Nursing Elites

1. A healthcare professional is preparing to administer an oral medication to a 4-year-old child. What is the best approach to gain the child's cooperation?

• A. Explain the importance of the medication to the child
• B. Allow the child to play with a favorite toy while taking the medication
• C. Offer a reward after the medication is taken
• D. Give the medication mixed with a small amount of the child's favorite food

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Allowing the child to play with a favorite toy while taking the medication is the best approach to gain cooperation. This strategy can help distract and calm the child during the medication administration process. Choice A may not be as effective with a young child who may not fully understand the explanation. Offering a reward (choice C) may reinforce negative behavior and create a dependency on rewards for cooperation. Giving the medication with food (choice D) may not always be appropriate and may not address the cooperation aspect.

2. An 8-year-old child diagnosed with meningitis is to undergo a lumbar puncture. What should the nurse explain is the purpose of this procedure?

• A. To measure the pressure of cerebrospinal fluid
• B. To obtain a sample of cerebrospinal fluid for analysis
• C. To relieve intracranial pressure
• D. To assess the presence of infection in the spinal fluid

Correct answer: B

Rationale: A lumbar puncture is performed to obtain a sample of cerebrospinal fluid for analysis. This fluid is then examined for signs of infection, bleeding, or other abnormalities. Measuring the pressure of cerebrospinal fluid is typically done during the procedure itself, but it is not the primary purpose of the lumbar puncture. While a lumbar puncture can indirectly help relieve intracranial pressure by removing excess cerebrospinal fluid, this is not its primary purpose. Assessing the presence of infection in the spinal fluid is part of the analysis that follows the collection of the sample, making it a secondary outcome of the procedure.

3. A parent of an 11-month-old infant who has a cleft palate asks the nurse why it was recommended that closure of the palate should be done before the age of 2. How should the nurse respond?

• A. “After age 2, surgery is frightening and should be avoided if possible.”
• B. “Eruption of the 2-year molars often complicates the surgical procedure.”
• C. “As your child gets older, the palate gets wider and more difficult to repair.”
• D. “Surgery should be performed before your child starts to use faulty speech patterns.”

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Closure of the cleft palate is recommended before the age of 2 to prevent the development of faulty speech patterns. Performing surgery at a younger age helps avoid speech difficulties that may arise if the repair is delayed. Choice A is incorrect as it focuses on fear, not the developmental aspect. Choice B is incorrect as the eruption of molars is not the primary reason for early surgery. Choice C is incorrect because the difficulty of repair is not solely related to the width of the palate but also to speech development.

4. A major developmental milestone of a toddler is the achievement of autonomy. What should the caregiver instruct the parents to do to enhance their toddler’s need for autonomy?

• A. Teach the child to share with others.
• B. Help the child learn society’s roles.
• C. Teach the child to accept external limits.
• D. Help the child develop internal controls.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Toddlers are striving for autonomy during this developmental stage. Helping the child to develop internal controls, such as self-regulation and decision-making skills, enhances their sense of autonomy. Choice A, teaching the child to share, focuses more on social skills rather than autonomy. Choice B, helping the child learn society's roles, pertains to socialization rather than autonomy. Choice C, teaching the child to accept external limits, is about compliance with rules rather than fostering autonomy. Therefore, the most appropriate action to enhance a toddler's need for autonomy is to help them develop internal controls.

5. A child with a diagnosis of leukemia is admitted to the hospital with a fever. What is the priority nursing intervention?

• A. Administering antibiotics
• B. Administering antipyretics
• C. Providing nutritional support
• D. Monitoring for signs of infection

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Monitoring for signs of infection. When a child with leukemia presents with a fever, the priority nursing intervention is to monitor for signs of infection due to the immunocompromised state of the child. Administering antibiotics (choice A) may be necessary based on the assessment of signs of infection, but monitoring comes first. Administering antipyretics (choice B) helps to reduce fever but does not address the underlying cause. Providing nutritional support (choice C) is essential but not the priority when the child is at risk of infection.

Similar Questions