what is an essential nursing action when caring for a young child with severe diarrhea
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Pediatric HESI Test Bank

1. What is an essential nursing action when caring for a young child with severe diarrhea?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Promoting perianal skin integrity is crucial when caring for a young child with severe diarrhea as it helps prevent skin breakdown from the irritation caused by frequent stooling. Maintaining the IV (Choice A) may be necessary but is not directly related to managing perianal skin integrity. Taking daily weights (Choice B) is important for monitoring fluid status but not the priority when addressing perianal skin integrity. While replacing lost calories (Choice C) is essential, promoting perianal skin integrity takes precedence in preventing complications associated with skin breakdown.

2. When counseling a couple who suspect they could have a child with a genetic abnormality, what would be most important for the nurse to incorporate into the plan of care when working with this family?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: When counseling a couple about the possibility of having a child with a genetic abnormality, it is vital for the nurse to present information in a nondirective manner. This approach empowers the couple to make decisions based on their values and preferences, respecting their autonomy. Gathering information from three generations (Choice A) may not be necessary and might overwhelm the couple with unnecessary data. Informing the family about the need for a wide range of information (Choice B) is not as critical as supporting their decision-making process through a nondirective approach. While maintaining confidentiality (Choice C) is crucial, it is not the most important aspect compared to ensuring the couple can make informed choices that align with their beliefs and wishes.

3. A parent asks the nurse what to do when their toddler has temper tantrums. What play materials should the nurse suggest to offer the child as another way of expressing anger?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Pegs and pounding boards are recommended as play materials for toddlers to express their anger in a constructive manner. These tools provide a safe and effective outlet for the child's emotions through physical activity. Options A, B, and C do not offer the same interactive and expressive qualities that pegs and pounding boards provide. A ball and bat may encourage aggressive behavior, a wad of clay is more suitable for creative expression rather than anger management, and a punching bag may promote violent behavior which is not appropriate for toddlers.

4. A child has been admitted to the pediatric unit with a severe asthma attack. What type of acid-base imbalance should the nurse expect the child to develop?

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In a severe asthma attack, the child is likely to develop respiratory acidosis due to impaired respirations leading to the retention of carbon dioxide, which combines with water to form carbonic acid. This results in the pH imbalance characterized by an excess of carbonic acid. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. Metabolic alkalosis (Choice A) is not typically associated with severe asthma attacks; respiratory alkalosis (Choice B) would involve a decrease, not an increase, in carbon dioxide levels; and metabolic acidosis (Choice D) is not the primary acid-base imbalance seen in severe asthma attacks.

5. During the health assessment of a school-age child, on which problem would the nurse focus more attention based on the child's developmental level?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: During the school-age years, children are more physically active and curious, which increases their risk of accidents and injuries. This developmental stage is characterized by increased exploration and engagement in physical activities. While infections and poisonings are important health concerns, school-age children are more likely to be affected by accidents and injuries due to their active nature. Risk-taking behaviors may become more prevalent in adolescence rather than during the school-age period, making it a less likely focus for the nurse during the health assessment of a school-age child.

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