Nursing Elites

1. What is important to include in discharge instructions for parents of a child who has had a tonsillectomy?

• A. Encourage the child to gargle with salt water
• B. Encourage fluid intake
• C. Provide the child with hard candy
• D. Apply heat to the neck

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Encouraging fluid intake is essential in the discharge instructions for a child who has had a tonsillectomy. It helps keep the throat moist, aids in preventing dehydration, and promotes healing. Gargling with salt water is not typically recommended after a tonsillectomy as it may irritate the surgical site. Providing the child with hard candy is not advisable as it can irritate the throat and potentially cause harm. Applying heat to the neck is also not recommended post-tonsillectomy as it can increase swelling and discomfort in the surgical area.

2. A parent calls the outpatient clinic requesting information about the appropriate dose of acetaminophen for a 16-month-old child who has signs of an upper respiratory tract infection and fever. The directions on the bottle of acetaminophen elixir are 120 mg every 4 hours when needed. At the toddler’s 15-month visit, the healthcare provider prescribed 150 mg. What is the nurse’s best response to the parent?

• A. “The dose is close enough, and it doesn’t really matter which one is given.”
• B. “From your description, the medication is not necessary. It should be avoided at this age.”
• C. “It is appropriate to use dosages based on age. Children typically have weights consistent for their age groups.”
• D. “The prescribed dose of the drug was based on weight, and this is a more accurate way of determining a therapeutic dose.”

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The most accurate way to determine a therapeutic dose for children is based on their weight rather than age. Weight-based dosing accounts for individual variations in drug metabolism and distribution, ensuring a more precise and safer medication administration. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect as they do not address the importance of weight-based dosing in children, potentially leading to inappropriate dosing and safety concerns.

3. A 5-year-old child is diagnosed with acute glomerulonephritis. What is a key assessment the nurse should perform?

• A. Monitor blood glucose levels
• B. Monitor respiratory rate
• C. Monitor urine output
• D. Monitor for signs of infection

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In a child diagnosed with acute glomerulonephritis, monitoring urine output is a crucial assessment. Acute glomerulonephritis affects the kidneys, leading to decreased urine output due to impaired kidney function. Monitoring urine output helps assess renal perfusion, fluid status, and kidney function. This assessment is essential in determining the effectiveness of treatment and identifying complications. Monitoring blood glucose levels (Choice A) is not directly related to acute glomerulonephritis. Respiratory rate (Choice B) may be important in other conditions but is not a key assessment for acute glomerulonephritis. Monitoring for signs of infection (Choice D) is important in general, but it is not specific to the primary issue of impaired kidney function in acute glomerulonephritis.

4. On the third day of hospitalization, the nurse observes that a 2-year-old toddler who had been screaming and crying inconsolably begins to regress and is now lying quietly in the crib with a blanket. What stage of separation anxiety has developed?

• A. Denial
• B. Despair
• C. Mistrust
• D. Rejection

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Despair. In separation anxiety, the stage of despair is characterized by regression and withdrawal after an initial period of protest. The child may become quiet and appear to accept the separation, but this is actually a sign of deeper distress. Choice A, Denial, is incorrect as it refers to refusing to believe or accept the reality of the separation. Choice C, Mistrust, is incorrect as it pertains to a lack of trust in others, not a stage of separation anxiety. Choice D, Rejection, is incorrect as it involves pushing others away and not related to the described behavior of the toddler in the scenario.

5. A 3-year-old child has a sudden onset of respiratory distress. The mother denies any recent illnesses or fever. You should suspect

• A. croup
• B. epiglottitis
• C. lower respiratory infection
• D. foreign body airway obstruction

Correct answer: D

Rationale: In a 3-year-old child presenting with sudden respiratory distress and no history of recent illnesses or fever, foreign body airway obstruction should be suspected. Foreign body airway obstruction commonly leads to acute respiratory distress without preceding symptoms. Croup (Choice A) typically presents with a barking cough and stridor. Epiglottitis (Choice B) often presents with high fever, drooling, and a muffled voice. Lower respiratory infection (Choice C) may manifest with symptoms such as cough, fever, and respiratory distress, but the sudden onset without fever or recent illness suggests a more acute event like foreign body airway obstruction.

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