Nursing Elites

1. A school nurse is teaching parents of school-age children about the importance of immunizations for childhood communicable diseases. What preventable disease may cause the complication of encephalitis?

• A. Varicella
• B. Scarlet fever
• C. Poliomyelitis
• D. Whooping cough

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is Varicella (chickenpox), choice A. Varicella can lead to the complication of encephalitis, which is the inflammation of the brain. Scarlet fever (choice B) is caused by Group A Streptococcus bacteria and does not typically lead to encephalitis. Poliomyelitis (choice C) is a viral infection that affects the nervous system but does not directly cause encephalitis. Whooping cough (choice D), also known as pertussis, primarily affects the respiratory system and does not commonly result in encephalitis.

2. A parent asks the nurse what they can do to help their child who is experiencing night terrors. What should the nurse suggest?

• A. Encourage the child to talk about the dream
• B. Establish a bedtime routine
• C. Allow the child to sleep with the parents
• D. Wake the child during the night

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Establishing a bedtime routine is the most appropriate suggestion for a child experiencing night terrors. Consistent bedtime routines help create a sense of security and predictability, reducing the likelihood of night terrors. Encouraging the child to talk about the dream (Choice A) may not be effective as night terrors occur during non-REM sleep, and the child may not remember the dreams. Allowing the child to sleep with the parents (Choice C) can reinforce dependency and may not address the underlying causes of night terrors. Waking the child during the night (Choice D) can disrupt their sleep cycle and worsen the occurrence of night terrors.

3. When the working mother of a toddler is preparing to take her child home after a prolonged hospitalization, she asks the nurse what type of behavior she should expect to be displayed. What is the nurse’s most appropriate description of her child’s probable behavior?

• A. Excessively demanding behavior
• B. Hostile attitude toward the mother
• C. Cheerful, with shallow attachment behaviors
• D. Withdrawn, without emotional ties to the mother

Correct answer: A

Rationale: After a prolonged hospitalization, a toddler may exhibit excessively demanding behavior as they readjust to being home. This behavior can be a result of the child seeking extra attention and reassurance after a stressful experience. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because hostility, cheerfulness with shallow attachment, and withdrawal without emotional ties are less likely outcomes in this situation and do not align with common reactions of toddlers after hospitalization.

4. A healthcare professional is assessing a child with suspected pertussis. What clinical manifestation is the healthcare professional likely to observe?

• A. Dry, hacking cough
• B. Inspiratory stridor
• C. Nasal congestion
• D. Severe coughing spells

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Severe coughing spells are a hallmark clinical manifestation of pertussis. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is characterized by paroxysms of rapid, consecutive coughs followed by a distinctive 'whoop' sound as the patient gasps for air. This intense coughing can lead to vomiting, exhaustion, and sometimes a characteristic 'whoop' sound. Inspiratory stridor (Choice B) is more commonly associated with croup, not pertussis. Nasal congestion (Choice C) is not a typical feature of pertussis. While a cough is present in pertussis, the specific type of cough described in Choice A (dry, hacking cough) is not the predominant feature observed in pertussis.

5. A child undergoes heart surgery to repair the defects associated with tetralogy of Fallot. What behavior is essential for the nurse to prevent postoperatively?

• A. Crying
• B. Coughing
• C. Straining at stool
• D. Unnecessary movement

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct behavior that the nurse needs to prevent postoperatively is straining at stool. Straining at stool should be avoided as it can increase intrathoracic pressure, leading to stress on the surgical site. This stress can potentially compromise the surgical repair and increase the risk of complications. Crying, coughing, and unnecessary movement, although important to monitor postoperatively, do not directly impact the surgical site as significantly as straining at stool does. Therefore, the focus should be on preventing straining at stool to ensure the best postoperative outcome for the child.

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