Hesi LPN practice questions and answers
1. A client with cancer who has been taking opioid analgesics for two years now requires increased
doses to obtain pain relief. The client expresses fear about becoming addicted to these drugs. What
information should the practical nurse (PN) provide?
A. Opioid use with cancer does not cause addiction.
B. Addiction is easily reversed if it occurs during pain management.
C. Prescribed opiates for cancer pain relief improve qualify of life.
D. Opioid dosages can be tapered if a client fears addiction. - ANSWER-C. Prescribed opiates for
cancer pain relief improve qualify of life
The goal of pain management for clients with cancer using opiates is to minimize pain and maintain
quality of life
2. A client's indwelling urinary catheter is removed at 9:30 AM. The practical nurse (PN) assesses the
client every two hours for the desire to void. Which documented assessment requires further
intervention by the PN?
A. 1:30 pm: unable to void.
B. 5:30 pm: unable to void.
C. 3:30 pm: unable to void.
D. 11:30 am: unable to void. - ANSWER-B. A client is due to void within 8 hours of catheter removal,
so at 5:30 PM. Longer than 8 hours after removal, catheter reinsertion may be necessary. If the
bladder is not distended, further action may not be needed
3. Which position is best for the practical nurse to place the client in during administration of a rectal
suppository for constipation?
A. Prone with pillows under the client's abdomen.
B. Supine with the client on a bed pan.
C. Left Sims' position with upper leg flexed.
D. Right-side lying knee-chest position. - ANSWER-C. Left side-lying Sims' position lessens the
likelihood that the suppository or feces will be expelled, exposes the anus for visualization during
insertion, and helps the client to relax the external anal sphincter
4. The practical nurse (PN) is adding tap water to several medications for administration via feeding
tube. Which preparation should the PN administer without delay?
A. Reconstituted powder.
B. Timed release capsule.
,C. Cherry flavored elixir.
D. Flavorless suspension. - ANSWER-B. Although the gelatin capsule can be opened to administer the
spansule's granules, the PN should not crush or allow the timed-released granules to dissolve before
administering this preparation via feeding tube since the timed-release function can be
compromised.
What action should the practical nurse (PN) take when drawing medication from an ampule?
A. Aspirate with a filter needle and syringe.
B. Tap the bottom of the ampule lightly.
C. Snap the neck of ampule towards nurse.
D. Use an alcohol swab to open ampule. - ANSWER-A. An ampule is made of glass with a constricted
neck that is snapped off to allow access to the medication. Medications are easily withdrawn from
the ampule by aspirating the fluid with a filter needle and syringe. Filter needles are used when
withdrawing medication from a glass ampule to prevent glass particles from being drawn into the
syringe with the medication. Tap the top, not the bottom (B), of the ampule lightly to allow all of the
medication to drop to the bottom. When opening the ampule, the top should be snapped away from
the nurse's face and body (C). An opened alcohol swab wrapped around the top of the ampule may
allow alcohol to leak into the ampule
The practical nurse (PN) is preparing to reconstitute a drug from powder form for IM administration.
Which step should the PN implement first?
A. Verify the drug with the medication administration record.
B. Mix the powder with the solution.
C. Attach the needle to the syringe.
D. Read the label to determine the amount of diluent to use. - ANSWER-A. The Five Rights of
medication administration include the right drug, right dose, right route, right time, and right client.
The first action should be verification of the right drug in the powder form for reconstitution.
Which action should the practical nurse (PN) implement when administering a subcutaneous
injection to a client who weighs 325 pounds?
A. Produce a bleb at the injection site.
B. Insert the needle at a 15-degree angle.
C. Select a needle with a longer shaft.
D. Rub vigorously for a faster response. - ANSWER-C. To ensure penetration into the deep layer of
subcutaneuos adipose for a client who is obese, the needle length should be longer than the usual
needle (preferably 3/8 to 5/8 inch in length) for subcutaneous injection.
, Which finding indicates to the practical nurse (PN) that an older client who is receiving intravenous
therapy is experiencing fluid overload?
A. Edema in lower extremities.
B. Crackles in the lung fields.
C. Pulse rate of 64 beats/min.
D. Respirations of 16 breaths/min. - ANSWER-B. IV fluid overload in an older client is likely to cause
an increase in the workload of the heart causing a decrease in cardiac output
The practical nurse (PN) is checking the surgical dressing for a client who arrived on the
postoperative unit an hour ago. The dressing has an increase in the accumulation of serosanguinous
drainage. What nursing action should the PN take?
A. Reinforce the dressing with clean gauze sponges and tape.
B. Change the surgical dressing immediately to prevent infection.
C. Mark the outlined area of drainage with date, time and initials.
D. Collect a sample of the drainage for a culture and sensitivity - ANSWER-C. The area of bleeding on
the dressing should be outlined, dated, timed and initialed for furture comparison and evaluation
A male client who is 2 days postoperative for exploratory abdominal surgery is ambulating in the hall
with the practical nurse (PN). The client tells the PN, "I think something in my incision just let go."
Which action should the PN implement first?
A. Notify the healthcare provider.
B. Assist the client to a supine position.
C. Instruct the client to avoid deep breathing.
D. Request an abdominal binder from a coworker. - ANSWER-B. The sensation of the surgical site
letting go is characteristic of wound dehiscence in the early postoperative period. The client should
be placed into a supine position
The practical nurse (PN) is applying a dry, sterile dressing to a client's abdominal wound. Which
allergy should the PN verify with the client?
A. Tape.
B. Antibiotic ointment.
C. Povidone-iodine.
D. Hydrogen peroxide. - ANSWER-A. a dry, sterile dressing includes the use of gauze and tape .
Although a client may be allergic to the other substances used in wound care, (B, C, and D) are not
used for a dry, sterile dressing.
