Nursing Elites

1. What intervention should the nurse implement first for a male toddler brought to the emergency center approximately three hours after swallowing tablets from his grandmother's bottle of digoxin (Lanoxin)?

• A. Administer activated charcoal
• B. Prepare gastric lavage
• C. Obtain a 12-lead electrocardiogram
• D. Give IV digoxin immune fab (Digibind)

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Administering activated charcoal is the priority intervention as it binds with digoxin, preventing further absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. This helps reduce the amount of digoxin available for systemic circulation and minimizes its toxic effects. Gastric lavage is no longer recommended due to potential complications and lack of evidence of efficacy. Obtaining an electrocardiogram may help assess the effects of digoxin toxicity, but it is not the initial priority. IV digoxin immune fab (Digibind) is used in severe cases of digoxin toxicity but is not the first-line intervention.

2. A child with Graves' disease who is taking propranolol (Inderal) is seen in the clinic. The nurse should monitor the child for which therapeutic response?

• A. Increased weight gain
• B. Decreased heart rate
• C. Reduced headaches
• D. Diminished fatigue

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'Decreased heart rate.' Propranolol is a beta-blocker commonly used to manage symptoms of hyperthyroidism, including tachycardia. Monitoring for a decreased heart rate is important as it indicates the drug's therapeutic response in controlling the elevated heart rate associated with Graves' disease. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because weight gain, reduced headaches, and diminished fatigue are not typical therapeutic responses to propranolol in the context of managing Graves' disease.

3. When should a mother introduce solid foods to her 4-month-old baby girl? The mother states, 'My mother says I should put rice cereal in the baby's bottle now.' The nurse should instruct the mother to introduce solid foods when her child exhibits which behavior?

• A. Stops rooting when hungry
• B. Opens mouth when food comes her way
• C. Awakens once for nighttime feedings
• D. Gives up a bottle for a cup

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'Opens mouth when food comes her way.' This behavior indicates readiness to start trying solid foods. Infants should be introduced to solid foods based on developmental cues, such as showing an interest in food and the ability to accept it. Choices A, C, and D are not indicative of readiness for solid foods. Stopping rooting when hungry is a reflex that may persist beyond the readiness for solids. Awakening for nighttime feedings is a normal behavior for a 4-month-old, and transitioning from a bottle to a cup is a later developmental milestone.

4. A 7-year-old child is admitted to the hospital with nephrotic syndrome. The nurse notes that the child has gained 3 pounds in the past 24 hours. What should the nurse do first?

• A. Administer a diuretic as prescribed
• B. Restrict the child’s fluid intake
• C. Notify the healthcare provider
• D. Measure the child’s abdominal girth

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In a child with nephrotic syndrome experiencing sudden weight gain, the priority action for the nurse is to notify the healthcare provider. This weight gain could indicate worsening edema or fluid retention, necessitating immediate medical evaluation and intervention. The healthcare provider can conduct a comprehensive assessment, order necessary tests, and adjust the treatment plan accordingly. Administering a diuretic, restricting fluid intake, or measuring abdominal girth should not be initiated without healthcare provider consultation to ensure appropriate management of the child's condition.

5. The healthcare provider is providing postoperative care to a 7-year-old child who had surgery for appendicitis. The child is experiencing pain at the surgical site. What is the healthcare provider's priority action?

• A. Administer the prescribed pain medication
• B. Encourage the child to take deep breaths
• C. Apply a warm compress to the surgical site
• D. Reposition the child to a more comfortable position

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Administering the prescribed pain medication is crucial to effectively manage the child's postoperative pain. Pain management is a priority to ensure the child's comfort and promote healing following surgery. Encouraging deep breaths, applying warm compresses, or repositioning the child may help, but addressing the pain with medication is the initial and most vital intervention.

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