Nursing Elites

1. The parents of a child with sickle cell anemia ask why their child did not have a sickle cell crisis until he was approximately 6 months old. How should the nurse respond?

• A. Your child probably had a crisis, and you were unaware of the symptoms.
• B. Are you sure your child has sickle cell anemia and not sickle cell trait?
• C. Affected children can be asymptomatic in early infancy because of high levels of fetal hemoglobin that inhibit sickling.
• D. Have you asked your doctor about this yet?

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is present in high levels during early infancy, inhibiting sickling unlike adult hemoglobin (HbS). As the levels of HbF decrease and HbS increases, the risk of sickling and crises becomes more pronounced, typically after 6 months of age. Choice A is incorrect because it assumes the crisis went unnoticed, which is not supported by medical knowledge. Choice B is incorrect as it questions the child's diagnosis rather than explaining the phenomenon of delayed crises. Choice D is incorrect as it does not provide the parents with the necessary information regarding their query.

2. The clinic nurse is teaching parents about physiologic anemia that occurs in infants. What statement should the nurse include about the cause of physiologic anemia?

• A. Maternally derived iron stores are depleted in the first 2 months.
• B. Fetal hemoglobin results in a shortened survival of red blood cells.
• C. The production of adult hemoglobin decreases in the first year of life.
• D. Low levels of fetal hemoglobin depress the production of erythropoietin.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Physiologic anemia is caused by the transition from fetal to adult hemoglobin, with fetal hemoglobin having a shorter lifespan, leading to a temporary decrease in red blood cells.

3. The parent of a 3-month-old infant is concerned because the infant is not able to sit independently. How should the nurse respond to this parent's concern?

• A. Sitting ability and the age of first tooth eruption are not correlated.
• B. Most infants sit steadily at 4 months.
• C. Most infants sit steadily at 3 months.
• D. Most infants do not sit steadily until 6-8 months.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because sitting steadily typically occurs closer to 6-8 months of age, not 3 or 4 months. Choice A is incorrect because sitting ability and the age of first tooth eruption are not related. Choice B and C are incorrect as most infants do not sit steadily at 3 or 4 months, and it is more common for infants to achieve this milestone around 6-8 months.

4. The nurse is performing an otoscopic examination on a child. Which are normal findings the nurse should expect? (Select all that apply.)

• A. All below
• B. A well-defined light reflex
• C. A small, round, concave spot near the center of the drum
• D. The tympanic membrane is a nontransparent grayish color

Correct answer: A

Rationale: A well-defined light reflex, a small concave spot, and a grayish, nontransparent tympanic membrane are normal findings during an otoscopic examination in a child.

5. A health care provider prescribes feedings of 1 to 2 oz Pedialyte every 3 hours and to advance to 1/2 strength Similac with iron as tolerated postoperatively for an infant who had a pyloromyotomy. The nurse should decide to advance the feeding if which occurs?

• A. The infant's IV line has infiltrated.
• B. The infant has not voided since surgery.
• C. The infant's mother states the infant is tolerating the feeding okay.
• D. The infant is taking the Pedialyte without vomiting or distention.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The decision to advance feedings after a pyloromyotomy is based on the infant's ability to tolerate the current feedings without vomiting or abdominal distention. Ensuring the infant can keep down Pedialyte is the key indicator for moving to the next stage of feeding. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not directly relate to the infant's ability to tolerate the feeding. An infiltrated IV line, lack of voiding, or the mother's statement do not provide direct information on the infant's tolerance to the feeding, unlike the absence of vomiting and distention.

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