Nursing Elites

1. A child has a planned hospitalization in a few weeks, and the client and family appear very stressed. Which nursing action will minimize their stress?

• A. Telling the client and family that everything will be fine
• B. Explaining how the child will benefit from the surgery
• C. Telling the client and family that the surgeon is very good
• D. Giving a tour of the hospital unit or surgical area

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct nursing action to minimize the stress of the child and family is giving a tour of the hospital unit or surgical area. Familiarizing them with the hospital environment can help reduce their anxiety by allowing them to see where the child will be staying and the surroundings. Choices A, B, and C do not directly address the need to reduce stress by providing a tangible way to alleviate anxiety through exposure to the hospital setting.

2. Why is it difficult to assess a child’s dietary intake?

• A. No systematic assessment tool has been developed
• B. Biochemical analysis for assessing nutrition is expensive
• C. Families usually do not understand much about nutrition
• D. Recall of food consumption is frequently unreliable

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. Recall of food intake, especially amounts eaten, is often unreliable. While systematic tools like the 24-hour recall and dietary history questionnaires exist, recall can still be challenging in accurately assessing a child's dietary intake. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because systematic assessment tools do exist, biochemical analysis is not the primary method for dietary assessment, and families' understanding of nutrition may vary but is not the main reason for the difficulty in assessing a child's dietary intake.

3. In terms of gross motor development, what should the nurse expect an infant age 5 months to do?

• A. Sit erect without support
• B. Roll from the back to the abdomen
• C. Turn from the abdomen to the back
• D. Move from a prone to a sitting position

Correct answer: C

Rationale: At 5 months, infants typically can turn from their abdomen to their back. Rolling from back to abdomen and sitting erect without support occur later.

4. An intravenous line is needed in a school-age child. What medication is an appropriate analgesic for use with this patient?

• A. TAC (tetracaine, epinephrine [Adrenalin], cocaine) 15 minutes before the procedure.
• B. A transdermal fentanyl (Duragesic) patch at the site of venipuncture.
• C. EMLA (eutectic mixture of local anesthetics) immediately before the procedure.
• D. LMX (4% liposomal lidocaine cream) 30 minutes before the procedure.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: LMX is an effective analgesic agent when applied to the skin 30 minutes before a procedure. It eliminates or reduces the pain from most procedures involving skin puncture. TAC provides skin anesthesia about 15 minutes after application to nonintact skin, making it more suitable for wound suturing. Transdermal fentanyl patches are designed for continuous pain control, not rapid pain control needed for a procedure like venipuncture. EMLA, for maximum effectiveness, must be applied approximately 60 minutes before the procedure, making it less suitable for immediate pain relief required for intravenous line placement.

5. An infant with hydrocephalus is hospitalized for surgical placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Postoperative nursing care would include what?

• A. Monitor closely for signs of infection.
• B. Place the child with the operative side of the head up.
• C. Avoid pumping the shunt reservoir to maintain patency.
• D. Avoid maintaining a Trendelenburg position to decrease pressure on the shunt.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Postoperative nursing care for an infant with hydrocephalus who underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement includes monitoring closely for signs of infection, as infection is the greatest hazard in the postoperative period. Signs of cerebrospinal fluid infection to watch for include elevated temperature, poor feeding, vomiting, decreased responsiveness, and seizure activity. The child should be placed with the operative side of the head up to reduce pressure on the valve. The shunt reservoir should not be pumped to maintain patency, as this can disrupt its function. Maintaining a Trendelenburg position to decrease pressure on the shunt is contraindicated as it can lead to increased intracranial pressure and compromise the shunt's effectiveness.

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