ATI RN
hesi health assessment test bank Questions
Question 1 of 9
What is the most effective intervention for a client with hypoglycemia?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Administer glucose. Hypoglycemia is low blood sugar, and administering glucose rapidly raises blood sugar levels to restore normal function. Glucagon (choice B) is used for severe hypoglycemia when the individual cannot consume oral glucose. Insulin (choice C) lowers blood sugar levels and is contraindicated in hypoglycemia. Corticosteroids (choice D) can worsen hypoglycemia by affecting glucose metabolism. Administering glucose is the most direct and effective intervention for hypoglycemia.
Question 2 of 9
What is the priority action for a client who has just undergone a craniotomy?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Administer oxygen. After a craniotomy, the client may experience decreased oxygen levels due to the surgical procedure, anesthesia, or potential complications. Administering oxygen helps ensure adequate oxygenation to the brain and tissues. Placing the client in a supine or Trendelenburg position can increase intracranial pressure, which is contraindicated post-craniotomy. Monitoring for arrhythmias is important, but ensuring oxygenation takes precedence as hypoxia can have immediate detrimental effects on brain function.
Question 3 of 9
What is the nurse's priority when caring for a client with a tracheostomy?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Provide tracheostomy care. This is the priority because maintaining the patency of the airway is crucial in a client with a tracheostomy. Tracheostomy care includes monitoring for any signs of respiratory distress, ensuring the tube is secure, assessing for any obstructions, and providing appropriate humidification. Suctioning the airway (choice B) and suctioning the tracheostomy (choice D) are important interventions but come after ensuring proper tracheostomy care. Changing the dressing (choice C) is also important but not as immediate as ensuring the airway remains clear and functional.
Question 4 of 9
What is the first action the nurse should take when a client experiences chest pain?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Administer nitroglycerin. The nurse should first assess the client's chest pain, then administer nitroglycerin if indicated for suspected cardiac origin. Nitroglycerin helps dilate blood vessels, improving blood flow to the heart. This can alleviate chest pain associated with angina or myocardial infarction. Administering morphine or aspirin should come after nitroglycerin if needed. Performing an ECG is important but should not delay immediate treatment with nitroglycerin for chest pain of cardiac origin.
Question 5 of 9
Which intervention should the nurse implement for a client with hypothermia?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B, removing the client from the cold environment. This is because hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, and being in a cold environment exacerbates this process. By removing the client from the cold environment, the nurse helps stop further heat loss. Warming the client slowly (A) can be detrimental as rapid rewarming can lead to complications. Providing a warm environment (C) and applying warm blankets (D) are important interventions but should come after removing the client from the cold environment to prevent further heat loss.
Question 6 of 9
What is the most effective intervention for a client with shortness of breath and a history of heart failure?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Provide oxygen therapy. For a client with shortness of breath and a history of heart failure, oxygen therapy is the most effective intervention as it helps improve oxygenation and relieve respiratory distress. Administering diuretics may help manage fluid retention but does not directly address the breathing difficulty. Encouraging deep breathing may be beneficial for some respiratory conditions but may not be sufficient for a client with heart failure and shortness of breath. Applying oxygen therapy is similar to providing oxygen therapy and can help improve oxygen levels, but providing oxygen therapy is more specific and effective in this case.
Question 7 of 9
The nurse is admitting a client, having completed the health history, and is now doing a physical assessment. What type of data will this provide?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Objective. During a physical assessment, the nurse gathers data through observation and measurement, such as vital signs and physical appearance, which are objective and measurable. This type of data is based on facts rather than opinions or interpretations, making it reliable for assessing the client's health status. Patient-centered data (A) refers to information focused on the client's perspective, subjective data (B) is based on the client's symptoms or feelings, and unconfirmed data (C) lacks validation or evidence, making them unreliable for making clinical decisions.
Question 8 of 9
What is the priority nursing action for a client with a history of seizures?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Administer antiepileptics. Administering antiepileptics is the priority nursing action for a client with a history of seizures to prevent seizure recurrence. Antiepileptics help control and manage seizure activity effectively. Monitoring vital signs (B) and placing the client in a lateral position (C) are important actions during a seizure but are not the priority over administering antiepileptics. Providing seizure precautions (D) is also important but does not directly address the immediate need of administering antiepileptics to prevent a seizure.
Question 9 of 9
Which condition places a client at risk for a high ammonia level?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: cirrhosis. Cirrhosis leads to impaired liver function, causing the liver to be unable to effectively metabolize ammonia, leading to high ammonia levels in the blood. Renal failure (choice A) is associated with high creatinine levels, not ammonia. Psoriasis (choice B) is a skin condition unrelated to ammonia levels. Lupus (choice C) is an autoimmune disease affecting various organs, not directly linked to high ammonia levels. In summary, cirrhosis is the only condition among the options that directly impacts liver function and can lead to high ammonia levels in the blood.