HESI Registered Nurse EXIT Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Get ready for the HESI RN EXIT Exam with our comprehensive preparation quizzes. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your final assessment!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

When should a child receive a tetanus booster after stepping on a rusty nail?

Within 24 hours
Within 72 hours
After 1 week
Only if symptoms develop

The correct answer is: Within 72 hours

The recommendation for a child to receive a tetanus booster after stepping on a rusty nail is within 72 hours. This timeframe is important because tetanus bacteria can enter the body through wounds, especially puncture wounds caused by items like rusty nails. The tetanus booster is vital to ensure that the child's immune system is adequately protected against the tetanus toxin, which can cause severe muscle spasms and is potentially life-threatening. Administering the booster within 72 hours maximizes the chances of effective immunity being established before any symptoms of tetanus can develop. Following this window, the body may not mount an adequate immune response to ward off the effects of the toxin, especially if the child is not up to date with their tetanus vaccinations. Therefore, prompt action is critical after such incidents to prevent possible complications associated with tetanus infection.