HESI Fundamentals Review
BASIC TEST-TAKING TIPS
● Read every QUESTION thoroughly
○ Catch words and phrases like: initial, first,
... [Show More] immediate, priority, side effect vs. toxic/adverse effect, would/would not, most appropriate, least appropriate, needs additional teaching, understands the teaching, correct, incorrect
● Read all the ANSWERS thoroughly
○ Catch words like - only, all, always, never
○ These are generally too EXTREME to be correct, so you oftencan safely eliminate those answers
● Eliminate answers that don't DIRECTLY answer the question:
○ Some answers will be somewhat but indirectly related to the question being asked - ELIMINATE
○ Some answers will be grammatically incorrect for the question being asked -> ELIMINATE
● Avoid ADDING information
○ NO asking "What if...?"
○ Critical thinking - base your answer off the information you HAVE
REMEMBER YOUR ABCs
● Airway 1st priority)
○ Obstruction, Aspiration, Positioning of head/neck ï BREATHING (2nd)
○ Respiratory muscle function, Ventilation, Gas Exchange, LOC ï CIRCULATION (3rd)
○ Peripheral tissue perfusion, BP, cardiac output (CO), Shock
THE NURSING PROCESS ³ ADPIE
● Assessment - Always first!
● Diagnosis - What are the problems? Set priorities. ï Planning - What are the goals? Solution(s)?
● Implementation - Administration of care
● Evaluation - Patient outcomes & reassessment - what needs to change?
MASLOW9S HIERARCHY
● Physiologic needs come before ALL else
○ Physiological needs =air, water, food, shelter, sleep, clothing, reproduction ï Safety needs=personal security, employment, resources, health, property ï Love and belonging = friendship, intimacy, family, sense of connection
○ Esteem = respect, self-esteem, status, recognition, strength, freedom ï Self-actualization =desire to become the most that one can be
RULES FOR PRIORITIZATION
● Acute beats chronic
○ Acute, new
● Fresh post-op (<12 hours) beats other medical or surgical
○ B/c of hemorrhage, infection
○ Recent anesthesia ï Unstable beats stable
○ Change in vital signs, newly admitted, not ready for discharge, unexpected/unrelated conditions, hemorrhaging, fever > 105, hypoglycemia, pulseless, restless [Show Less]