Nursing Elites

1. A 5-year-old has patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for pain management after abdominal surgery. What information does the nurse include in teaching the parents about the PCA?

• A. The child may not be pain-free.
• B. The parents or nurse may push the button for a bolus if needed.
• C. The pump allows for a continuous basal rate to deliver a constant amount of medication for pain control.
• D. Monitoring is required every 1 to 2 hours to assess patient response.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because the PCA pump can be programmed to deliver a continuous basal rate of pain medication to maintain pain control. While the goal of PCA is effective pain relief, it does not guarantee a pain-free state. In the case of a 5-year-old child, the parents or nurse can administer boluses if necessary since the child may not fully comprehend using the PCA button. Monitoring every 1 to 2 hours for patient response is adequate and there is no need for monitoring every 15 minutes, as stated in choice D, unless specific circumstances dictate more frequent monitoring.

2. When assessing a child with leukemia, which clinical manifestations should the nurse anticipate?

• A. Petechiae, fever, fatigue
• B. Headache, papilledema, irritability
• C. Muscle wasting, weight loss, fatigue
• D. Decreased intracranial pressure, psychosis, confusion

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Petechiae, fever, fatigue. Children with leukemia commonly present with petechiae (due to low platelet count), fever (due to infection), and fatigue (due to anemia), which are classic manifestations of the disease. Option B is incorrect because headache, papilledema, and irritability are more indicative of increased intracranial pressure, not leukemia. Option C is incorrect as muscle wasting and weight loss are not typical initial manifestations of leukemia in children. Option D is incorrect as decreased intracranial pressure, psychosis, and confusion are not commonly associated with leukemia.

3. A 6-year-old child has patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for pain management after orthopedic surgery. The parents are worried that their child will be in pain. What should your explanation to the parents include?

• A. The child will continue to sleep and be pain-free
• B. Parents cannot administer additional medication with the button
• C. The pump can deliver baseline and bolus dosages
• D. There is a high risk of overdose, so monitoring is done every 15 minutes

Correct answer: C

Rationale: PCA pumps are designed to deliver both a continuous baseline dose and patient-activated bolus doses, which can help manage pain effectively while minimizing the risk of overdose.

4. Which pediatric disorder is associated with a 'boot-shaped' heart on a chest x-ray?

• A. Tetralogy of Fallot
• B. Transposition of the great arteries
• C. Coarctation of the aorta
• D. Ventricular septal defect

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Tetralogy of Fallot. Tetralogy of Fallot is often associated with a 'boot-shaped' heart appearance on a chest x-ray due to the characteristic heart anatomy in this condition. This appearance is caused by the combination of pulmonary stenosis, overriding aorta, ventricular septal defect, and right ventricular hypertrophy. Choice B, Transposition of the great arteries, is incorrect because it presents with a 'egg-on-a-string' appearance on x-ray due to the abnormal position of the aorta and pulmonary artery. Choice C, Coarctation of the aorta, typically presents with rib notching on x-ray. Choice D, Ventricular septal defect, does not produce the 'boot-shaped' heart appearance seen in Tetralogy of Fallot.

5. Two children are working on a puzzle together in the hospital playroom. Which type of play describes this activity?

• A. Solitary play
• B. Associative play
• C. Parallel play
• D. Cooperative play

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, cooperative play. In cooperative play, children work together toward a common goal, such as completing a puzzle. Solitary play (A) is when a child plays alone, associative play (B) involves children playing together but without a common goal, and parallel play (C) is when children play alongside each other without direct interaction.

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