Nursing Elites

1. When evaluating a child with a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) for medication management, what is an important assessment for the nurse to perform?

• A. Assess the child's sleep patterns
• B. Assess the child's dietary intake
• C. Assess the child's academic performance
• D. Assess the child's behavior at home

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Assessing the child's dietary intake is crucial as certain foods and additives can affect ADHD symptoms. Ensuring a balanced diet can help manage symptoms and provide proper nutrition. Assessing sleep patterns (Choice A) is also important, but dietary intake is more directly linked to symptom management in ADHD. Academic performance (Choice C) and behavior at home (Choice D) may be affected by ADHD but are not as directly related to medication management as dietary intake.

2. During a check-up for a 5-year-old child with eczema before school starts, what will the nurse do?

• A. Change the bandage on a cut on the child’s hand.
• B. Assess the compliance with treatment regimens.
• C. Discuss systemic corticosteroid therapy.
• D. Assess the child’s fluid volume.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Assessing compliance with treatment regimens is crucial in managing eczema effectively and preventing flare-ups. This involves ensuring that the child is following the prescribed treatment plan, which may include medication application, skincare routines, and lifestyle modifications. Changing a bandage on a cut would not be a routine part of an eczema check-up unless there was a specific wound related to eczema. Discussing systemic corticosteroid therapy may be part of the management plan for severe eczema cases but would not be the primary focus during a routine check-up. Assessing the child’s fluid volume, while important in general health assessments, is not directly related to managing eczema specifically.

3. An 18-month-old was brought to the emergency department by her mother, who states, 'I think she broke her arm.' The child is sent for a radiograph to confirm the fracture. Additional assessment of the child leads the nurse to suspect possible child abuse. Which type of fracture would the radiograph most likely reveal?

• A. Plastic deformity
• B. Buckle fracture
• C. Spiral fracture
• D. Greenstick fracture

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A spiral fracture is a type of fracture often associated with twisting injuries and can raise suspicion of child abuse. This type of fracture is caused by a twisting force applied to a bone. Plastic deformity is not typically associated with fractures but refers to the ability of a material to change shape and retain that shape. A buckle fracture, also known as a torus fracture, is an incomplete break in a bone commonly seen in children. A greenstick fracture is an incomplete fracture where the bone is bent and partially broken, more commonly seen in children due to their bone flexibility.

4. Based on developmental norms for a 5-year-old child, a healthcare professional decides to withhold a scheduled dose of digoxin (Lanoxin) elixir and notify the healthcare provider. Below what apical pulse did the healthcare professional withhold the medication?

• A. 60 beats/min
• B. 70 beats/min
• C. 90 beats/min
• D. 100 beats/min

Correct answer: C

Rationale: For a 5-year-old child, an apical pulse below 90 beats/min is an indicator to withhold digoxin. Digoxin is a medication that affects the heart, and in pediatric patients, monitoring the pulse rate is crucial due to the risk of bradycardia (slow heart rate) as a potential side effect. In this case, an apical pulse of 90 beats/min or lower indicates a heart rate that may be too slow for a child of this age, warranting the withholding of digoxin and prompt notification of the healthcare provider. Choices A, B, and D are not within the critical range specified for withholding digoxin in a 5-year-old child and would not necessitate withholding the medication.

5. A parent calls the outpatient clinic requesting information about the appropriate dose of acetaminophen for a 16-month-old child who has signs of an upper respiratory tract infection and fever. The directions on the bottle of acetaminophen elixir are 120 mg every 4 hours when needed. At the toddler’s 15-month visit, the healthcare provider prescribed 150 mg. What is the nurse’s best response to the parent?

• A. “The dose is close enough, and it doesn’t really matter which one is given.”
• B. “From your description, the medication is not necessary. It should be avoided at this age.”
• C. “It is appropriate to use dosages based on age. Children typically have weights consistent for their age groups.”
• D. “The prescribed dose of the drug was based on weight, and this is a more accurate way of determining a therapeutic dose.”

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The most accurate way to determine a therapeutic dose for children is based on their weight rather than age. Weight-based dosing accounts for individual variations in drug metabolism and distribution, ensuring a more precise and safer medication administration. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect as they do not address the importance of weight-based dosing in children, potentially leading to inappropriate dosing and safety concerns.

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