Nursing Elites

1. An infant with hydrocephalus is hospitalized for surgical placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Postoperative nursing care would include what?

• A. Monitor closely for signs of infection.
• B. Place the child with the operative side of the head up.
• C. Avoid pumping the shunt reservoir to maintain patency.
• D. Avoid maintaining a Trendelenburg position to decrease pressure on the shunt.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Postoperative nursing care for an infant with hydrocephalus who underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement includes monitoring closely for signs of infection, as infection is the greatest hazard in the postoperative period. Signs of cerebrospinal fluid infection to watch for include elevated temperature, poor feeding, vomiting, decreased responsiveness, and seizure activity. The child should be placed with the operative side of the head up to reduce pressure on the valve. The shunt reservoir should not be pumped to maintain patency, as this can disrupt its function. Maintaining a Trendelenburg position to decrease pressure on the shunt is contraindicated as it can lead to increased intracranial pressure and compromise the shunt's effectiveness.

2. When taking a child’s blood pressure, what percentage of the upper arm should the nurse ensure the cuff bladder width covers?

• A. 20%
• B. 40%
• C. 60%
• D. 80%

Correct answer: B

Rationale: When taking a child's blood pressure, the nurse should select a cuff with a bladder width that covers 40% of the arm circumference at the midpoint of the upper arm. This ensures accurate readings. Choosing a cuff that covers less or more than 40% can lead to incorrect blood pressure measurements. Therefore, options A, C, and D are incorrect.

3. A 2-year-old child has a chronic history of constipation and is brought to the clinic for evaluation. What should the therapeutic plan initially include?

• A. Bowel cleansing
• B. Dietary modification
• C. Structured toilet training
• D. Behavior modification

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Dietary modification is often the first step in managing chronic constipation in children, focusing on increasing fiber and fluid intake. Other interventions like bowel cleansing and toilet training may follow if dietary changes are insufficient.

4. An infant, age 5 months, is brought to the clinic by his parents for a well-baby checkup. What is the best advice that the nurse should include at this time about injury prevention?

• A. Keep buttons, beads, and other small objects out of his reach.
• B. Do not permit him to chew paint from window ledges because he might absorb too much lead.
• C. When he learns to roll over, you must supervise him whenever he is on a surface from which he might fall.
• D. Lock the crib sides securely because he may stand and lean against them and fall out of bed.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Small objects are a choking hazard for infants, so it is crucial to keep them out of reach to prevent injury.

5. Two 3-year-old clients are playing together in a hospital playroom. One is working on a puzzle, while the other is stacking blocks. Which type of play is this?

• A. Cooperative play
• B. Solitary play
• C. Parallel play
• D. Associative play

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C, parallel play. Parallel play is observed when children play alongside each other but do not directly interact. In this scenario, each child is engaged in their own activity without engaging or influencing each other's play, which characterizes parallel play. Cooperative play (choice A) involves children playing together towards a common goal, which is not evident in the given situation. Solitary play (choice B) is when a child plays alone, unrelated to the presence of others. Associative play (choice D) involves more interaction and sharing of toys between children, which is not happening in the described play scenario.

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