Question

A 24-year-old female client presents to emergency department with reports of abdominal pain.

Answer 1

Correct Answers:

Effective coping with illness related anxiety
Infection prevention related to illness
Relief of acute pain
Fluid volume management
Client education about diagnosis and plan of care

Rationale :

Effective coping with illness-related anxiety

📌 The client verbally reports anxiety, which is common in young adults presenting to the ED with sudden-onset abdominal pain and pending surgery.

📌 Providing emotional support and reassurance promotes psychological stability and reduces sympathetic overdrive.

📌 Anxiety may also exacerbate pain perception and impair cooperation with treatment or consent.

📌 Including a psychosocial goal supports a holistic care plan, in line with the nursing model of whole-person care.

📌 Effective coping enhances recovery and satisfaction with care, especially in unfamiliar, acute care settings.

Infection prevention related to illness

📌 The CT scan shows a dilated appendix with fat stranding, consistent with acute appendicitis—an inflammatory condition with high infection risk.

📌 If untreated or delayed, this may progress to perforation and peritonitis, which are life-threatening.

📌 Early interventions such as IV antibiotics and fluid resuscitation help reduce this risk preoperatively.

📌 Infection prevention also includes monitoring vital signs, white blood cell trends, and surgical prep.

📌 Preventing infection is a priority nursing goal during emergency stabilization of surgical abdominal pain.

Relief of acute pain

📌 The client reports a pain score of 9/10, located in the right lower quadrant, a hallmark of appendicitis.

📌 Morphine 4 mg IV was ordered STAT, and timely administration is critical to ensure comfort and physiologic stability.

📌 Severe pain can increase tachycardia, tachypnea, and emotional distress, interfering with assessment and procedures.

📌 Relieving pain supports better breathing, lowers stress response, and aids in diagnostic cooperation (e.g., imaging).

📌 Pain control is an essential nursing focus in the ED setting, particularly for surgical cases.

Fluid volume management

📌 The client is receiving a 1-liter bolus of Lactated Ringer’s, ordered to correct relative hypovolemia from vomiting, fever, and possible early sepsis.

📌 She is tachycardic (HR 121 bpm) and tachypneic (RR 28/min), both of which are signs of fluid volume deficit or early shock.

📌 Maintaining intravascular volume ensures adequate perfusion to vital organs, including during anesthesia and surgery.

📌 Monitoring for response (BP, HR, urine output) is essential to guide further fluid needs or resuscitation.

📌 Fluid management reduces risk of hypotension during OR transfer and promotes stabilization.

Client education about diagnosis and plan of care

📌 The nurse must educate the client on what has been found (appendicitis), what it means, and what to expect next (surgery).

📌 Providing clear, calm, age-appropriate explanations helps reduce anxiety and promote informed cooperation.

📌 Education supports consent, understanding of labs, imaging, and expectations for admission.

📌 It also prepares the client for perioperative care, fasting, and procedural prep.

📌 This communication improves patient satisfaction, trust, and outcomes, especially in young adults.

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Answer 2

Correct Answers:

Encourage sitting up and ambulation
Use Incentive spirometer every 1 hour
Assess for sedation after pain medications
Administer pain medication after activity

Rationale :

Encourage sitting up and ambulation

✅ Early ambulation is crucial to prevent postoperative complications such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary issues (e.g., atelectasis).

✅ It promotes gastrointestinal motility, which is often delayed after anesthesia and abdominal surgery.

✅ Sitting up improves diaphragmatic movement and lung expansion, aiding in ventilation.

✅ Mobility reduces the risk of constipation, which is particularly important given the client’s history of constipation.

✅ The nurse should assist the client gradually and monitor for orthostatic changes or fatigue.

Use incentive spirometer every 1 hour

✅ Incentive spirometry (IS) is a key tool in preventing atelectasis and postoperative pneumonia, especially after abdominal surgery.

✅ Frequent IS use (every hour while awake) helps the client maintain adequate lung expansion and improve oxygenation.

✅ The client had shallow breathing and tachypnea preoperatively, putting her at increased respiratory risk.

✅ Effective IS use also improves cough strength, helping clear secretions that could otherwise cause infection.

✅ Nurses should teach proper technique and document frequency and volume goals.

Promote adequate hydration

✅ Hydration is essential post-surgery to maintain circulatory volume, support healing, and enhance kidney perfusion.

✅ IV fluids such as Lactated Ringer’s were started preoperatively, and oral fluids should be encouraged as tolerated.

✅ Adequate hydration reduces the risk of hypotension, nausea, and urinary retention, all common post-op issues.

✅ It also supports bowel function recovery, which is critical in abdominal procedures.