1. A client with cancer who has been taking opioid analgesics for two years now requires increased
doses to obtain pain relief. The client expresses fear about becoming addicted to these drugs. What
information should the practical nurse (PN) provide?
A. Opioid use with cancer does not cause addiction.
B. Addiction is easily reversed if it occurs during pain management.
C. Prescribed opiates for cancer pain relief improve qualify of life.
D. Opioid dosages can be tapered if a client fears addiction. - ANSWER-C. Prescribed opiates for
cancer pain relief improve qualify of life
The goal of pain management for clients with cancer using opiates is to minimize pain and maintain
quality of life
2. A client's indwelling urinary catheter is removed at 9:30 AM. The practical nurse (PN) assesses the
client every two hours for the desire to void. Which documented assessment requires further
intervention by the PN?
A. 1:30 pm: unable to void.
B. 5:30 pm: unable to void.
C. 3:30 pm: unable to void.
D. 11:30 am: unable to void. - ANSWER-B. A client is due to void within 8 hours of catheter removal,
so at 5:30 PM. Longer than 8 hours after removal, catheter reinsertion may be necessary. If the
bladder is not distended, further action may not be needed
3. Which position is best for the practical nurse to place the client in during administration of a rectal
suppository for constipation?
A. Prone with pillows under the client's abdomen.
B. Supine with the client on a bed pan.
C. Left Sims' position with upper leg flexed.
D. Right-side lying knee-chest position. - ANSWER-C. Left side-lying Sims' position lessens the
likelihood that the suppository or feces will be expelled, exposes the anus for visualization during
insertion, and helps the client to relax the external anal sphincter
4. The practical nurse (PN) is adding tap water to several medications for administration via feeding
tube. Which preparation should the PN administer without delay?
A. Reconstituted powder.
B. Timed release capsule.
,C. Cherry flavored elixir.
D. Flavorless suspension. - ANSWER-B. Although the gelatin capsule can be opened to administer the
spansule's granules, the PN should not crush or allow the timed-released granules to dissolve before
administering this preparation via feeding tube since the timed-release function can be
compromised.
What action should the practical nurse (PN) take when drawing medication from an ampule?
A. Aspirate with a filter needle and syringe.
B. Tap the bottom of the ampule lightly.
C. Snap the neck of ampule towards nurse.
D. Use an alcohol swab to open ampule. - ANSWER-A. An ampule is made of glass with a constricted
neck that is snapped off to allow access to the medication. Medications are easily withdrawn from
the ampule by aspirating the fluid with a filter needle and syringe. Filter needles are used when
withdrawing medication from a glass ampule to prevent glass particles from being drawn into the
syringe with the medication. Tap the top, not the bottom (B), of the ampule lightly to allow all of the
medication to drop to the bottom. When opening the ampule, the top should be snapped away from
the nurse's face and body (C). An opened alcohol swab wrapped around the top of the ampule may
allow alcohol to leak into the ampule
The practical nurse (PN) is preparing to reconstitute a drug from powder form for IM administration.
Which step should the PN implement first?
A. Verify the drug with the medication administration record.
B. Mix the powder with the solution.
C. Attach the needle to the syringe.
D. Read the label to determine the amount of diluent to use. - ANSWER-A. The Five Rights of
medication administration include the right drug, right dose, right route, right time, and right client.
The first action should be verification of the right drug in the powder form for reconstitution.
Which action should the practical nurse (PN) implement when administering a subcutaneous
injection to a client who weighs 325 pounds?
A. Produce a bleb at the injection site.
B. Insert the needle at a 15-degree angle.
C. Select a needle with a longer shaft.
D. Rub vigorously for a faster response. - ANSWER-C. To ensure penetration into the deep layer of
subcutaneuos adipose for a client who is obese, the needle length should be longer than the usual
needle (preferably 3/8 to 5/8 inch in length) for subcutaneous injection.
, Which finding indicates to the practical nurse (PN) that an older client who is receiving intravenous
therapy is experiencing fluid overload?
A. Edema in lower extremities.
B. Crackles in the lung fields.
C. Pulse rate of 64 beats/min.
D. Respirations of 16 breaths/min. - ANSWER-B. IV fluid overload in an older client is likely to cause
an increase in the workload of the heart causing a decrease in cardiac output
The practical nurse (PN) is checking the surgical dressing for a client who arrived on the
postoperative unit an hour ago. The dressing has an increase in the accumulation of serosanguinous
drainage. What nursing action should the PN take?
A. Reinforce the dressing with clean gauze sponges and tape.
B. Change the surgical dressing immediately to prevent infection.
C. Mark the outlined area of drainage with date, time and initials.
D. Collect a sample of the drainage for a culture and sensitivity - ANSWER-C. The area of bleeding on
the dressing should be outlined, dated, timed and initialed for furture comparison and evaluation
A male client who is 2 days postoperative for exploratory abdominal surgery is ambulating in the hall
with the practical nurse (PN). The client tells the PN, "I think something in my incision just let go."
Which action should the PN implement first?
A. Notify the healthcare provider.
B. Assist the client to a supine position.
C. Instruct the client to avoid deep breathing.
D. Request an abdominal binder from a coworker. - ANSWER-B. The sensation of the surgical site
letting go is characteristic of wound dehiscence in the early postoperative period. The client should
be placed into a supine position
The practical nurse (PN) is applying a dry, sterile dressing to a client's abdominal wound. Which
allergy should the PN verify with the client?
A. Tape.
B. Antibiotic ointment.
C. Povidone-iodine.
D. Hydrogen peroxide. - ANSWER-A. a dry, sterile dressing includes the use of gauze and tape .
Although a client may be allergic to the other substances used in wound care, (B, C, and D) are not
used for a dry, sterile dressing.
