Nursing Elites

1. An infant with short bowel syndrome is receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). The practitioner has added continuous enteral feedings through a gastrostomy tube. The nurse recognizes this as important for which reason?

• A. Wean the infant from TPN gradually
• B. Stimulate adaptation of the small intestine
• C. Provide additional nutrients that cannot be included in the TPN
• D. Offer parents encouragement that the child is close to discharge

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Continuous enteral feedings help stimulate the small intestine's adaptation in short bowel syndrome, promoting better nutrient absorption and eventually reducing reliance on TPN. This approach is crucial for long-term management and improving the child's prognosis. Choice A is incorrect because weaning off TPN typically occurs gradually over time, not the next day. Choice C is incorrect because TPN can be adjusted to provide necessary nutrients, and enteral feedings are mainly used to stimulate intestinal function. Choice D is incorrect as the addition of enteral feedings does not necessarily indicate imminent discharge; it primarily focuses on enhancing intestinal adaptation and reducing reliance on TPN.

2. What is the most critical physiological change required of newborns at birth?

• A. Transition from fetal to neonatal breathing
• B. Body temperature maintenance
• C. Stabilization of fluid and electrolytes
• D. Closure of fetal shunts in the heart

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Transition from fetal to neonatal breathing. The most critical physiological change required of newborns at birth is the initiation of breathing. This transition is crucial for the newborn to start exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide outside the womb, marking the beginning of their independent respiratory function. Choices B, C, and D are important aspects of newborn care but are not as immediately critical as the establishment of breathing for oxygenation and removal of carbon dioxide, which is essential for the newborn's survival and adaptation to extrauterine life.

3. The nurse is caring postoperatively for an 8-year-old child with multiple fractures and other traumatic injuries from a motor vehicle crash. The child is experiencing severe pain. What is an important consideration in managing the child’s pain?

• A. Give only an opioid analgesic at this time.
• B. Increase the dosage of analgesic until the child is adequately sedated.
• C. Plan a preventive schedule of pain medication around the clock.
• D. Give the child a clock and explain when they can have pain medications.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: For severe postoperative pain, a preventive around-the-clock schedule is necessary to prevent decreased plasma levels of medications. Providing only an opioid analgesic at this time may not be sufficient for effective pain management. Increasing the dosage without an order is unsafe and may lead to oversedation. Planning a preventive schedule of pain medication around the clock ensures consistent pain relief and better management. Giving the child a clock and explaining when they can have pain medications may increase the child's focus on waiting for relief rather than addressing the pain promptly, making it a less effective strategy.

4. The nurse discovers welts on the back of a Vietnamese child during a home health visit. The child's mother says she has rubbed the edge of a coin on her child's oiled skin. The nurse should recognize this as what?

• A. Child abuse
• B. Cultural practice to rid the body of disease
• C. Cultural practice to treat enuresis or temper tantrums
• D. Child discipline measure common in the Vietnamese culture

Correct answer: B

Rationale: This practice, known as "coining," is a cultural method believed to rid the body of illness and is not indicative of child abuse.

5. When a pre-school child says the sun shines to keep her warm, this is an example of:

• A. Animism
• B. Artificialism
• C. Egocentrism
• D. Centering

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Artificialism. Artificialism is the belief that natural phenomena are created by human beings for human purposes. In this scenario, the child attributes human-like intentions to the sun, assuming it shines specifically to keep her warm. Choice A, Animism, is the belief that natural objects and phenomena are alive and have feelings. Choice C, Egocentrism, refers to a child's difficulty in seeing things from another person's perspective. Choice D, Centering, involves focusing on only one aspect of a situation while ignoring other relevant aspects.

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