Nursing Elites

1. What is the appropriate site to administer an intramuscular (IM) vaccine to a newborn?

• A. The dorsal gluteal muscle
• B. The vastus lateralis muscle
• C. The ventral gluteal muscle
• D. The biceps muscle

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct site to administer an intramuscular (IM) vaccine to a newborn is the vastus lateralis muscle. For newborns, the vastus lateralis is preferred over the dorsogluteal site because the dorsogluteal site has been associated with low antibody seroconversion rates, indicating a reduced immune response. The vastus lateralis is also recommended for IM injections in newborns, while the deltoid muscle is preferred for older infants and children. The ventral gluteal muscle and the biceps muscle are not appropriate sites for IM injections. Therefore, choice B is the correct answer.

2. An anxious 12-year-old child receives an injection from the nurse and sighs with relief when it is done. After a moment of reflection, the girl asks the nurse, 'Is it hard to give someone an injection?' This child’s question is evidence that the child has developed which cognitive skill?

• A. Conservation
• B. Accommodation
• C. Decentering
• D. Class inclusion

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Decentering. Decentering is the ability to consider multiple aspects of a situation, which the child's question demonstrates. In this scenario, the child's question shows that she is thinking beyond her own experience and considering the difficulty or complexity of giving an injection from the nurse's perspective. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. Conservation refers to understanding that certain properties of an object remain the same despite changes in its appearance. Accommodation is the process of adjusting existing knowledge or creating new mental categories to incorporate new information. Class inclusion involves understanding the relationship between a whole set and its subsets, which is not demonstrated in the child's question.

3. The parents of a 2-year-old boy who had a repair of exstrophy of the bladder at birth ask when they can begin toilet training their son. The nurse replies based on what knowledge?

• A. Most boys in the United States can be toilet trained at age 3 years.
• B. Training can begin when he has sufficient bladder capacity.
• C. Additional surgery may be necessary to achieve continence.
• D. They should begin now because he will require additional time.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Toilet training should begin when the child has sufficient bladder capacity and control, which may be delayed in children who have undergone surgical repairs for conditions like bladder exstrophy. Premature training can lead to frustration and setbacks.

4. A 14-year-old with chronic renal failure suddenly becomes non-compliant with the medication regimen. Which nursing intervention would most likely improve compliance?

• A. Give the child a computer-animated game that presents information on the management of chronic renal failure.
• B. Set up a meeting with some older teens who have chronic renal failure and have been managing their disease effectively.
• C. Arrange for a physician to sit down and talk to the child about the risks related to noncompliance with medications.
• D. Discuss with the child’s parents that privileges, such as a cell phone, can be taken away if compliance fails to improve.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Adolescents often seek guidance and support from their peers. Setting up a meeting with older teens who are effectively managing chronic renal failure can provide the 14-year-old with motivation, encouragement, and practical advice on how to handle their treatment regimen. This peer support can positively influence the non-compliant adolescent, making choice B the most likely intervention to improve compliance. Choices A and C may not address the peer influence aspect of adolescent behavior, while choice D focuses on punitive measures rather than addressing the underlying reasons for non-compliance.

5. The nurse is caring postoperatively for an 8-year-old child with multiple fractures and other traumatic injuries from a motor vehicle crash. The child is experiencing severe pain. What is an important consideration in managing the child’s pain?

• A. Give only an opioid analgesic at this time.
• B. Increase the dosage of analgesic until the child is adequately sedated.
• C. Plan a preventive schedule of pain medication around the clock.
• D. Give the child a clock and explain when they can have pain medications.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: For severe postoperative pain, a preventive around-the-clock schedule is necessary to prevent decreased plasma levels of medications. Providing only an opioid analgesic at this time may not be sufficient for effective pain management. Increasing the dosage without an order is unsafe and may lead to oversedation. Planning a preventive schedule of pain medication around the clock ensures consistent pain relief and better management. Giving the child a clock and explaining when they can have pain medications may increase the child's focus on waiting for relief rather than addressing the pain promptly, making it a less effective strategy.

Similar Questions