Nursing Elites

1. When percussing over the lungs of a 4-year-old child, the nurse hears bilateral loud, long, and low tones. How should the nurse proceed?

• A. Palpate over the area for increased pain and tenderness.
• B. Ask the child to take shallow breaths and percuss over the area again.
• C. Refer the child to a specialist because of an increased amount of air in the lungs.
• D. Consider this finding as normal for a child this age and proceed with the examination.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: In pediatric patients, loud, long, and low tones heard when percussing over the lungs are normal findings. These percussion notes are characteristic of a child's lung due to its thin chest wall and increased air content. It is unnecessary to palpate for pain and tenderness, ask the child to take shallow breaths and repeat the percussion, or refer the child to a specialist. Therefore, the correct action is to consider these findings as normal for the child's age and continue with the examination.

2. The nurse is assessing children in a pediatric clinic. Which statement is true regarding the measurement of blood pressure in children?

• A. Blood pressure guidelines for children are based on age.
• B. Phase II Korotkoff sounds are the best indicator of systolic blood pressure in children.
• C. Using a Doppler device is recommended for accurate blood pressure measurements until adolescence.
• D. The disappearance of phase V Korotkoff sounds can be used for the diastolic reading in children.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The disappearance of phase V Korotkoff sounds can be used for the diastolic reading in children, as well as in adults. Blood pressure guidelines for children are based on more than just age, but also sex and height. Phase I Korotkoff, not Phase II, is the best indicator of systolic blood pressure. The true statement regarding the measurement of blood pressure in children is that the disappearance of phase V Korotkoff sounds can be used for the diastolic reading in children, as well as in adults.

3. When are manual hematocrits done?

• A. to monitor anemia
• B. by using a microhematocrit tube.
• C. to measure the percentage of plasma to cells.
• D. All of the above.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Manual hematocrits are performed to monitor anemia, which involves measuring the percentage of red blood cells in the blood. The process involves collecting blood in a microhematocrit tube, then centrifuging it to separate the plasma from the cells. By measuring the ratio of plasma to cells, healthcare providers can assess the patient's hematocrit level. Therefore, all the provided options are correct as they collectively describe the purpose and procedure of manual hematocrits.

4. The healthcare provider is examining a patient who is reporting "feeling cold."? Which is a mechanism of heat loss in the body?

• A. Exercise
• B. Radiation
• C. Metabolism
• D. Food digestion

Correct answer: B

Rationale: When the body needs to lose heat, one of the mechanisms it employs is radiation. Radiation involves the transfer of heat from the body to the environment in the form of infrared waves. While metabolism, exercise, and food digestion contribute to heat production, they are not mechanisms for heat loss. Metabolism generates heat as a byproduct, exercise increases metabolic rate leading to heat production, and food digestion involves some heat generation, but these processes do not directly facilitate heat loss. Therefore, in the scenario where the patient is feeling cold, radiation is the primary mechanism for the body to lose excess heat and maintain a stable internal temperature.

5. What is the correct action regarding thigh pressure when comparing it to arm pressure in an adolescent with high blood pressure?

• A. The popliteal artery should be auscultated to obtain thigh pressure.
• B. The best position to measure thigh pressure is the prone position.
• C. If the blood pressure in the arm is high in an adolescent, then it should be compared with the thigh pressure.
• D. Thigh pressure is generally higher than arm pressure due to the proximity to the heart and the size of the popliteal vessels.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: When blood pressure measured in the arm is significantly elevated, especially in adolescents and young adults, it is crucial to compare it with thigh pressure to assess for coarctation of the aorta. The popliteal artery, not the femoral artery, should be auscultated for the thigh pressure reading as the femoral artery is closer to the placement of the blood pressure cuff. Generally, thigh pressure is higher than arm pressure; however, if there is coarctation of the artery, arm pressures can be higher than thigh pressures. The preferred position for measuring thigh pressure is the prone position, not supine, with the knee slightly bent to facilitate accurate readings.

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