✅ Monitoring intake and output ensures proper fluid balance and detects early signs of dehydration or fluid overload.

Assess for sedation after pain medications

✅ The client is receiving IV morphine, which can cause respiratory depression, sedation, and altered mental status.

✅ Assessing level of consciousness, respiratory rate, and sedation scale is necessary after each opioid dose.

✅ Early identification of sedation prevents complications such as hypoventilation and aspiration.

✅ Monitoring sedation ensures safe participation in activities like ambulation and incentive spirometry.

✅ It also informs decisions about medication titration or need for naloxone availability.

Administer pain medication after activity

✅ Delaying pain medication until after activity encourages the client to mobilize while pain is manageable but not overly sedated.

✅ This supports engagement in early ambulation, coughing, and IS use without the risk of drowsiness impairing effort.

✅ Post-activity dosing helps relieve soreness from exertion and promotes comfort during recovery.

✅ It also helps the nurse evaluate the true effectiveness of movement interventions before analgesia masks symptoms.

✅ Strategic timing of pain meds enhances both safety and comfort, optimizing postoperative outcomes.

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Answer 3

Correct Answers:

Heart rate 121 beats/minute
Respirations 28 breaths/minute with shallow breathing
Severe abdominal pain in right lower quadrant
Temperature 100.8° F (38.2° C)
Vomiting small amounts of green bile

Rationale :

Heart rate 121 beats/minute

🚨 A heart rate over 100 bpm indicates tachycardia, which in this client may signal early sepsis, pain response, or fluid volume deficit.

🚨 Tachycardia is a compensatory response to fever, pain, and intraperitoneal inflammation, such as appendicitis.

🚨 This elevated heart rate aligns with signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).

🚨 Persistent tachycardia requires monitoring and fluid resuscitation, which is already initiated with Lactated Ringer’s.

🚨 It is a vital sign abnormality that requires prompt attention to guide stabilization efforts.

Respirations 28 breaths/minute with shallow breathing

🚨 A respiratory rate >20 is considered tachypnea, a compensatory mechanism to metabolic acidosis, pain, or anxiety.

🚨 Shallow breathing may also suggest the client is guarding due to severe abdominal pain, impairing adequate ventilation.

🚨 This pattern raises concern for respiratory fatigue, hypoventilation, or hypoxia, even if SpO₂ is temporarily normal.

🚨 Tachypnea may reflect early sepsis, where increased oxygen demand and perfusion abnormalities occur.

🚨 Respiratory rate is one of the most sensitive early indicators of clinical deterioration.

Severe abdominal pain in right lower quadrant

🚨 This is a hallmark symptom of acute appendicitis, especially when sudden in onset and localized to the RLQ.

🚨 It signals possible inflammation or obstruction of the appendix, potentially progressing to perforation if untreated.

🚨 Pain rated 9/10 requires analgesia and monitoring, and it also guides imaging and diagnostic prioritization.

🚨 RLQ pain with rebound or guarding may suggest peritoneal involvement, increasing urgency for surgery.

🚨 Pain is also a major contributor to the client’s tachycardia and respiratory changes.

Temperature 100.8° F (38.2° C)

🚨 This low-grade fever supports a systemic inflammatory response, common in early appendicitis or infection.

🚨 Fever paired with elevated HR and RR meets SIRS criteria, placing the client at risk for sepsis.

🚨 It supports the CT findings of fat stranding and appendix dilation, confirming a localized infectious process.

🚨 Timely intervention, including antibiotics and fluids, is essential to prevent progression to septic shock.

🚨 Monitoring temperature trends is also important to gauge response to treatment.

Vomiting small amounts of green bile

🚨 Bilious emesis indicates upper GI irritation or obstruction, often seen in appendicitis or other abdominal pathologies.

🚨 It may also be a sign of delayed gastric emptying due to inflammation, pain, or ileus.

🚨 Vomiting increases risk for fluid and electrolyte imbalances, requiring IV fluid replacement and antiemetics.

🚨 In combination with RLQ pain and fever, this supports the diagnosis of acute surgical abdomen.

🚨 It may also indicate worsening progression if paired with dehydration or worsening vitals.

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Answer 4

Correct Answers:

Begin with questions that are less sensitive in nature.

Rationale :

🗣 Starting with less sensitive questions is a widely recommended technique in trauma-informed interviewing.

🗣 This strategy helps build trust and rapport before discussing deeply personal or traumatic experiences like sexual abuse.

🗣 Gradually progressing from general health or social questions to more sensitive topics allows the client to feel emotionally safer.

