Nursing Elites

1. During the nurse’s initial assessment of a school-age child, the child reports a pain level of 6 out of 10. The child is lying quietly in bed watching television. What action should the nurse take?

• A. Reassess the child in 15 minutes to see if the pain rating has changed
• B. Administer the prescribed analgesic
• C. Do nothing since the child appears to be resting
• D. Ask the child’s parents if they think the child is hurting

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Pain management should be based on the child’s report of pain, regardless of their activity level. Administering the prescribed analgesic is the appropriate action. Reassessing the child in 15 minutes without providing immediate pain relief may not be in the child's best interest. Doing nothing since the child appears to be resting may lead to inadequate pain management. Asking the child’s parents if they think the child is hurting does not replace the need for direct assessment and intervention by the nurse.

2. At what age is it safe to give infants whole milk instead of commercial infant formula?

• A. 6 months
• B. 9 months
• C. 12 months
• D. 18 months

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Whole milk should not be introduced before 12 months because it lacks the necessary nutrients, such as iron, that infants need for proper growth and development.

3. Which drug is usually the best choice for patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for a child in the immediate postoperative period?

• A. Codeine sulfate (Codeine)
• B. Morphine (Roxanol)
• C. Methadone (Dolophine)
• D. Meperidine (Demerol)

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Morphine is the drug of choice for PCA in children because of its efficacy, safety profile, and rapid onset of action for pain management.

4. The nurse is preparing a 9-year-old boy before obtaining a blood specimen by venipuncture. The child tells the nurse he does not want to lose his blood. What approach is best by the nurse?

• A. Explain that it will not be painful.
• B. Suggest to him that he not worry about losing just a little bit of blood.
• C. Discuss with him how his body is always in the process of making blood.
• D. Tell the child that he will not even need a Band-Aid afterward because it is a simple procedure.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Discussing how the body continuously makes blood helps the child understand that losing a small amount is normal and not harmful. This educational approach also helps reduce anxiety by giving the child a sense of control over the situation.

5. Which pediatric condition is characterized by a "string sign" on an upper GI series?

• A. Intussusception
• B. Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis
• C. Hirschsprung disease
• D. Meckel diverticulum

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. The "string sign" is associated with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, a condition where the pyloric canal is narrowed, leading to gastric outlet obstruction. Intussusception (choice A) typically presents with colicky abdominal pain and currant jelly stools. Hirschsprung disease (choice C) is characterized by the absence of ganglion cells in the distal colon. Meckel diverticulum (choice D) is a congenital outpouching of the small intestine that can present with painless rectal bleeding.

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