Nursing Elites

1. A four-year-old boy is admitted to the hospital with leg pain and fever. He is pale-looking and has bruises over various areas of his body. The physician suspects acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Which test would be used to confirm the diagnosis?

• A. Bone marrow aspirate
• B. Red blood cell count
• C. Lumbar puncture
• D. Bone scan

Correct answer: A

Rationale: A bone marrow aspirate is the definitive test to confirm acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in this case. It allows for the examination of leukemic cells in the bone marrow, providing a direct assessment of the disease. Red blood cell count (Choice B) is not specific for diagnosing leukemia but may show anemia commonly seen in leukemia patients. Lumbar puncture (Choice C) is used to assess central nervous system involvement, not primarily for confirming ALL. Bone scan (Choice D) is not a standard diagnostic test for ALL and is mainly used for evaluating bone metastases in other conditions.

2. The nurse is assessing a 3-year-old African American child whose height and weight are at the 20th percentile on the growth chart. What should the nurse recognize?

• A. The data suggest the child requires nutritional intervention
• B. The NCHS charts are accurate for U.S. African American children
• C. A correction factor is used for nonwhite ethnic groups
• D. No assessment can be made until several measurements are plotted over time

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The NCHS growth charts serve as reference guides for all racial or ethnic groups, including African American children. The 20th percentile for height and weight does not indicate nutritional failure but provides a reference point for ongoing assessment. Choice A is incorrect because being at the 20th percentile does not automatically imply the need for nutritional intervention. Choice C is incorrect as there is no correction factor specifically used for nonwhite ethnic groups in this context. Choice D is incorrect as a single measurement at the 20th percentile can provide valuable information for assessment.

3. Nurses should be alert for increased fluid requirements in which circumstance?

• A. Fever
• B. Mechanical ventilation
• C. Congestive heart failure
• D. Increased intracranial pressure

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Fever increases metabolic rate, leading to insensible water loss, thus requiring increased fluid intake. Mechanical ventilation, CHF, and increased intracranial pressure generally require fluid restriction rather than increased fluid intake.

4. A 3-year-old child, previously potty-trained, becomes a bed-wetter again during a hospital stay. Which explanation should the nurse provide to the parents?

• A. “Your child is no longer potty-trained and will need to be retrained when she goes home.”
• B. “The child may have developed a bladder infection in the hospital. I will notify the doctor.”
• C. “Preschool children may regress in their behaviors when they are ill in the hospital but should return to normal when they go back home.”
• D. “Don’t worry about it, she is fine.”

Correct answer: C

Rationale: During a hospital stay, preschool children may exhibit regression in behaviors such as bed-wetting due to stress. It is important for parents to understand that this behavior is a common response to the hospital environment and should resolve once the child is back home. Therefore, the correct explanation for the nurse to provide to the parents is choice C. Choice A is incorrect because it inaccurately states that the child is no longer potty-trained. Choice B is incorrect as it assumes a medical issue without evidence. Choice D is incorrect as it dismisses the parents' concerns without addressing the underlying cause of the behavior.

5. The nurse determines that a child's intravenous infusion has infiltrated. The infused solution is a vesicant. What is the most appropriate nursing action?

• A. Stop the infusion and apply ice.
• B. End the infusion and notify the practitioner.
• C. Slow the infusion rate and notify the practitioner.
• D. Discontinue the infusion and apply warm compresses.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: If a vesicant solution infiltrates, stopping the infusion immediately and notifying the practitioner is critical to prevent tissue damage. Cold or warm compresses should only be applied following specific medical advice based on the vesicant involved.

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