Nursing Elites

1. Which nursing intervention should be included in the postoperative care of a child following a tonsillectomy?

• A. Encourage the child to blow the nose gently
• B. Notify the physician if mucus is observed in the emesis
• C. Position the child supine in the immediate postoperative period
• D. Avoid giving citrus juice

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: 'Avoid giving citrus juice.' Citrus juice can irritate the throat after a tonsillectomy, so it should be avoided. Choice A is incorrect because blowing the nose gently is not a recommended intervention following a tonsillectomy. Choice B is incorrect as mucus in emesis is not uncommon postoperatively and does not necessarily require physician notification. Choice C is incorrect as positioning the child supine immediately postoperatively can increase the risk of airway obstruction and should be avoided.

2. While making rounds, the nurse observes the following client behaviors. Which child should the nurse further evaluate for postoperative pain?

• A. The 6-month-old in deep sleep
• B. The 2-year-old who is cooperative when the nurse takes vital signs
• C. The 4-year-old who is actively watching cartoons
• D. The 14-month-old who is screaming and thrashing his arms and legs

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because screaming and thrashing his arms and legs are indicative behaviors of discomfort or pain in young children. The child's actions suggest a higher likelihood of experiencing postoperative pain and necessitate further evaluation. Choices A, B, and C do not exhibit overt signs of distress or discomfort associated with pain, making them less likely candidates for postoperative pain assessment.

3. What term is appropriate terminology to use for an infant whose intrauterine growth rate was slowed and whose birth weight falls below the 10th percentile on intrauterine growth charts?

• A. Postterm
• B. Postmature
• C. Low birth weight
• D. Small for gestational age

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, 'Small for gestational age.' A small for gestational age, or small-for-date, infant is any child whose intrauterine growth rate was slowed and whose birth weight falls below the 10th percentile on intrauterine growth curves. Choices A and B, 'Postterm' and 'Postmature,' refer to infants born after 42 weeks of gestational age regardless of birth weight, and do not specifically address growth rate. Choice C, 'Low birth weight,' refers to infants with a birth weight less than 2500 g (5.5 pounds) regardless of gestational age, which is a different classification compared to being small for gestational age.

4. The nurse is performing an assessment on a 10-week-old infant. The nurse understands that the developmental characteristic of hearing at this age is which?

• A. The infant responds to his own name.
• B. The infant localizes sounds by turning his head directly to the sound.
• C. The infant turns his head to the side when sound is made at the level of the ear.
• D. The infant locates sound by turning his head to the side and then looking up or down.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: By 10 weeks, infants typically turn their heads to the side to locate the source of a sound made at ear level.

5. The nurse is assessing a 3-year-old African American child whose height and weight are at the 20th percentile on the growth chart. What should the nurse recognize?

• A. The data suggest the child requires nutritional intervention
• B. The NCHS charts are accurate for U.S. African American children
• C. A correction factor is used for nonwhite ethnic groups
• D. No assessment can be made until several measurements are plotted over time

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The NCHS growth charts serve as reference guides for all racial or ethnic groups, including African American children. The 20th percentile for height and weight does not indicate nutritional failure but provides a reference point for ongoing assessment. Choice A is incorrect because being at the 20th percentile does not automatically imply the need for nutritional intervention. Choice C is incorrect as there is no correction factor specifically used for nonwhite ethnic groups in this context. Choice D is incorrect as a single measurement at the 20th percentile can provide valuable information for assessment.

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