Nursing Elites

1. 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.

2. Which drug is usually the best choice for patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for a child in the immediate postoperative period?

• A. Codeine sulfate (Codeine)
• B. Morphine (Roxanol)
• C. Methadone (Dolophine)
• D. Meperidine (Demerol)

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Morphine is the drug of choice for PCA in children because of its efficacy, safety profile, and rapid onset of action for pain management.

3. What diagnostic test allows visualization of renal parenchyma and renal pelvis without exposure to external-beam radiation or radioactive isotopes?

• A. Renal ultrasonography
• B. Computed tomography
• C. Intravenous pyelography
• D. Voiding cystourethrography

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Renal ultrasonography provides imaging of the renal parenchyma and pelvis without the risks associated with radiation or radioactive isotopes, making it a safer option, especially for children.

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 nurses caring for a child are concerned about the child’s frequent requests for pain medication. During a team conference, a new nurse suggests they consider administering a placebo instead of the usual pain medication to see how the child responds. The team educates the nurse on why this is not appropriate and bases the decision on what knowledge?

• A. This practice is unjustified and unethical.
• B. This practice is effective in determining whether a child’s pain is real.
• C. The absence of a response to a placebo means the child’s pain has an organic basis.
• D. A positive response to a placebo will not occur if the child’s pain has an organic basis.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. The use of placebos without the patient’s consent is unethical and goes against the principles of beneficence and autonomy. Choice B is incorrect because using placebos does not provide reliable information about the presence or severity of the pain; it only indicates the response to the placebo itself. Choice C is wrong as the absence of a response to a placebo does not definitively mean that the child’s pain has an organic basis; there could be various reasons for the lack of response. Choice D is also incorrect as individuals may have a positive response to a placebo even if their pain has a significant organic cause. Therefore, the most appropriate response is A, emphasizing the ethical concerns surrounding the use of placebos without informed consent.

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