Nursing Elites

1. A healthcare professional is assessing a child with suspected bacterial meningitis. What is a common clinical manifestation that the healthcare professional is likely to observe?

• A. Rash
• B. Photophobia
• C. Jaundice
• D. Kernig sign

Correct answer: D

Rationale: A common clinical manifestation of bacterial meningitis is a positive Kernig sign, indicating irritation of the meninges. Rash (Choice A) is not typically associated with bacterial meningitis. Photophobia (Choice B) can be present but is more commonly seen in viral meningitis. Jaundice (Choice C) is not a typical clinical manifestation of meningitis and is more indicative of liver dysfunction.

2. The parents of a child who is scheduled for open-heart surgery ask why their child must be subjected to chest tubes after surgery. What should the nurse consider before responding in language the parents will understand?

• A. They will increase tidal volumes.
• B. Drainage of air and fluid will be facilitated.
• C. They will maintain positive intrapleural pressure.
• D. Pressure on the pericardium and chest wall will be regulated.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Chest tubes are used to drain air and fluid from the chest cavity to prevent complications such as pneumothorax or cardiac tamponade after surgery. Choice A is incorrect as chest tubes are not used to increase tidal volumes. Choice C is incorrect as chest tubes do not maintain positive intrapleural pressure; instead, they assist in removing excess air or fluid. Choice D is incorrect as chest tubes do not regulate pressure on the pericardium and chest wall; they primarily aid in drainage.

3. A healthcare provider is preparing a 2-year-old child for surgery. What preoperative teaching should be provided to this child?

• A. Explaining the procedure in simple terms
• B. Using a doll to demonstrate the procedure
• C. Showing pictures of the hospital environment
• D. Allowing the child to play with medical equipment

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Using a doll to demonstrate the procedure is the most appropriate preoperative teaching method for a 2-year-old child. It helps them understand what to expect in a non-threatening way by providing a visual representation of the upcoming surgery. Explaining the procedure in simple terms may be too abstract for a child of this age, as they may not fully comprehend verbal explanations. Showing pictures of the hospital environment may not be as effective as using a doll, as it may not provide a concrete understanding of the actual procedure. Allowing the child to play with medical equipment is unsafe and does not adequately prepare them for the surgery, as it may lead to misunderstandings or fear regarding the equipment's actual use during the surgery.

4. A parent calls the clinic because their child has ingested a small amount of household bleach. What should the nurse advise?

• A. Administer activated charcoal
• B. Induce vomiting immediately
• C. Call the poison control center
• D. Take the child to the emergency department

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In the case of a child ingesting household bleach, the primary advice should be to call the poison control center (Choice C). The poison control center can provide specific guidance on how to manage the ingestion, including whether any immediate interventions are necessary. Administering activated charcoal (Choice A) or inducing vomiting immediately (Choice B) can worsen the situation as they are not recommended treatments for bleach ingestion. Taking the child to the emergency department (Choice D) may be necessary depending on the advice given by the poison control center, but the initial step should be to seek guidance from the experts at the poison control center.

5. A child with sickle cell anemia develops severe chest pain, fever, a cough, and dyspnea. The nurse's first action is to

• A. administer 100% oxygen to relieve hypoxia
• B. administer pain medication to relieve symptoms
• C. notify the practitioner because chest syndrome is suspected
• D. notify the practitioner because the child may be having a stroke

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In a child with sickle cell anemia experiencing severe chest pain, fever, cough, and dyspnea, the priority action is to suspect acute chest syndrome, a life-threatening complication. The nurse's first action should be to notify the practitioner for immediate evaluation and intervention. Administering 100% oxygen (Choice A) may be necessary later but is not the initial priority. Administering pain medication (Choice B) should not precede notifying the practitioner, as addressing the underlying cause is crucial. The symptoms described are more indicative of acute chest syndrome than a stroke, so notifying the practitioner for chest syndrome (Choice C) takes precedence over suspecting a stroke (Choice D).

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