who had extensive pelvic surgery 24 hours ago becomes cyanotic, is gaspin
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g for breath, and reports right-sided chest pain. What should the nurse do first?
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a. Obtain vital signs k k
b. Initiate a cardiac arrest code
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c. Administer oxygen using a face mask k k k k k
d. Encourage the use of an incentive spirometer k k k k k k
c Answer )-
k k
A nurse is caring for a client with severe burns. The nurse determines that this client i
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s at risk for hypovolemic shock. Which physiologic finding supports the nurse's con
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clusion?
a. Decreased rate of glomerular filtration k k k k
b. Excessive blood loss through the burned tissues k k k k k k
, c. Plasma proteins moving out of the intravascular compartment
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d. Sodium retention occurring as a result of the aldosterone mechanism
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a Answer )-
k k
The nurse is caring for a client with burns and reviews the client's laboratory results:
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blood urea nitrogen (BUN), 30 mg/dL (10.2 mmol/L); creatinine, 2.4 mg/dL (184 m
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cmol/L); serum potassium, 6.3 mEq/L (6.3 mmol/L);
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pH, 7.1; Po 2, 90 mm Hg; and hemoglobin (Hgb), 7.4 g/dL (74 mmol/L). Which conditio
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n does the nurse suspect the client has based upon these findings?
k k k k k k k k k k k
a. Azotemia
b. Hypokalemia
c. Metabolic alkalosis k
d. Respiratory alkalosis k
d Answer )-
k k
A nurse is caring for a client who experienced serious burns in a fire. Which relation
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k
ship between a client's burned body surface area and fluid loss should the nurse consi
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der when evaluating fluid loss in a client with burns?
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a. Equal
b. Unrelated
c. Inversely related k
d. Directly proportional k
c Answer )-
k k
A burn client is receiving the open method for wound treatment. Which information
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will the nurse explain to the client?
k k k k k k
a. Bathing will not be permitted. k k k k
a Answer )-
k k
The nurse is providing postprocedure care to a client who had a cardiac catheterizati
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k
on. The client begins to manifest signs and symptoms associated with embolization.
k k k k k k k k k k k k
Which action should the nurse take?
k k k k k
a. Notify the primary healthcare provider immediately
k k k k k
b. Apply a warm, moist compress to the incision site
k k k k k k k k
c. Increase the intravenous fluid rate by 20 mL/hr
k k k k k k k
d. Monitor vital signs more frequently k k k k
b Answer )-
k k
A nurse observes a window washer falling 25 feet (7.6 m) to the ground. The nurse r
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k
ushes to the scene and determines that the person is in cardiopulmonary arrest. What
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k
should the nurse do first?
k k k k
a. Feel for a pulse k k k
b. Begin chest compressions k k
c. Leave to call for assistance k k k k
d. Perform the abdominal thrust maneuver k k k k
d Answer )- A client reports left-
k k k k k k
sided chest pain after playing racquetball. The client is hospitalized and diagnosed w
k k k k k k k k k k k k
ith left pneumothorax. When assessing the client's left chest area, the nurse expects t
k k k k k k k k k k k k k
o identify which finding?
k k k
a. Dull sound on percussion
k k k
b. Vocal fremitus on palpation k k k
,c. Rales with rhonchi on auscultation
k k k k
d. Absence of breath sounds on auscultation
k k k k k
c Answer )- A client is admitted to the hospital with partial- and full-
k k k k k k k k k k k k k
thickness burns of the chest and face sustained while trying to extinguish a brush fire.
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k
kWhich is the nurse's priority concern?
k k k k k
a. Loss of skin integrity caused by the burns
k k k k k k k
b. Potential infection as a result of the burn injury
k k k k k k k k
c. Inadequate gas exchange caused by smoke inhalationk k k k k k
d. Decreased fluid volume because of the depth of the burns
k k k k k k k k k
b Answer )-
k k
During the first 48 hours after a client has sustained a thermal injury, which conditions s
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k
hould the nurse assess for?
k k k k
a. Hypokalemia and hyponatremia k k
b. Hyperkalemia and hyponatremia k k
c. Hypokalemia and hypernatremia k k
d. Hyperkalemia and hypernatremia k k
a Answer )-
k k
A nurse is assessing a client's ECG reading. The client's atrial and ventricular heart r
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k
ates are equal at 88 beats per min. The PR interval is 0.14 seconds, and the QRS widt
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k
h is 0.10 seconds. Rhythm is regular with normal P waves and QRS complexes. How
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k
will the nurse interpret this rhythm?
k k k k k k
a. Normal sinus rhythm k k
b. Sinus tachycardia k
,c. Sinus bradycardia k
d. Sinus arrhythmia k
b Answer )-
k k
The nurse is caring for a client with a diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis. Which is the
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k
priority concern of the nurse when caring for this client?
k k k k k k k k k
a. Fluid volume k
b. Skin integrity k
c. Physical mobility k
d. Urinary elimination k
c Answer )-
k k
A client who had extensive pelvic surgery 24 hours ago becomes cyanotic, is gaspin
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k
g for breath, and reports right-sided chest pain. What should the nurse do first?
k k k k k k k k k k k k k
a. Obtain vital signs k k
b. Initiate a cardiac arrest code
k k k k
c. Administer oxygen using a face mask k k k k k
d. Encourage the use of an incentive spirometer k k k k k k
c Answer )-
k k
A nurse is caring for a client with severe burns. The nurse determines that this client i
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k
s at risk for hypovolemic shock. Which physiologic finding supports the nurse's con
k k k k k k k k k k k k
clusion?
a. Decreased rate of glomerular filtration k k k k
b. Excessive blood loss through the burned tissues k k k k k k
, c. Plasma proteins moving out of the intravascular compartment
k k k k k k k
d. Sodium retention occurring as a result of the aldosterone mechanism
k k k k k k k k k
a Answer )-
k k
The nurse is caring for a client with burns and reviews the client's laboratory results:
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k
blood urea nitrogen (BUN), 30 mg/dL (10.2 mmol/L); creatinine, 2.4 mg/dL (184 m
k k k k k k k k k k k k
cmol/L); serum potassium, 6.3 mEq/L (6.3 mmol/L);
k k k k k k
pH, 7.1; Po 2, 90 mm Hg; and hemoglobin (Hgb), 7.4 g/dL (74 mmol/L). Which conditio
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k
n does the nurse suspect the client has based upon these findings?
k k k k k k k k k k k
a. Azotemia
b. Hypokalemia
c. Metabolic alkalosis k
d. Respiratory alkalosis k
d Answer )-
k k
A nurse is caring for a client who experienced serious burns in a fire. Which relation
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k
ship between a client's burned body surface area and fluid loss should the nurse consi
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k
der when evaluating fluid loss in a client with burns?
k k k k k k k k k
a. Equal
b. Unrelated
c. Inversely related k
d. Directly proportional k
c Answer )-
k k
A burn client is receiving the open method for wound treatment. Which information
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k
will the nurse explain to the client?
k k k k k k
a. Bathing will not be permitted. k k k k
