a nurse is caring for a child who has just returned from surgery for a tracheostomy what is the priority nursing action
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Nursing Elites

HESI LPN

Pediatric Practice Exam HESI

1. After a child returns from surgery for a tracheostomy, what is the priority nursing action?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The priority nursing action after a tracheostomy surgery is to suction the tracheostomy tube. Suctioning helps maintain a clear airway and prevent complications such as airway obstruction or respiratory distress. While monitoring respiratory status is important, suctioning takes precedence immediately post-surgery to ensure adequate air exchange. Changing the tracheostomy dressing and ensuring tracheostomy ties are secure are also essential tasks but are secondary to the critical need for airway maintenance through suctioning.

2. A nurse is teaching the parents of a child with a diagnosis of epilepsy about seizure precautions. What should the nurse include in the teaching?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Teaching seizure first aid to family members is essential as it empowers them to respond effectively during a seizure. Keeping a diary of seizure activity is important for tracking patterns and triggers but is not directly related to immediate safety. Administering antiepileptic medication only when a seizure occurs is not recommended as medications should be administered as prescribed by healthcare providers. Restricting the child's activities to prevent seizures is not appropriate as children with epilepsy should be encouraged to lead active lives while taking necessary precautions.

3. The nurse is assisting low-income families to access health care. The nurse is aware that, in today's society, this most accurately defines the diversity of a modern family.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In today's diverse society, the concept of family has evolved beyond traditional definitions. Choice B, 'A family is whatever the child and family say it is,' reflects the contemporary understanding that families can take various forms, based on self-identification and individual perspectives. Choice A is too restrictive, as modern families may not solely consist of parents and their offspring living together. Choice C is somewhat inclusive but lacks the recognition of self-identification and diversity within families. Choice D focuses on genetic relation and roles, which may not apply to all modern family structures. Therefore, choice B is the most suitable and inclusive definition of a modern family in today's society.

4. 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?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Chest tubes are necessary after open-heart surgery to facilitate the drainage of air and fluid from the chest cavity. These tubes help prevent complications such as pneumothorax (accumulation of air in the pleural space) or cardiac tamponade (build-up of fluid in the pericardial sac), which can be serious postoperative issues. Options A, C, and D are incorrect because chest tubes are primarily used for draining purposes and not for increasing tidal volumes, maintaining positive intrapleural pressure, or regulating pressure on the pericardium and chest wall.

5. A group of nursing students is reviewing the components of the endocrine system. The students demonstrate understanding of the review when they identify what as the primary function of this system?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Hormonal secretion' (Choice B). The primary function of the endocrine system is to secrete hormones that regulate various bodily functions such as metabolism, growth, and reproduction. Choice A, 'Regulation of water balance,' is primarily controlled by the kidneys and the urinary system, not the endocrine system. Choice C, 'Cellular metabolism,' is more directly related to the functions of individual cells rather than the overall function of the endocrine system. Choice D, 'Growth stimulation,' is a function that can be influenced by hormones secreted by the endocrine system, but it is not the primary function of the system.

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