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. Which is considered a block to effective communication?

• A. Using silence
• B. Using clichés
• C. Directing the focus
• D. Defining the problem

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Using clichés is a communication block because it can come across as dismissive or insincere, hindering meaningful dialogue.

3. The parents of a 2-month-old boy are concerned about spoiling their son by picking him up when he cries. What is the nurse's best response?

• A. Allow him to cry for no longer than 15 minutes and then pick him up
• B. Babies need comforting and cuddling. Meeting these needs will not spoil him
• C. Babies this young cry when they are hungry. Try feeding him when he cries
• D. If he isn’t soiled or wet, leave him, and he'll cry himself to sleep

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Comforting and cuddling a 2-month-old baby when they cry helps build trust and security. At this age, responding to cries does not lead to spoiling, but rather supports healthy emotional development.

4. The nurse is assessing a child with type 2 diabetes. The child is awake and alert with a serum glucose of 60 mg/dL. What action should the nurse take?

• A. Administer Insulin.
• B. Administer Epinephrine.
• C. Give 15 grams of carbohydrates.
• D. Give glucagon by injection.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: For a conscious child with mild hypoglycemia, giving 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates is the appropriate intervention. This can quickly raise blood glucose levels to prevent further complications. Administering insulin (Choice A) would further lower the glucose level, which is not suitable in this scenario. Administering epinephrine (Choice B) is not indicated for hypoglycemia. Glucagon (Choice D) is used for severe hypoglycemia with altered consciousness, not for mild cases where the child is awake and alert.

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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