Nursing Elites

1. A 5-year-old has patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for pain management after abdominal surgery. What information does the nurse include in teaching the parents about the PCA?

• A. The child may not be pain-free.
• B. The parents or nurse may push the button for a bolus if needed.
• C. The pump allows for a continuous basal rate to deliver a constant amount of medication for pain control.
• D. Monitoring is required every 1 to 2 hours to assess patient response.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because the PCA pump can be programmed to deliver a continuous basal rate of pain medication to maintain pain control. While the goal of PCA is effective pain relief, it does not guarantee a pain-free state. In the case of a 5-year-old child, the parents or nurse can administer boluses if necessary since the child may not fully comprehend using the PCA button. Monitoring every 1 to 2 hours for patient response is adequate and there is no need for monitoring every 15 minutes, as stated in choice D, unless specific circumstances dictate more frequent monitoring.

2. What is the most critical physiological change required of newborns at birth?

• A. Transition from fetal to neonatal breathing
• B. Body temperature maintenance
• C. Stabilization of fluid and electrolytes
• D. Closure of fetal shunts in the heart

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Transition from fetal to neonatal breathing. The most critical physiological change required of newborns at birth is the initiation of breathing. This transition is crucial for the newborn to start exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide outside the womb, marking the beginning of their independent respiratory function. Choices B, C, and D are important aspects of newborn care but are not as immediately critical as the establishment of breathing for oxygenation and removal of carbon dioxide, which is essential for the newborn's survival and adaptation to extrauterine life.

3. The parents of a child with acute postinfectious glomerulonephritis (APIGN) ask how they will know that the condition is improving. How should the nurse respond?

• A. Your child’s urine output will increase, and the urine will become less brown in color.
• B. Your child will rest more comfortably.
• C. Your child’s appetite will decrease.
• D. Your child’s laboratory test values will show increased BUN.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Improvement in APIGN is indicated by an increase in urine output and a change in urine color from brown (due to hematuria) to a more normal appearance. This reflects a reduction in glomerular inflammation and improved kidney function. Choice B is incorrect because resting more comfortably is not a direct indicator of kidney function improvement. Choice C is incorrect because a decrease in appetite is not typically associated with improvement in APIGN. Choice D is incorrect because an increased BUN value would suggest worsening kidney function rather than improvement.

4. What time frame has the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommended that pregnant adolescents and women who are not protected against pertussis receive the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine?

• A. Between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation or postpartum before discharge from the hospital
• B. During the first prenatal visit when pregnancy is confirmed
• C. The vaccine should be administered 24 hours prior to delivery
• D. This vaccine is only recommended during the first trimester

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend that pregnant adolescents and women without protection against pertussis should receive the Tdap vaccine ideally between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation or postpartum before discharge from the hospital. This timeframe allows for the development of antibodies in the mother to protect her and provide passive immunity to the infant. Administering the vaccine during the first trimester (Choice D) is not recommended as the optimal time is between 27 and 36 weeks. Choice B, during the first prenatal visit, is too early for optimal protection, and Choice C, 24 hours prior to delivery, does not provide enough time for the vaccine to be effective before birth.

5. The nurse is caring for an adolescent who has just started dialysis. The child always seems angry, hostile, or depressed. The nurse should recognize that this is most likely related to what underlying cause?

• A. Physiologic manifestations of renal disease
• B. The fact that adolescents have few coping mechanisms
• C. Neurologic manifestations that occur with dialysis
• D. Resentment of the control and enforced dependence imposed by dialysis

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Adolescents may feel anger and depression due to the loss of independence and control over their lives, which is imposed by the need for regular dialysis treatments. This reaction is common as they struggle with the restrictions placed on their social and personal lives.

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