Nursing Elites

1. Clinical manifestations of sodium excess (hypernatremia) include which signs or symptoms?

• A. Hyperreflexia
• B. Abdominal cramps
• C. Cardiac dysrhythmias
• D. Dry, sticky mucous membranes

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Hypernatremia often presents with dry, sticky mucous membranes due to dehydration. Hyperreflexia and abdominal cramps may also occur, but dry mucous membranes are more consistently observed in cases of sodium excess.

2. What is the best indicator of fluid balance in a pediatric patient?

• A. Blood pressure
• B. Heart rate
• C. Weight
• D. Urine output

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Weight is the most accurate indicator of fluid balance in pediatric patients. Changes in weight reflect shifts in body fluid levels more directly compared to other parameters. Blood pressure and heart rate may be affected by various factors other than fluid balance. While urine output is important in assessing renal function, it may not provide a comprehensive picture of overall fluid balance in pediatric patients.

3. After surgery yesterday for gastroesophageal reflux, the nurse finds that the infant has somehow removed the nasogastric (NG) tube. What nursing action is most appropriate to perform at this time?

• A. Notify the healthcare provider.
• B. Insert a new NG tube for feedings.
• C. Replace the NG tube to maintain gastric decompression.
• D. Leave the NG tube out as it may have been in long enough.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The most appropriate action for the nurse to take in this situation is to notify the healthcare provider immediately. This is important as the removal of the NG tube can disrupt postoperative care, especially in terms of maintaining gastric decompression. Inserting a new NG tube without practitioner direction can be unsafe and is not within the nurse's scope of practice. Similarly, replacing the NG tube or leaving it out should be decided by the healthcare provider to ensure the infant's safety and appropriate postoperative care.

4. An anxious 12-year-old child receives an injection from the nurse and sighs with relief when it is done. After a moment of reflection, the girl asks the nurse, 'Is it hard to give someone an injection?' This child’s question is evidence that the child has developed which cognitive skill?

• A. Conservation
• B. Accommodation
• C. Decentering
• D. Class inclusion

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Decentering. Decentering is the ability to consider multiple aspects of a situation, which the child's question demonstrates. In this scenario, the child's question shows that she is thinking beyond her own experience and considering the difficulty or complexity of giving an injection from the nurse's perspective. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. Conservation refers to understanding that certain properties of an object remain the same despite changes in its appearance. Accommodation is the process of adjusting existing knowledge or creating new mental categories to incorporate new information. Class inclusion involves understanding the relationship between a whole set and its subsets, which is not demonstrated in the child's question.

5. What is an approximate method of estimating output for a child who is not toilet trained?

• A. Have parents estimate output.
• B. Weigh diapers after each void.
• C. Place a urine collection device on the child.
• D. Have the child sit on a potty chair 30 minutes after eating.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Weighing diapers is the most accurate way to estimate urine output in a child who is not toilet trained. This method provides a measurable and reliable estimate of fluid output.

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