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 suspects that a child has ingested some type of poison. What clinical manifestation would be most suggestive that the poison was a corrosive product?

• A. Tinnitus
• B. Disorientation
• C. Stupor, lethargy, and coma
• D. Edema of the lips, tongue, and pharynx

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Edema of the lips, tongue, and pharynx is a characteristic sign of corrosive poisoning, indicating damage to mucous membranes from ingestion of a caustic substance. Other symptoms may vary depending on the poison but are not as specific to corrosive ingestion.

3. The nurse is taking a sexual history on an adolescent girl. Which is the best way to determine whether she is sexually active?

• A. Ask her, "Are you sexually active?"
• B. Ask her, "Are you having sex with anyone?"
• C. Ask her, "Are you having sex with a boyfriend?"
• D. Ask both the girl and her parent if she is sexually active

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Directly asking the adolescent if she is sexually active is the most straightforward and respectful approach, ensuring privacy and fostering trust.

4. Which reflex, present at birth, is elicited by stroking the sole of the infant's foot, resulting in the fanning of the toes?

• A. Babinski
• B. Moro
• C. Sucking
• D. Rooting

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The Babinski reflex is the correct answer. This reflex is characterized by the fanning out of the toes when the sole of the foot is stroked. It is a normal reflex in infants and is typically present at birth, disappearing by around 12 months of age. The Moro reflex, which involves the infant's response to a sudden loss of support or a loud noise, is not related to the fanning of toes. Sucking and rooting reflexes are related to feeding behaviors and are not elicited by stroking the sole of the foot.

5. According to Erikson’s developmental theory, toddlers need to be encouraged to become independent to successfully complete which developmental challenge?

• A. Trust vs. mistrust
• B. Industry vs. inferiority
• C. Autonomy vs. shame and doubt
• D. Initiative vs. guilt

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Autonomy vs. shame and doubt. Erikson's developmental stage for toddlers focuses on the conflict between developing a sense of independence (autonomy) and feelings of inadequacy (shame and doubt). Encouraging toddlers to explore their environment and make choices helps them build self-confidence and independence. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because trust vs. mistrust relates to infancy, industry vs. inferiority is associated with school-age children, and initiative vs. guilt is linked to preschoolers.

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