Nursing Elites

1. A 4-year-old child is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of epiglottitis. What is the priority nursing intervention?

• A. Administer antibiotics
• B. Provide humidified oxygen
• C. Keep the child NPO
• D. Position the child upright

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The priority nursing intervention for a 4-year-old child admitted to the hospital with epiglottitis is to keep the child NPO (nothing by mouth). Epiglottitis is a serious condition that can lead to airway obstruction. Keeping the child NPO helps prevent further compromise of the airway and reduces the risk of aspiration. Administering antibiotics may be necessary but ensuring the airway is not compromised takes precedence. Providing humidified oxygen is important for respiratory support, but not the priority over maintaining a patent airway. Positioning the child upright can help with breathing and comfort, but it does not directly address the immediate risk of airway compromise associated with epiglottitis.

2. A parent arrives in the emergency clinic with a 3-month-old baby who says, “My baby stopped breathing for a while.” The infant continues to have difficulty breathing, with prolonged periods of apnea. Which assessment data should alert the nurse to suspect shaken baby syndrome (SBS)?

• A. Birth occurred before 32 weeks’ gestation
• B. Lack of stridor and adventitious breath sounds
• C. Previous episodes of apnea lasting 10 to 15 seconds
• D. Retractions and use of accessory respiratory muscles

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Retractions and the use of accessory respiratory muscles can be signs of respiratory distress, which may indicate trauma such as shaken baby syndrome (SBS). Shaken baby syndrome can result in brain injury and respiratory compromise, leading to breathing difficulties. Choices A, B, and C are less likely to be associated with SBS. Birth before 32 weeks’ gestation is more related to prematurity rather than SBS. The lack of stridor and adventitious breath sounds, as well as previous episodes of apnea lasting 10 to 15 seconds, are not specific indicators of SBS.

3. After surgery to correct hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) in a 3-week-old infant who had been formula-fed, which postoperative feeding order is appropriate?

• A. Thickened formula 24 hours after surgery
• B. Withholding feedings for the first 24 hours
• C. Regular formula feeding within 24 hours after surgery
• D. Additional glucose feedings as desired after the first 24 hours

Correct answer: C

Rationale: After surgery for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS), it is appropriate to resume regular formula feeding within 24 hours postoperatively to promote recovery. Choice A, thickened formula after surgery, may be too heavy for the infant's digestive system at this early stage. Withholding feedings for the first 24 hours (Choice B) is not recommended as early feeding helps with recovery. Additional glucose feedings (Choice D) are not necessary and may not provide the balanced nutrition required after surgery.

4. A healthcare provider is preparing a 2-year-old child for surgery. What preoperative teaching should be provided to this child?

• A. Explaining the procedure in simple terms
• B. Using a doll to demonstrate the procedure
• C. Showing pictures of the hospital environment
• D. Allowing the child to play with medical equipment

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Using a doll to demonstrate the procedure is the most appropriate preoperative teaching method for a 2-year-old child. It helps them understand what to expect in a non-threatening way by providing a visual representation of the upcoming surgery. Explaining the procedure in simple terms may be too abstract for a child of this age, as they may not fully comprehend verbal explanations. Showing pictures of the hospital environment may not be as effective as using a doll, as it may not provide a concrete understanding of the actual procedure. Allowing the child to play with medical equipment is unsafe and does not adequately prepare them for the surgery, as it may lead to misunderstandings or fear regarding the equipment's actual use during the surgery.

5. The parents of a 6-week-old infant who was born without an immune system ask a nurse why their baby is still so healthy. How should the nurse reply?

• A. Exposure to pathogens during this time can be limited.
• B. Some antibodies are produced by the infant’s colonic bacteria.
• C. Antibodies are passively received from the mother through the placenta and breast milk.
• D. Fewer antibodies are produced by the fetal thymus during the eighth and ninth months of gestation.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. Infants receive passive immunity through antibodies from the mother during pregnancy and breastfeeding, which protect them initially. Choice A is incorrect because a 6-week-old infant born without an immune system would not be able to limit exposure to pathogens effectively. Choice B is incorrect as antibodies produced by colonic bacteria are not a significant source of immunity in infants. Choice D is incorrect as the fetal thymus primarily plays a role in T cell development rather than antibody production during gestation.

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