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 appropriate site to administer an intramuscular (IM) vaccine to a newborn?

• A. The dorsal gluteal muscle
• B. The vastus lateralis muscle
• C. The ventral gluteal muscle
• D. The biceps muscle

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct site to administer an intramuscular (IM) vaccine to a newborn is the vastus lateralis muscle. For newborns, the vastus lateralis is preferred over the dorsogluteal site because the dorsogluteal site has been associated with low antibody seroconversion rates, indicating a reduced immune response. The vastus lateralis is also recommended for IM injections in newborns, while the deltoid muscle is preferred for older infants and children. The ventral gluteal muscle and the biceps muscle are not appropriate sites for IM injections. Therefore, choice B is the correct answer.

3. The school nurse is teaching a group of adolescents about avoiding contaminated water during a mission trip. What should the nurse include in the teaching?

• A. Ice
• B. All are applicable
• C. Raw vegetables
• D. Unpeeled fruits

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: All are applicable. Ice, raw vegetables, and unpeeled fruits can be sources of contamination in areas where water purity is questionable. It's safer to avoid these during a mission trip to prevent waterborne illnesses. Choice A (Ice), C (Raw vegetables), and D (Unpeeled fruits) are all potential sources of contamination in areas with questionable water quality. Including all these items in the teaching will help adolescents make informed decisions to stay healthy during their mission trip.

4. In children with Type 1 diabetes, what is a common early sign of hypoglycemia?

• A. Irritability
• B. Rapid heartbeat
• C. Confusion
• D. Sweating

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Sweating is indeed one of the earliest signs of hypoglycemia in children with Type 1 diabetes. When blood sugar levels drop too low, the body releases stress hormones like adrenaline, which can lead to sweating. While irritability, rapid heartbeat, and confusion can also be seen in hypoglycemia, sweating is particularly common as a quick indicator of low blood sugar levels in children with Type 1 diabetes.

5. The nurse is teaching a parent of a 6-month-old infant with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) before discharge. What instructions should the nurse include?

• A. Elevate the head of the bed in the crib to a 90-degree angle while the infant is sleeping.
• B. Hold the infant in the prone position after a feeding.
• C. Discontinue breastfeeding so that a formula and rice cereal mixture can be used.
• D. Prescribed cimetidine (Tagamet) should be given 30 minutes before feedings.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Cimetidine is an H2 blocker that reduces stomach acid, helping manage GER. Holding the infant in the prone position is not recommended due to the risk of SIDS. Breastfeeding should not be discontinued unless advised by a physician. Elevating the head to 90 degrees is excessive.

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