Nursing Elites

1. A child with a diagnosis of congenital heart disease is admitted to the hospital. What should the nurse include in the child’s care plan?

• A. Monitoring fluid status
• B. Encouraging activity
• C. Promoting a high-calorie diet
• D. Maintaining oxygen therapy

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Monitoring fluid status is crucial for a child with congenital heart disease because these children are at risk of fluid overload which can worsen their condition. Monitoring fluid intake and output helps prevent complications like congestive heart failure. Encouraging activity (Choice B) should be individualized based on the child's condition and tolerance, as excessive activity can strain the heart. Promoting a high-calorie diet (Choice C) is not typically recommended for children with congenital heart disease unless specifically indicated, as excessive weight gain can worsen their cardiac function. Maintaining oxygen therapy (Choice D) may be necessary in some cases, but monitoring fluid status is a more fundamental aspect of care for children with congenital heart disease.

2. A nurse is teaching the parents of a child with a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus about insulin administration. What should the nurse emphasize?

• A. Rotate injection sites
• B. Administer insulin before meals
• C. Store insulin in the refrigerator
• D. Administer insulin at bedtime

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to rotate injection sites. Rotating injection sites is crucial in insulin administration to prevent lipodystrophy, which is the breakdown of subcutaneous fat at the injection site. It also helps ensure consistent insulin absorption. Administering insulin before meals (choice B) is important to match insulin peak action with the rise in blood glucose after eating. Storing insulin in the refrigerator (choice C) is correct to maintain its potency and stability. Administering insulin at bedtime (choice D) may not be suitable for all patients and is not a universal recommendation for insulin administration.

3. Congenital heart defects have traditionally been divided into acyanotic or cyanotic defects. Based on the nurse’s knowledge of congenital heart defects, this system in clinical practice is

• A. helpful because it explains the hemodynamics involved
• B. helpful because children with cyanotic defects are easily identified
• C. problematic because cyanosis is rarely present in children
• D. problematic because children with acyanotic heart defects may develop cyanosis

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The classification is problematic because children with acyanotic heart defects may develop cyanosis, complicating the differentiation between acyanotic and cyanotic defects. Choice A is incorrect because the system is not solely based on explaining hemodynamics. Choice B is incorrect because the classification is not based on the ease of identifying children with cyanotic defects. Choice C is incorrect because cyanosis can indeed be present in children with congenital heart defects, especially acyanotic defects that may lead to cyanosis under certain circumstances.

4. A parent arrives in the emergency clinic with a 3-month-old baby who has difficulty breathing and 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 are signs of respiratory distress in infants. These clinical manifestations can be associated with trauma, such as shaken baby syndrome (SBS), which can lead to severe head injuries and respiratory compromise. Birth before 32 weeks’ gestation (Choice A) is more related to prematurity complications rather than SBS. The absence of stridor and adventitious breath sounds (Choice B) may not be specific indicators of SBS. Previous episodes of apnea lasting 10 to 15 seconds (Choice C) alone may not be as concerning as the presence of retractions and use of accessory muscles in the context of a distressed infant.

5. A nurse is reviewing the immunization schedule of an 11-month-old infant. What immunizations does the nurse expect the infant to have previously received?

• A. Pertussis, tetanus, polio, and measles
• B. Diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and polio
• C. Rubella, polio, tuberculosis, and pertussis
• D. Measles, mumps, rubella, and tuberculosis

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and polio. By 11 months of age, infants should have received doses of these vaccines as part of the immunization schedule. Choice A is incorrect because measles is usually given later in the schedule. Choice C is incorrect as rubella is usually given as part of the MMR vaccine, not individually, and tuberculosis is not routinely given as a vaccine in early infancy. Choice D is incorrect because mumps is not part of the recommended vaccines at 11 months of age.

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