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 parent brings their 4-year-old child for a check-up. Which finding would concern the nurse?

• A. Ectomorphic body type
• B. Resting pulse rate of 120
• C. Weight gain of 5 lb (2.27 kg) in the past year
• D. No increase in appetite compared with that in toddler years

Correct answer: B

Rationale: A resting pulse rate of 120 is elevated for a 4-year-old and may indicate an underlying issue that needs further investigation. An ectomorphic body type is a body shape and not typically a cause for concern. Weight gain within normal limits and no significant change in appetite are generally positive findings in a growing child.

3. The nurse is conducting discharge teaching with the parent of a 7-year-old child with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS). What statement by the parent indicates a correct understanding of the teaching?

• A. My child needs to stay home from school for at least 1 more month.
• B. I should not add additional salt to any of my child's meals.
• C. My child will not be able to participate in contact sports while receiving corticosteroid therapy.
• D. I should measure my child's urine after each void and report the 24-hour amount to the healthcare provider.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Avoiding additional salt is crucial to help manage edema in children with MCNS. While monitoring urine output is important, the other statements either misinterpret the need for prolonged school absence or misunderstand the risk associated with contact sports during steroid therapy.

4. You are developing a plan of care for a hospitalized child. Which age group is most likely to view illness as a punishment for misdeeds?

• A. Adolescence
• B. Preschool age
• C. Infancy
• D. School age

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Preschool-aged children often engage in magical thinking, where they may believe that illness is a punishment for misdeeds. This belief is related to their cognitive development stage, where they may attribute cause and effect in a magical or unrealistic way. Adolescents are more likely to view illness as a disruption to their sense of independence or control. Infants lack the cognitive development to associate illness with punishment for misdeeds. School-aged children typically have a more concrete understanding of illness and its causes, moving away from magical thinking.

5. At what age is the first dose of the hepatitis A vaccine recommended to be started?

• A. 1 year
• B. 1 month
• C. 12 years
• D. It is not recommended at any age

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 1 year. The hepatitis A vaccine is now recommended for all children starting at age 1 year (i.e., 12 to 23 months). This is due to the recognition of hepatitis A as a significant child health problem, especially in areas with high infection rates. The virus is primarily spread through fecal-oral transmission, person-to-person contact, ingestion of contaminated food or water, and rarely through blood transfusion. Administering the first dose at 1 year helps protect children from this infection. Choices B and C are incorrect as the vaccine is not recommended at 1 month or 12 years. Choice D is also incorrect as the hepatitis A vaccine is recommended at a specific age to prevent the infection.

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