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. An intravenous line is needed in a school-age child. What medication is an appropriate analgesic for use with this patient?

• A. TAC (tetracaine, epinephrine [Adrenalin], cocaine) 15 minutes before the procedure.
• B. A transdermal fentanyl (Duragesic) patch at the site of venipuncture.
• C. EMLA (eutectic mixture of local anesthetics) immediately before the procedure.
• D. LMX (4% liposomal lidocaine cream) 30 minutes before the procedure.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: LMX is an effective analgesic agent when applied to the skin 30 minutes before a procedure. It eliminates or reduces the pain from most procedures involving skin puncture. TAC provides skin anesthesia about 15 minutes after application to nonintact skin, making it more suitable for wound suturing. Transdermal fentanyl patches are designed for continuous pain control, not rapid pain control needed for a procedure like venipuncture. EMLA, for maximum effectiveness, must be applied approximately 60 minutes before the procedure, making it less suitable for immediate pain relief required for intravenous line placement.

3. When assessing an infant with intussusception, what type of stool would the nurse expect to find?

• A. Soft, seedy stool
• B. Currant-jelly stool
• C. Ribbon-like stool
• D. Soft and pasty stool

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Currant-jelly stool. This type of stool, which is red and mucous-like, is a classic sign of intussusception in infants. Choice A (Soft, seedy stool) is incorrect as it does not specifically describe the characteristic stool associated with intussusception. Choice C (Ribbon-like stool) is incorrect; ribbon-like stool may be seen in conditions like colon cancer, not intussusception. Choice D (Soft and pasty stool) is also incorrect as it does not match the typical stool finding in intussusception.

4. When assessing a child with chronic renal failure, which clinical manifestations would the nurse expect to find?

• A. Uremic frost
• B. Hypotension
• C. Massive hematuria
• D. Severe metabolic acidosis

Correct answer: A

Rationale: When assessing a child with chronic renal failure, the nurse would expect to find uremic frost as a clinical manifestation. Uremic frost, a white powdery deposit of urea on the skin, occurs in severe cases of chronic renal failure due to the accumulation of urea and other waste products in the blood. Hypotension and massive hematuria are less common in chronic renal failure, while severe metabolic acidosis is typically mild to moderate and not a prominent clinical manifestation.

5. The nurse is preparing to admit a 6-month-old child with gastroesophageal reflux disease. What clinical manifestations should the nurse expect to observe?

• A. Spitting up
• B. Bilious vomiting
• C. Failure to thrive
• D. All of the above

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in infants typically presents with symptoms such as spitting up, failure to thrive, excessive crying, and respiratory problems due to aspiration. Bilious vomiting is not a common symptom of GERD in infants and may indicate a different or more severe condition, such as intestinal obstruction or other gastrointestinal issues. Therefore, choices A, B, and C are all expected clinical manifestations of GERD in a 6-month-old child, making option D the correct answer.

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