Nursing Elites

1. The mother of a child with type 1 diabetes asks the nurse why her child cannot avoid all those ‘shots’ and take pills like an uncle does. How should the nurse respond?

• A. The pills work with adult pancreases only.
• B. Your child needs insulin replaced, and the oral hypoglycemic only add to an existing supply of insulin.
• C. The drugs affect fat and protein metabolism, not sugar.
• D. Perhaps when your child is older the pancreas will produce its own insulin, and then your child can take oral hypoglycemic agents.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Children with type 1 diabetes require insulin replacement because their pancreas produces little or no insulin. Oral hypoglycemics used in type 2 diabetes work by improving the effectiveness of insulin the body already makes, which is not sufficient in type 1 diabetes. Choice A is incorrect because the issue is not about the pancreas being adult or child-specific but rather the type of diabetes. Choice C is incorrect because it misstates the mechanism of action of the medications. Choice D is incorrect because it provides inaccurate information about the potential for the child's pancreas to produce insulin in the future, which is unlikely in type 1 diabetes.

2. What self-report pain rating scales can be used in children as young as 3 years of age?

• A. Poker Chip Tool
• B. Visual Analog Scale
• C. FACES Pain Rating Scale
• D. Word-Graphic Rating Scale

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The FACES Pain Rating Scale is suitable for children as young as 3 years of age. It uses facial expressions to depict different levels of pain, making it easy for young children to understand and use. The Poker Chip Tool is validated for children aged 4 and older who have a certain level of cognitive ability. The Visual Analog Scale is more appropriate for children aged 7 and above. The Word-Graphic Rating Scale, which uses descriptive words, is recommended for children in the age range of 4 to 17 years.

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. For a child with Kawasaki disease, which symptom is most indicative of the acute phase?

• A. Strawberry tongue
• B. Joint pain
• C. Rash
• D. Peeling skin

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Strawberry tongue. In Kawasaki disease, a 'strawberry tongue' is most indicative of the acute phase. This refers to the tongue appearing red and swollen with enlarged fungiform papillae, giving it a strawberry-like appearance. Joint pain (Choice B) is more commonly associated with other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Rash (Choice C) and peeling skin (Choice D) are also seen in Kawasaki disease but are not as specific to the acute phase as the presence of a strawberry tongue.

5. The nurse is selecting a site to begin an intravenous infusion on a 2-year-old child. The superficial veins on his hand and arm are not readily visible. What intervention should increase the visibility of these veins?

• A. Gently tap over the site.
• B. Apply a cold compress to the site.
• C. Raise the extremity above the level of the body
• D. Use a rubber band as a tourniquet for 5 minutes.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Gently tapping over the site helps dilate the veins and increase visibility. Applying a cold compress or raising the extremity above the body level constricts the veins, making them harder to access. Prolonged tourniquet use can cause discomfort and venous congestion.

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