HESI RN FUNDAMENTALS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2022
1. A patient needs assistance in eliminating an anesthetic gaseous
medication (nitrous oxide). Which
... [Show More] action will the nurse take?
a. Encourage the patient to cough and deep-breathe.
b. Suction the patient’s respiratory secretions.
c. Suggest voiding every 2 hours.
d. Increase fluid intake.
ANS: A
Gaseous and volatile medications are excreted through gas exchange (lungs).
Deep breathing and coughing will assist in clearing the medication more
quickly. It is a gaseous medication and cannot be suctioned out of the lungs.
It is not excreted through the kidneys so fluids and voiding will not help.
2. A nurse has withdrawn a narcotic from the medication dispenser
and must waste a portion of the medication. What should the nurse
do?
a. Have another nurse witness the wasted medication.
b. Return the wasted medication to the medication dispenser.
c. Place the wasted portion of the
medication in the sharps container. Exit
the medication room to call the health
care provider to request an
d. order that matches the dosages.
ANS: A
The nurse should follow Nurse Practice Acts and safe narcotic administration
guidelines by having a nurse witness the “wasted” medication. The nurse
cannot return the wasted medication to the medication dispenser. Wasted
portions of medications are not placed in sharps containers. The nurse should
not leave the narcotic unattended and call the health care provider to obtain
matching dosages; the nurse is expected to obtain the correct dose.
3. A nurse teaches the patient about the prescribed buccal medication.
Which statement by the patient indicates teaching by the nurse is
successful?
a. “Ishould let the medication dissolve completely.”
b. “I will place the medication in the same location.”
c. “I can only drink water, not juice, with this medication.”
d. “I better chew my medication first for faster distribution.”
ANS: A
Buccal medications should be placed in the side of the cheek and allowed to
dissolve completely. Buccal medications act with the patient’s saliva and
mucosa. The patient should not chew or swallow the medication or take any
liquids with it. The patient should rotate sides of the cheek to avoid irritating
the mucosal lining.
4. What is the nurse’s priority action to protect a patient from medication
error?
a. Reading medication labels at least 3 times before administering
b. Administering as many of the
medications as possible at one time
Asking anxious family members to
leave the room before giving a
c. medication
Checking the patient’s room number against the medication
d. administration record
ANS: A
One step to take to prevent medication errors is to read labels at least 3 times
before administering the medication. The nurse should address the family’s
concerns about medications before administering them. Do not discount their
anxieties. The medication administration record should be checked against
the patient’s hospital identification band; a room number is not an acceptable
identifier. Medications should be given when scheduled, and medications
with special assessment indications should be separated. Giving medications
at one time can cause the patient to aspirate.
5. The nurse prepares a pain injection for a patient but had to check on
another patient and asks a new nurse to give the medication. Which action
by the new nurse is best?
a. Do not give the medication.
b. Administer the medication just this once.
c. Give the medication for any pain score greater than 8.
d. Avoid the issue and pretend to not hear the request.
ANS: A
Because the nurse who administers the medication is responsible for any
errors related to it, nurses administer only the medications they prepare. You
cannot delegate preparation of medication to another person and then
administer the medication to the patient. The right medication cannot be
verified by the new nurse; do not violate the six rights. Do not administer the
medication even one time. Do not administer the medication regardless of the
pain rating. Avoiding the issue is not appropriate or safe.
6. A patient is at risk for aspiration. Which nursing action is most appropriate?
a. Give the patient a straw to control the flow of liquids. CONTINUES... [Show Less]