Nursing Elites

1. The nurses caring for a child are concerned about the child’s frequent requests for pain medication. During a team conference, a new nurse suggests they consider administering a placebo instead of the usual pain medication to see how the child responds. The team educates the nurse on why this is not appropriate and bases the decision on what knowledge?

• A. This practice is unjustified and unethical.
• B. This practice is effective in determining whether a child’s pain is real.
• C. The absence of a response to a placebo means the child’s pain has an organic basis.
• D. A positive response to a placebo will not occur if the child’s pain has an organic basis.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. The use of placebos without the patient’s consent is unethical and goes against the principles of beneficence and autonomy. Choice B is incorrect because using placebos does not provide reliable information about the presence or severity of the pain; it only indicates the response to the placebo itself. Choice C is wrong as the absence of a response to a placebo does not definitively mean that the child’s pain has an organic basis; there could be various reasons for the lack of response. Choice D is also incorrect as individuals may have a positive response to a placebo even if their pain has a significant organic cause. Therefore, the most appropriate response is A, emphasizing the ethical concerns surrounding the use of placebos without informed consent.

2. The nurse is caring for a child with sickle cell anemia with the following order: Morphine Sulfate 2 mg IV every 24 hours. Morphine Sulfate is available in 10 mg/1mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?

• A. 0.2 mL
• B. 0.5 mL
• C. 1 mL
• D. 2 mL

Correct answer: A

Rationale: To administer 2 mg of Morphine Sulfate when the concentration is 10 mg/mL, the nurse should administer 0.2 mL (2 mg / 10 mg/mL = 0.2 mL). Choice B, 0.5 mL, is incorrect because it is the result of dividing 2 mg by 4 mg/mL instead of 10 mg/mL. Choice C, 1 mL, is incorrect as it would be the result of dividing 2 mg by 2 mg/mL. Choice D, 2 mL, is incorrect as it would be the result of dividing 2 mg by 1 mg/mL.

3. What information does the nurse include when teaching parents about nonpharmacologic strategies for pain management in children?

• A. May reduce pain perception.
• B. Make pharmacologic strategies unnecessary.
• C. Usually take too long to implement.
• D. Trick children into believing they do not have pain.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'May reduce pain perception.' When teaching parents about nonpharmacologic strategies for pain management in children, the nurse should include information that these techniques may help reduce pain perception, make the pain more tolerable, decrease anxiety, and enhance the effectiveness of analgesics. It is important to note that nonpharmacologic techniques should be learned before the pain occurs, and it is beneficial to use both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic measures for pain control. Choice B is incorrect because nonpharmacologic strategies do not make pharmacologic strategies unnecessary but rather complement them. Choice C is incorrect as nonpharmacologic techniques, when properly learned and applied, do not usually take too long to implement. Choice D is incorrect as the goal of nonpharmacologic strategies is not to trick children into believing they do not have pain, but to help them cope with and manage their pain effectively.

4. A child is admitted for minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS). The nurse recognizes that the child’s prognosis is related to what factor?

• A. Admission blood pressure
• B. Creatinine clearance
• C. Amount of protein in urine
• D. Response to steroid therapy

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The prognosis for children with MCNS is closely related to their response to steroid therapy. A favorable response to steroids usually indicates a better prognosis, while poor response may require alternative treatments and can indicate a more complicated disease course.

5. The parents of a young child ask the nurse for suggestions about discipline. When discussing the use of time-outs, which should the nurse include?

• A. Send the child to his or her room if the child has one.
• B. A general rule for length of time is 1 hour per year of age.
• C. Select an area that is safe and nonstimulating, such as a hallway.
• D. If the child cries, refuses, or is more disruptive, try another approach.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Time-outs should be in a safe, nonstimulating area, with the length typically being 1 minute per year of the child's age, not 1 hour.

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