a 3 year old child is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of pneumonia the nurse notes that the child has a fever and is breathing rapidly what
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Nursing Elites

HESI RN

HESI Pediatrics Practice Exam

1. A 3-year-old child is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of pneumonia. The nurse notes that the child has a fever and is breathing rapidly. What is the nurse’s priority action?

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In a child with pneumonia who is breathing rapidly, the priority action for the nurse is to start the child on oxygen therapy. This intervention is essential to ensure adequate oxygenation, which is crucial in managing respiratory distress and preventing complications associated with hypoxia. Administering antipyretic medication (Choice A) may help reduce the fever but does not address the immediate need for oxygen therapy. Obtaining a chest X-ray (Choice B) is important for diagnosis but providing oxygen is more urgent. Notifying the healthcare provider (Choice D) can be done after initiating oxygen therapy to update on the patient's condition.

2. The practical nurse is caring for a child with suspected appendicitis. Which assessment finding should be reported to the healthcare provider immediately?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Sudden relief of pain in a child with suspected appendicitis should be reported immediately as it may indicate a rupture of the appendix, which is a medical emergency. Sudden relief of pain is concerning because it can be a sign of a perforated appendix, leading to peritonitis and sepsis.

3. What information should the nurse provide the parents of a 3-year-old boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) who are concerned about having more children?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an inherited X-linked recessive disorder that primarily affects male children in the family. Since it is X-linked, sons inherit the mutation from their mothers who are carriers of the abnormal gene. Therefore, the nurse should explain to the parents that any future sons they have would have a 50% chance of inheriting the mutation and having DMD, while daughters would have a 50% chance of being carriers like the mother.

4. A 6-month-old female is scheduled to receive diphtheria, tetanus toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) and IPV (inactivated poliovirus vaccine) immunizations. She is recovering from a cold but is otherwise healthy and afebrile. Her 5-year-old sister is receiving chemotherapy. Which considerations should the nurse make for this situation?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: DTaP and IPV can be safely administered to a child with a mild illness like a cold, even if there is an immunocompromised family member, as these vaccines do not contain live viruses. It is important to ensure that the child is otherwise healthy and afebrile before administering the vaccines. The presence of a cold is not a contraindication for receiving DTaP and IPV vaccines. Choice A is correct because the infant can receive both vaccines as scheduled. Choice B is incorrect as having a cold does not contraindicate DTaP and IPV administration. Choice C is incorrect because IPV is not contraindicated due to the sister's immunocompromised status. Choice D is incorrect as both DTaP and IPV can be given in this scenario.

5. When a 3-year-old boy asks a nurse why his baby sister is eating his mommy’s breast, how should the nurse respond? (Select the response that does not apply.)

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In this scenario, the nurse should avoid reminding the older sibling about his own breastfeeding experience as it does not directly address the question posed by the boy. Providing simple explanations about breastfeeding and newborn feeding patterns helps the older sibling understand the natural process without bringing up personal experiences. Choice B is correct because clarifying that breastfeeding is the mother's choice helps the older sibling understand the concept of personal decisions. Choice C is appropriate as reassuring the older brother that it does not hurt his mother addresses a common concern children may have. Choice D is also suitable as it explains in simple terms how newborns receive milk from their mothers.

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