🗣 Clients who have experienced trauma may be hypervigilant or easily overwhelmed, so pacing the interview shows respect for emotional readiness.

🗣 This approach supports open disclosure, enhances the quality of information obtained, and protects the client's psychological well-being.

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Answer 5

Correct Answers:

22

Rationale :

👌Volume

350 mL

👌Time

4 hours = 240 minutes

👌Drop factor

15 gtt/mL

👌Formula:

Flow rate (gtt/min)=Total volume (mL)×Drop factor (gtt/mL)/Time (min)

350×15/240=5250/240

21.875

22 (gtt/min)

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Answer 6

Correct Answers:

IV administration of benztropine.

Rationale :

🟢 Benztropine is an anticholinergic medication that is effective in rapidly treating acute dystonic reactions, including laryngeal spasms, which can be life-threatening.

🟢 It works by counteracting the imbalance of neurotransmitters caused by certain medications.

🟢 Acute dystonic reactions can compromise airway function; benztropine helps reverse muscle contractions quickly.

🟢 IV administration ensures rapid therapeutic action during emergencies.

🟢 Prompt treatment of laryngeal spasms is crucial to prevent airway obstruction.

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Answer 7

Correct Answers:

Determine if the client has recently experienced a fall.
Instruct the adult child to check the client's temperature.
Ask if the client is experiencing any pain with urination.
Review the client's current food and medication allergies.

Rationale :

Determine if the client has recently experienced a fall

📌 Falling is a common and serious concern in older adults, especially those with Parkinson's disease who are prone to balance issues.

📌A recent fall could lead to intracranial bleeding (e.g., subdural hematoma), which is a known cause of sudden confusion or acute mental status changes.

📌The nurse must assess for head trauma because post-fall complications are often missed unless specifically evaluated.

📌 Falls are a top cause of morbidity in elderly patients with neurodegenerative diseases.

Instruct the adult child to check the client's temperature

📌 Fever in older adults can indicate infection, such as urinary tract infection (UTI) or pneumonia, which are among the most frequent causes of acute confusion or delirium.

📌Temperature monitoring helps identify infection early, which is especially important because elderly individuals may not exhibit typical symptoms.

📌 Fever-related delirium is a hallmark in geriatric patients with underlying neurologic disorders.

Ask if the client is experiencing any pain with urination

📌 Painful urination is a key symptom of UTI, a condition frequently associated with confusion in older adults, especially those with Parkinson’s disease. Because Parkinson's can impair autonomic bladder control, the client may be more vulnerable to retention or infection.

📌Evaluating for dysuria helps direct the nurse to investigate and treat the underlying cause.

📌 UTIs often present with confusion in older adults even before classic urinary symptoms appear.

Review the client's current food and medication allergies

📌 Medication reactions, including new prescriptions or interactions, are a common trigger for acute confusion, especially in neurologically compromised patients.

📌Reviewing allergies and any changes in medications ensures that no iatrogenic factors are contributing to the change in mental status.

📌Older adults are more sensitive to medications that affect the central nervous system, increasing the risk for altered cognition.

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Answer 8

Correct Answers:

Flaring of the nares.

Rationale :

🟡 Nasal flaring is a clinical sign of respiratory distress in infants and toddlers.

🟡 It indicates increased effort to breathe, typically due to airway obstruction or decreased oxygenation.

🟡 Children often compensate for respiratory challenges with accessory muscle use, including nostril flaring.

🟡 In pediatric assessment, nasal flaring often precedes more critical signs like retractions or cyanosis.

🟡 Prompt recognition allows early interventions to prevent respiratory failure.

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Answer 9

Correct Answers:

Monitor urinary stream for decreased output.

Rationale :

🟣 Decreased urine output can signal nephrostomy tube obstruction, which may compromise kidney function.

🟣 After nephrolithotomy, patency of the urinary system is a critical postoperative focus.

🟣 The nurse should assess for signs of blockage or infection by monitoring urinary color, clarity, and volume.

🟣 Ongoing monitoring helps prevent complications like hydronephrosis or acute kidney injury.

🟣 Client education should also reinforce signs to report, such as sudden drop in urine flow.

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Answer 10

Correct Answers:

Sublimation.

Rationale :

🟠 Sublimation is the redirection of unacceptable impulses into positive, constructive activities.

🟠 The client pounding leather in a creative project demonstrates channeling aggression in a socially acceptable manner.

🟠 This is considered a healthy defense mechanism used to manage internal stress or anger.

🟠 Encouraging clients to use such strategies promotes emotional regulation.

🟠 It is a common therapeutic goal in anger management and behavioral therapy programs.

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RN HESI Exit~2025 Exam 3

No.

