Nursing Elites

1. A girl, age 5 1/2 years, has been sent to the school nurse for urinary incontinence three times in the past 2 days. The nurse should recommend to her parent that the first action is to have the child evaluated for what condition?

• A. School phobia
• B. Glomerulonephritis
• C. Urinary tract infection (UTI)
• D. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Urinary tract infections are a common cause of sudden onset urinary incontinence in children. While school phobia and ADHD can cause behavioral changes, a medical condition like a UTI should be ruled out first.

2. 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.

3. Why are neonates predisposed to problems with thermoregulation?

• A. Renal function is not fully developed.
• B. Flexed posture favors heat loss.
• C. A large body surface area favors heat loss to the environment.
• D. A thick layer of subcutaneous fat provides excellent insulation.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Neonates have a large surface area relative to their weight, which makes them prone to heat loss to the environment, leading to thermoregulation issues. The underdeveloped kidney affecting urine concentration (Choice A) is unrelated to the thermal regulation process. While a flexed posture can help retain heat (Choice B), it does not outweigh the impact of the large body surface area in neonates. Although subcutaneous fat (Choice D) provides insulation, in neonates, the large body surface area is more significant in contributing to heat loss than the fat's insulating properties.

4. What procedure is most appropriate for the assessment of an abdominal circumference related to a bowel obstruction?

• A. Measuring the abdomen after feedings
• B. Marking the point of measurement with a pen
• C. Measuring the circumference at the symphysis pubis
• D. Using a new tape measure with each assessment to ensure accuracy

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Marking the point of measurement ensures consistent and accurate assessments of abdominal circumference, especially important in conditions like bowel obstruction where changes need to be monitored closely.

5. 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.

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