Nursing Elites

1. The nurse is caring for a child with an order of Ampicillin 250 mg IV in 30 mL of Normal Saline to infuse over 30 minutes. How many mL/hour should the nurse set the pump?

• A. 60
• B. 30
• C. 120
• D. 15

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct setting for the infusion pump should be 60 mL/hour to deliver 30 mL in 30 minutes. To calculate the infusion rate in mL/hour, divide the total volume to be infused (30 mL) by the total time for infusion (30 minutes) and then multiply by 60 to convert minutes to hours. Therefore, 30 mL / 30 minutes * 60 minutes/hour = 60 mL/hour. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not match the calculation based on the given parameters.

2. Nurses should be alert for increased fluid requirements in which circumstance?

• A. Fever
• B. Mechanical ventilation
• C. Congestive heart failure
• D. Increased intracranial pressure

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Fever increases metabolic rate, leading to insensible water loss, thus requiring increased fluid intake. Mechanical ventilation, CHF, and increased intracranial pressure generally require fluid restriction rather than increased fluid intake.

3. What clinical manifestation(s) should the nurse expect to see as shock progresses in a child and becomes decompensated shock?

• A. Thirst
• B. Irritability
• C. Apprehension
• D. Confusion and somnolence

Correct answer: D

Rationale: As shock progresses and decompensation occurs, confusion and somnolence are indicative of reduced cerebral perfusion. Early signs include thirst and irritability, while confusion and altered consciousness appear as the condition worsens.

4. A thorough systemic physical assessment is necessary in the extremely low-birth-weight (ELBW) infant to detect what?

• A. Weight gain reflective of fluid retention
• B. Difficulties in maternal-child attachment
• C. Subtle changes that may be indicative of an underlying problem
• D. Changes in Apgar score over the first 24 hours of life

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In extremely low-birth-weight (ELBW) infants, a thorough systemic physical assessment is crucial to detect subtle changes that may indicate an underlying problem. These infants are highly vulnerable and may show signs of stress through changes in feeding behavior, activity, color, oxygen saturation, or vital signs. Monitoring weight in ELBW infants primarily reflects genitourinary function rather than fluid retention. Difficulties in maternal-child attachment are important but are usually assessed during parental visits and are not the primary focus of a systemic physical assessment. Changes in the Apgar score are used immediately after birth to assess the transition to extrauterine life and are not as relevant in the following 24 hours to detect ongoing subtle issues.

5. 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.

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