Nursing Elites

1. Which action should the nurse implement when taking an axillary temperature?

• A. Take the temperature through one layer of clothing
• B. Add a degree to the result when recording
• C. Place the tip of the thermometer under the arm in the center of the axilla
• D. Hold the child's arm away from the body while taking the temperature

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct technique involves placing the thermometer tip in the center of the axilla to ensure an accurate reading, with the arm held close to the body.

2. Which of the following is a hallmark sign of intussusception in children?

• A. Bilious vomiting
• B. "Currant jelly" stools
• C. Abdominal distention
• D. Constipation

Correct answer: B

Rationale: "Currant jelly" stools, consisting of mucus and blood, are characteristic of intussusception in children. It occurs due to the telescoping of a segment of the intestine into an adjacent segment, leading to obstruction and subsequent mucosal ischemia, causing the passage of bloody mucus in the stool. Bilious vomiting can be seen in other conditions like bowel obstruction, abdominal distention can be present but is not as specific, and constipation is less likely in the presentation of intussusception.

3. The nurse is preparing to care for a newborn with an omphalocele. The nurse should understand that care of the infant should include what intervention?

• A. Initiating breast or bottle-feedings to stabilize the blood glucose level
• B. Maintaining pain management with an intravenous opioid
• C. Covering the intact bowel with a nonadherent dressing to prevent injury
• D. Performing immediate surgery

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The priority intervention for an infant with an omphalocele is to cover the intact bowel with a nonadherent dressing to protect the exposed organs and prevent infection. This intervention is crucial to prevent injury and maintain the infant's safety. Initiating feedings or maintaining pain management are not the immediate priorities in the care of an infant with an omphalocele. Performing immediate surgery may be required in the future, but initially, covering the bowel is the first critical step in management.

4. 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.

5. The nurse is caring for an adolescent who has just started dialysis. The child always seems angry, hostile, or depressed. The nurse should recognize that this is most likely related to what underlying cause?

• A. Physiologic manifestations of renal disease
• B. The fact that adolescents have few coping mechanisms
• C. Neurologic manifestations that occur with dialysis
• D. Resentment of the control and enforced dependence imposed by dialysis

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Adolescents may feel anger and depression due to the loss of independence and control over their lives, which is imposed by the need for regular dialysis treatments. This reaction is common as they struggle with the restrictions placed on their social and personal lives.

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