Nursing Elites

1. A 6-month-old infant with Hirschsprung disease is scheduled for a temporary colostomy. What should postoperative teaching to the parents include?

• A. Dilating the stoma
• B. Assessing bowel function
• C. Limitation of physical activities
• D. Measures to prevent prolapse of the rectum

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Postoperative teaching should focus on assessing bowel function to ensure the colostomy is functioning properly. This includes monitoring stool output, color, consistency, and signs of infection or blockage. Choice A, dilating the stoma, is not recommended without healthcare provider guidance, as it can lead to complications. Choice C, limitation of physical activities, may not be as crucial immediately after colostomy creation. Choice D, measures to prevent prolapse of the rectum, is more relevant for conditions like rectal prolapse and not specifically for a colostomy.

2. What do mortality statistics describe?

• A. Disease occurring regularly within a geographic location
• B. The number of individuals who have died over a specific period
• C. The prevalence of specific illness in the population at a particular time
• D. Disease occurring in more than the number of expected cases in a community

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Mortality statistics describe the number of individuals who have died over a specific period, providing insight into public health concerns.

3. The nurse is caring for a very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infant with a peripheral intravenous infusion. What nursing considerations regarding infiltration should be included in planning IV care?

• A. Infiltration is not solely related to the activity level of VLBW infants.
• B. Continuous infusion pumps do not always stop automatically when infiltration occurs.
• C. Hypertonic solutions can cause severe tissue damage if infiltration occurs.
• D. The infusion site should be checked regularly to prevent infiltration-related complications.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Hypertonic solutions can damage tissues if they leak from the vein due to infiltration. It is crucial to monitor for this complication to prevent severe tissue damage. Infiltration is not solely related to the activity level of VLBW infants; it can occur due to various reasons such as vein condition, catheter placement, and fluid type. Continuous infusion pumps may not always detect infiltration, as they typically alarm for pressure changes but not all infiltration instances. Checking the infusion site regularly, preferably hourly, is essential to prevent complications like tissue damage from extravasations, fluid overload, and dehydration.

4. Physiologically, the child compensates for fluid volume losses by which mechanism?

• A. Inhibition of aldosterone secretion
• B. Hemoconcentration to reduce cardiac workload
• C. Fluid shift from interstitial space to intravascular space
• D. Vasodilation of peripheral arterioles to increase perfusion

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In response to dehydration, the body compensates by shifting fluids from the interstitial spaces to the intravascular space to maintain blood pressure and perfusion to vital organs. Hemoconcentration and vasoconstriction are other compensatory mechanisms but are less immediate.

5. During examination of a toddler's extremities, the nurse notes that the child is bowlegged. The nurse should recognize that this finding is which?

• A. Abnormal and requires further investigation
• B. Abnormal unless it occurs in conjunction with knock-knee
• C. Normal if the condition is unilateral or asymmetric
• D. Normal because the lower back and leg muscles are not yet well developed

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Bowleggedness is normal in toddlers due to the development of lower back and leg muscles. It usually resolves as the child grows.

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