1 :
A 24-year-old female client presents to emergency department with reports of abdominal pain.

Answer Options

2 :
A 24-year-old female client presents to emergency department with reports of abdominal pain.

Answer Options

3 :
A 24-year-old female client presents to emergency department with reports of abdominal pain.

Answer Options

4 :
Which is the best approach for the nurse to use when interviewing a client about sexual abuse?

5 :
The healthcare provider prescribes 1 unit (350 mL) of packed red blood cells (PRBC) to infuse over 4 hours. The IV administration set delivers 15 gtt/mL. How many gtt/min should the nurse regulate the infusion? (Enter the numeric value only. Round to the nearest whole number.)

6 :
A client experiencing an acute dystonic reaction presents with a laryngeal spasm. Which treatment should the nurse prepare?

7 :
The adult child of an older adult client who has Parkinson's disease, calls the clinic and reports that the client has been confused for the past week. What action(s) should the nurse take? Select all that apply.

8 :
A 2-year-old is brought to the emergency department (ED) with a history of several days of rhinitis and now exhibits a productive barking cough and difficulty breathing. Which additional finding should alert the nurse that the child is experiencing respiratory distress?

9 :
The nurse is preparing a client for discharge who underwent a percutaneous nephrolithotomy with nephrostomy tube placement. Which instruction should the nurse include in the client's postoperative discharge teaching?

10 :
A client who is participating in an anger management assignment asks to make a leather belt in occupational therapy. The client begins pounding the leather vigorously with a mallet to imprint designs on the belt. Which defense mechanism is the client using?

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RN HESI Exit~2025 Exam 3

No.

1 : A 24-year-old female client presents to emergency department with reports of abdominal pain.

Answer Options

2 : A 24-year-old female client presents to emergency department with reports of abdominal pain.

Answer Options

3 : A 24-year-old female client presents to emergency department with reports of abdominal pain.

Answer Options

4 : Which is the best approach for the nurse to use when interviewing a client about sexual abuse?

5 : The healthcare provider prescribes 1 unit (350 mL) of packed red blood cells (PRBC) to infuse over 4 hours. The IV administration set delivers 15 gtt/mL. How many gtt/min should the nurse regulate the infusion? (Enter the numeric value only. Round to the nearest whole number.)

6 : A client experiencing an acute dystonic reaction presents with a laryngeal spasm. Which treatment should the nurse prepare?

7 : The adult child of an older adult client who has Parkinson's disease, calls the clinic and reports that the client has been confused for the past week. What action(s) should the nurse take? Select all that apply.

8 : A 2-year-old is brought to the emergency department (ED) with a history of several days of rhinitis and now exhibits a productive barking cough and difficulty breathing. Which additional finding should alert the nurse that the child is experiencing respiratory distress?

9 : The nurse is preparing a client for discharge who underwent a percutaneous nephrolithotomy with nephrostomy tube placement. Which instruction should the nurse include in the client's postoperative discharge teaching?

10 : A client who is participating in an anger management assignment asks to make a leather belt in occupational therapy. The client begins pounding the leather vigorously with a mallet to imprint designs on the belt. Which defense mechanism is the client using?

1 :
A 24-year-old female client presents to emergency department with reports of abdominal pain.

2 :
A 24-year-old female client presents to emergency department with reports of abdominal pain.

3 :
A 24-year-old female client presents to emergency department with reports of abdominal pain.

4 :
Which is the best approach for the nurse to use when interviewing a client about sexual abuse?

5 :
The healthcare provider prescribes 1 unit (350 mL) of packed red blood cells (PRBC) to infuse over 4 hours. The IV administration set delivers 15 gtt/mL. How many gtt/min should the nurse regulate the infusion? (Enter the numeric value only. Round to the nearest whole number.)

6 :
A client experiencing an acute dystonic reaction presents with a laryngeal spasm. Which treatment should the nurse prepare?

7 :
The adult child of an older adult client who has Parkinson's disease, calls the clinic and reports that the client has been confused for the past week. What action(s) should the nurse take? Select all that apply.

8 :
A 2-year-old is brought to the emergency department (ED) with a history of several days of rhinitis and now exhibits a productive barking cough and difficulty breathing. Which additional finding should alert the nurse that the child is experiencing respiratory distress?

9 :
The nurse is preparing a client for discharge who underwent a percutaneous nephrolithotomy with nephrostomy tube placement. Which instruction should the nurse include in the client's postoperative discharge teaching?

10 :
A client who is participating in an anger management assignment asks to make a leather belt in occupational therapy. The client begins pounding the leather vigorously with a mallet to imprint designs on the belt. Which defense mechanism is the client using?