Community Health HESI Practice Questions

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: 'Dyspnea and cough.' Pulmonary embolism often presents with a sudden onset of dyspnea (difficulty breathing) and cough, which are due to the obstruction of blood flow in the pulmonary arteries. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. Positive Homan's sign is associated with deep vein thrombosis, fever and chills are nonspecific symptoms commonly seen in infective endocarditis, and sensory impairment is not typically indicative of pulmonary embolism.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to inspect the nares and ears for skin breakdown. This is important because the nasal cannula can cause skin breakdown due to prolonged use and friction. Ensuring that the skin is intact helps prevent complications. Choice A is incorrect as oxygen therapy via a nasal cannula does not involve mist. Choice C is incorrect as lubricating the tips of the cannula is not a standard practice and may lead to complications. Choice D is incorrect because while cleanliness is important, maintaining sterile technique is not necessary for handling a nasal cannula in this context.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Diaphoresis and shakiness are classic signs of hypoglycemia in a client with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Hypoglycemia is a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention to prevent further complications. The nurse should address this complaint promptly by providing a fast-acting source of glucose to raise the client's blood sugar levels. Reduced sensation in the lower leg may indicate peripheral neuropathy, which is a common complication of diabetes but does not require immediate action unless there are signs of injury. Intense thirst and hunger are symptoms of hyperglycemia, which also requires intervention but not as urgently as hypoglycemia. A painful hematoma on the thigh may require assessment and management, but it is not as urgent as addressing hypoglycemia.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct information the nurse should provide is that anthrax infection occurs when spores enter a host. Choice B is incorrect as mature anthrax bacteria do not live dormant on inanimate objects. Choice C is incorrect as anthrax spores can survive for extended periods outside a living host. Choice D is incorrect as anthrax is not transmitted by respiratory droplets from person to person.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Elevated creatinine phosphokinase (CPK). Elevated CPK levels indicate muscle damage, including damage to the cardiac muscle, which aligns with the diagnosis of myocardial infarction. Choice A, low serum albumin, is not directly related to myocardial infarction. Choice B, high serum cholesterol, is more associated with conditions like atherosclerosis rather than acute myocardial infarction. Choice C, abnormally low white blood cell count, is typically not a lab value associated with myocardial infarction; instead, it could suggest other conditions like infections or bone marrow issues.