Nursing Elites

1. An intravenous line is needed in a school-age child. What medication is an appropriate analgesic for use with this patient?

• A. TAC (tetracaine, epinephrine [Adrenalin], cocaine) 15 minutes before the procedure.
• B. A transdermal fentanyl (Duragesic) patch at the site of venipuncture.
• C. EMLA (eutectic mixture of local anesthetics) immediately before the procedure.
• D. LMX (4% liposomal lidocaine cream) 30 minutes before the procedure.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: LMX is an effective analgesic agent when applied to the skin 30 minutes before a procedure. It eliminates or reduces the pain from most procedures involving skin puncture. TAC provides skin anesthesia about 15 minutes after application to nonintact skin, making it more suitable for wound suturing. Transdermal fentanyl patches are designed for continuous pain control, not rapid pain control needed for a procedure like venipuncture. EMLA, for maximum effectiveness, must be applied approximately 60 minutes before the procedure, making it less suitable for immediate pain relief required for intravenous line placement.

2. A preschool-age boy presents to the outpatient clinic for a sore throat. In the child’s mind, which is the most likely cause for the sore throat?

• A. Being exposed to a classmate with strep throat
• B. Not eating the right foods
• C. Not taking daily vitamins
• D. Yelling at sibling for being annoying

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. Preschool-age children often attribute illness to their actions, like yelling at a sibling or not following instructions. They may not understand medical causes such as exposure to infections like strep throat (choice A), dietary factors (choice B), or vitamin deficiencies (choice C). It is common for young children to connect symptoms to recent behaviors or events within their limited understanding.

3. What is an advantage of the ventrogluteal muscle as an injection site in young children?

• A. Easily accessible from many directions
• B. Free of significant nerves and vascular structures
• C. Can be used until the child reaches a weight of 9 kg (20 lb)
• D. Increased subcutaneous fat, which provides sustained drug absorption

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The ventrogluteal site is free of significant nerves and vascular structures, making it a safer choice for intramuscular injections in young children compared to other sites that may be more prone to complications.

4. The nurse is performing an assessment on a 12-month-old infant. Which fine or gross motor developmental skill demonstrates the proximodistal acquisition of skills?

• A. Standing
• B. Sitting without assistance
• C. Fully developed pincer grasp
• D. Taking a few steps holding onto something

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The development of a pincer grasp reflects fine motor skills, which develop in a proximodistal pattern (from the center of the body outward).

5. Which physiological acid-base balance complication would be most important for the nurse to assess in a patient with diarrhea?

• A. High serum pH
• B. Normal serum pH
• C. Metabolic alkalosis
• D. Metabolic acidosis

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is metabolic acidosis. Diarrhea can lead to the loss of bicarbonate, causing an imbalance in the acid-base status of the body, specifically resulting in metabolic acidosis. High serum pH (choice A) is incorrect as diarrhea-induced bicarbonate loss would lower pH, not increase it. Normal serum pH (choice B) is not the best answer as diarrhea can disrupt the acid-base balance. Metabolic alkalosis (choice C) is an alkaline state, which is less likely to be caused by diarrhea.

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