HESI RN
HESI Community Health Questions
Question 1 of 5
An adolescent tells the school nurse that she is pregnant. Her last menstrual period was 4 months ago. She has not received any medical care. She smokes but denies any other substance use. What is the priority nursing action?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In this scenario, the correct priority nursing action is to refer the adolescent for prenatal care (Option B). This choice is the most critical as it ensures the health and well-being of both the adolescent and her unborn child. Referring her for prenatal care is essential because it will provide the necessary medical attention, monitoring, and support throughout her pregnancy. Early prenatal care can help detect and address any potential complications, provide education on healthy behaviors, and ensure proper development of the fetus. The other options are not the priority in this situation: A) Notifying her parents may be important for support and involvement, but the immediate need is for prenatal care to ensure the health of both the adolescent and the baby. C) Teaching breastfeeding methods and D) offering nutritional instructions are important aspects of prenatal care but are secondary to ensuring she receives medical care promptly. In an educational context, understanding the hierarchy of nursing actions based on priority is crucial. This scenario highlights the significance of timely and appropriate interventions in promoting positive health outcomes for both the adolescent and her unborn child. It emphasizes the critical role of the nurse in advocating for and facilitating access to essential healthcare services.
Question 2 of 5
Which intervention by the community health nurse is an example of a secondary level of prevention?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In this scenario, option C, administering influenza vaccines to residents of a nursing home, is an example of a secondary level of prevention. Secondary prevention aims to detect and treat health conditions early to prevent their progression and complications. Administering vaccines helps prevent the spread of influenza among vulnerable populations, reducing the risk of severe illness and complications. Option A, providing a needle exchange program, falls under primary prevention as it aims to prevent the initial occurrence of disease by reducing risk factors such as needle sharing among intravenous drug users. Option B, developing an educational program for clients with diabetes mellitus, is more aligned with tertiary prevention, which focuses on managing and reducing the impact of existing conditions to prevent further complications. Option D, initiating contact notifications for sexual partners of an HIV client, is a form of disease control and partner notification, falling under the realm of primary prevention by aiming to prevent the spread of HIV to others. Understanding the levels of prevention is crucial for community health nurses as it helps in planning and implementing appropriate interventions to promote health and prevent disease within the community.
Question 3 of 5
After assessing the health care needs of an elementary school, the nurse determines that an increased prevalence of pediculosis capitis is a priority problem. The nurse develops a 2-month program with the goal to eradicate the condition in the school. The program includes educational pamphlets sent home to parents and regular assessment of children by the school nurse. What action should the nurse implement to evaluate the effectiveness of the program?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D) measure the prevalence of pediculosis capitis among the children after four months. In community health nursing, evaluating the effectiveness of a program is crucial to determine its impact. By measuring the prevalence of pediculosis capitis after four months, the nurse can objectively assess if the program has been successful in eradicating the condition. This data provides concrete evidence of the program's effectiveness in achieving its goal. Option A is incorrect because it focuses on the teachers' ability to identify pediculosis capitis, which is not a direct measure of the program's effectiveness in eradicating the condition. Option B is incorrect as conducting an initial examination only provides baseline data and does not show the program's impact over time. Option C is incorrect as surveying parents about their understanding does not directly measure the program's success in eradicating the condition among the children. By choosing option D, the nurse can quantitatively assess the impact of the program on the prevalence of pediculosis capitis in the school population, providing valuable data for future program planning and evaluation in community health nursing practice.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse is developing a workshop on cancer prevention for a group of adults at a wellness bar. Which recommendation should the nurse include in the workshop?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In community health nursing, promoting cancer prevention strategies is crucial. Option B, maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly, is the most appropriate recommendation for the workshop. This is because obesity and physical inactivity are known risk factors for various cancers. Educating adults on the importance of weight management and regular exercise empowers them to make positive lifestyle choices to reduce their cancer risk. Option A, knowing the 4 warning signs of cancer, is important but is more focused on early detection rather than prevention. Option C, refraining from alcohol, is also a valid recommendation as excessive alcohol consumption is linked to certain types of cancer, but it is not as universally applicable as maintaining a healthy weight and exercising. Option D, obtaining sufficient sleep, while important for overall health, is not as directly linked to cancer prevention as the maintenance of a healthy weight and regular exercise. Educationally, emphasizing the impact of lifestyle choices on cancer risk empowers individuals to take control of their health. By providing evidence-based recommendations like maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly, nurses can equip adults with actionable steps to reduce their cancer risk, promoting overall well-being and longevity.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is caring for a client with the sexually transmitted disease HPV. The client reports having had prior sexually transmitted infections. Which response should the nurse provide?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct response for the nurse to provide in this situation is option B: instruct the client of the importance of notifying sexual partners. This response is the most appropriate because it focuses on a crucial aspect of managing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), which is partner notification to prevent further spread of the infection. By informing sexual partners, they can seek testing and treatment, thus breaking the chain of transmission. Option A is incorrect because while safe sex practices are important in preventing STD transmission, in this scenario, the client already has HPV, so the focus should be on managing the current infection. Option C is incorrect as complications can indeed occur if HPV is left untreated or unmanaged. Reassuring the client that complications will not occur may lead to a false sense of security. Option D is also incorrect as it is not relevant to the situation at hand. While contraceptives may offer some protection against certain infections, they do not protect against all STDs, including HPV. From an educational perspective, this question highlights the importance of comprehensive STD management, which includes not only treating the current infection but also taking steps to prevent its spread to others. It emphasizes the nurse's role in educating clients about responsible sexual behavior and partner notification to promote public health and prevent further transmission of STDs.