Nursing Elites

1. A nurse must do a venipuncture on a 6-year-old child. What consideration is important in providing atraumatic care?

• A. Use an 18-gauge needle if possible.
• B. Show the child the equipment to be used before the procedure.
• C. If not successful after four attempts, have another nurse try.
• D. Restrain the child completely.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Showing the child the equipment before the procedure helps build trust and reduces fear. Using an 18-gauge needle is too large for a child, and multiple attempts can increase trauma. Restraining completely can increase fear and anxiety.

2. A child with pyloric stenosis is having excessive vomiting. The nurse should assess for what potential complication?

• A. Hyperkalemia
• B. Hyperchloremia
• C. Metabolic acidosis
• D. Metabolic alkalosis

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Excessive vomiting in pyloric stenosis leads to the loss of stomach acid (hydrochloric acid), resulting in metabolic alkalosis, not hyperkalemia, hyperchloremia, or metabolic acidosis. Metabolic alkalosis is characterized by a higher pH level in the blood due to the loss of acid and a relative increase in bicarbonate. Hyperkalemia is an elevated level of potassium in the blood and is not directly related to excessive vomiting in pyloric stenosis. Hyperchloremia is an excess of chloride in the blood, which is not typically associated with this condition. Metabolic acidosis is a condition characterized by a lower pH level in the blood, caused by an excess of acid or a loss of bicarbonate, which is not the typical complication seen in pyloric stenosis with excessive vomiting.

3. A child is hospitalized in acute renal failure and has a serum potassium greater than 7 mEq/L. What temporary measures that will produce a rapid but transient effect to reduce the potassium should the nurse expect to be prescribed? (Select all that apply.)

• A. Dialysis
• B. All below
• C. Sodium bicarbonate
• D. Glucose 50% and insulin

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Calcium gluconate, sodium bicarbonate, and glucose with insulin are used as temporary measures to rapidly reduce serum potassium levels. They help shift potassium into cells and stabilize the heart but do not remove potassium from the body like dialysis does.

4. The parent asks when the soft area in the infant's head will go away. What is the best response by the nurse?

• A. The area is called the anterior fontanel (fontanelle) and typically closes anytime up to 18 months of age.
• B. The area is called a fontanel (fontanelle). They remain open to allow for rapid brain growth in the first months of life.
• C. The soft spots may stay open until your infant is 2 or 3 years old.
• D. Soft spots on the infant's head should have closed by now.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The best response by the nurse is A, as the anterior fontanel typically closes between 12-18 months of age, allowing for brain growth during infancy. Choice B is incorrect because it does not provide a specific timeframe for the closure of the fontanel. Choice C is incorrect as it suggests a later closure timeframe than usual. Choice D is incorrect as it states that the soft spots should have closed already, which is inaccurate for a 6-month-old infant.

5. The nurse is caring for a child with a urinary tract infection who is on intravenous gentamicin (Garamycin). What interventions should the nurse plan for this child with regard to this medication? (Select all that apply.)

• A. Encourage fluids.
• B. Monitor urinary output.
• C. Monitor sodium serum levels.
• D. All above

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that requires monitoring of serum peak and trough levels to avoid toxicity, particularly nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. Encouraging fluids and monitoring urinary output are also crucial to minimize the risk of kidney damage.

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