Nursing Elites

1. Alice is rushed to the emergency department during an acute, severe prolonged asthma attack and is unresponsive to usual treatment. The condition is referred to as which of the following?

• A. Status asthmaticus
• B. Reactive airway disease
• C. Intrinsic asthma
• D. Extrinsic asthma

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Status asthmaticus is a life-threatening condition characterized by a severe and prolonged asthma attack that does not respond to standard treatments. It requires immediate medical intervention to prevent respiratory failure and potential fatality. Reactive airway disease, intrinsic asthma, and extrinsic asthma do not specifically denote the severity and unresponsiveness to treatment seen in status asthmaticus.

2. A female child, age 2, is brought to the emergency department after ingesting an unknown number of aspirin tablets about 30 minutes earlier. Her father is blaming the mother for neglecting the child while she was cooking. On entering the examination room, the child is crying and clinging to the mother. Which data should the nurse obtain first?

• A. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure
• B. Recent exposure to communicable diseases
• C. Number of immunizations received
• D. Height and weight

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In this scenario, the priority is to assess the child's vital signs first, including heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure. These data will provide critical information on the child's current physiological status and guide further interventions. Option B, recent exposure to communicable diseases, is not the priority in an acute ingestion situation. Option C, number of immunizations received, and option D, height and weight, are important but not as critical as assessing vital signs in this immediate situation.

3. You have arrived for your shift on the children's ward and need to assess a 2-year-old who is accompanied by his father. Identify the appropriate strategy to successfully complete a focused assessment:

• A. Allow the child to inspect the equipment for faults before and during assessment
• B. Ask parent to leave room until assessment has been completed
• C. Perform traumatic or invasive procedures first
• D. Have the child sit in parents lap and request assistance if necessary

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Having the child sit in parent's lap can help reduce anxiety and allow for a more accurate assessment.

4. Your assessment of a 5-year-old child reveals that he is unresponsive with a respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min and a heart rate of 50 beats/min. Treatment for this child should include:

• A. high-flow oxygen via non-rebreathing mask and rapid transport.
• B. assisted ventilation with a bag-mask device and rapid transport.
• C. positive-pressure ventilation, chest compressions, and rapid transport.
• D. back slaps and chest thrusts while attempting artificial ventilations.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In a 5-year-old child who is unresponsive with severe bradycardia and bradypnea, the priority is to provide positive-pressure ventilation to support breathing and perform chest compressions to support circulation. This child is in cardiac arrest, and the recommended treatment according to pediatric basic life support guidelines involves a combination of positive-pressure ventilation and chest compressions to maintain oxygenation and circulation. Rapid transport to a medical facility for further advanced care is crucial in this critical situation. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because high-flow oxygen via non-rebreathing mask, assisted ventilation with a bag-mask device, and back slaps with chest thrusts are not sufficient in a cardiac arrest situation where the child requires immediate positive-pressure ventilation and chest compressions to maintain oxygenation and circulation.

5. Following an apparent febrile seizure, a 4-year-old boy is alert and crying. His skin is hot and moist. Appropriate treatment for this child includes:

• A. allowing the parents to transport the child.
• B. offering oxygen and providing transport.
• C. rapidly cooling the child in cold water.
• D. keeping the child warm and providing transport.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: After a febrile seizure, the priority is to offer oxygen and provide transport to a medical facility. Oxygen may be necessary to ensure proper oxygenation, and medical evaluation is crucial to determine the cause of the seizure and prevent recurrence. Rapidly cooling the child in cold water is not recommended as it may lead to complications such as hypothermia. Keeping the child warm is also not indicated as the skin is already hot and moist. Therefore, offering oxygen and timely transportation to a healthcare facility is the most appropriate course of action. Allowing the parents to transport the child might delay necessary medical care, and keeping the child warm can exacerbate the existing heat. Rapidly cooling the child in cold water can lead to adverse effects, making it an inappropriate choice.

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