Nursing Elites

1. When assessing a 5-year-old boy with major trauma, his blood pressure is 70/40 mm Hg, and his pulse rate is 140 beats/min and weak. The child's blood pressure:

• A. indicates decompensated shock.
• B. reflects adequate compensation.
• C. suggests increased intracranial pressure.
• D. is appropriate based on his age.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In a 5-year-old boy with major trauma, a blood pressure of 70/40 mm Hg and a pulse rate of 140 beats/min, and weak, indicate decompensated shock. This presentation signifies inadequate perfusion, leading to compensatory mechanisms being overwhelmed, resulting in decompensated shock. Choice B is incorrect as the vital signs suggest the body is unable to adequately compensate for the trauma. Choice C is incorrect as the vital signs are more indicative of shock rather than increased intracranial pressure. Choice D is incorrect as such low blood pressure is not appropriate for a child of this age and indicates a critical condition.

2. What advice should a school-age child with type 1 diabetes mellitus follow to prevent hypoglycemia during soccer practice?

• A. Drink a cup of orange juice before soccer practice
• B. Eat twice the amount normally eaten at lunchtime
• C. Take half the amount of prescribed insulin on practice days
• D. Take the prescribed insulin at noontime rather than in the morning

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Drinking orange juice before soccer practice is recommended to prevent hypoglycemia in children with type 1 diabetes. Orange juice contains fast-acting carbohydrates that can quickly raise blood sugar levels if they drop during physical activity. Eating twice the amount normally eaten at lunchtime can lead to hyperglycemia, which is high blood sugar, rather than preventing hypoglycemia. Adjusting insulin doses should only be done under the guidance of a healthcare provider. Taking insulin at noontime rather than in the morning does not directly address preventing hypoglycemia during afternoon soccer practice.

3. When you attempt to assess a 22-year-old woman who has been sexually assaulted, she orders you not to touch her. Your MOST appropriate initial action should be to:

• A. obtain a signed refusal and return to service.
• B. transport the patient without performing an assessment.
• C. explain to the patient that she must be examined.
• D. ask a female EMT to attempt to assess the patient.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: In cases of sexual assault, it's important to respect the patient's wishes and provide a female EMT to attempt the assessment if the patient prefers.

4. A female child, age 2, is brought to the emergency department after ingesting an unknown number of aspirin tablets about 30 minutes earlier. Her father is blaming the mother for neglecting the child while she was cooking. On entering the examination room, the child is crying and clinging to the mother. Which data should the nurse obtain first?

• A. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure
• B. Recent exposure to communicable diseases
• C. Number of immunizations received
• D. Height and weight

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In this scenario, the priority is to assess the child's vital signs first, including heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure. These data will provide critical information on the child's current physiological status and guide further interventions. Option B, recent exposure to communicable diseases, is not the priority in an acute ingestion situation. Option C, number of immunizations received, and option D, height and weight, are important but not as critical as assessing vital signs in this immediate situation.

5. A 3-year-old child has been admitted to your pediatric ward. The doctor gave a provisional diagnosis of respiratory tract infection. After careful assessment and history, a final diagnosis of lower respiratory infection was made. Which of the following signs will confirm the diagnosis?

• A. Cough
• B. Fever
• C. Inability to lie supine
• D. Inability to eat

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Inability to lie supine is a characteristic sign of lower respiratory infection. This positioning preference is often seen in patients with lower respiratory infections due to discomfort or difficulty breathing when lying flat on their back. While cough and fever are common symptoms associated with respiratory infections, they are not specific to lower respiratory infections. Inability to eat may indicate general illness or discomfort but is not a specific indicator of lower respiratory infection.

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