Nursing Elites

1. An intravenous line is needed in a school-age child. What medication is an appropriate analgesic for use with this patient?

• A. TAC (tetracaine, epinephrine [Adrenalin], cocaine) 15 minutes before the procedure.
• B. A transdermal fentanyl (Duragesic) patch at the site of venipuncture.
• C. EMLA (eutectic mixture of local anesthetics) immediately before the procedure.
• D. LMX (4% liposomal lidocaine cream) 30 minutes before the procedure.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: LMX is an effective analgesic agent when applied to the skin 30 minutes before a procedure. It eliminates or reduces the pain from most procedures involving skin puncture. TAC provides skin anesthesia about 15 minutes after application to nonintact skin, making it more suitable for wound suturing. Transdermal fentanyl patches are designed for continuous pain control, not rapid pain control needed for a procedure like venipuncture. EMLA, for maximum effectiveness, must be applied approximately 60 minutes before the procedure, making it less suitable for immediate pain relief required for intravenous line placement.

2. An infant is born with a gastroschisis. Care preoperatively should include which priority intervention?

• A. Prone position
• B. Sterile water feedings
• C. Monitoring serum laboratory electrolytes
• D. Covering the defect with a sterile bowel bag

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct priority intervention for an infant with gastroschisis is to cover the exposed abdominal contents with a sterile bowel bag. This action helps protect the intestines from injury, contamination, and dehydration before surgical repair. Choice A, placing the infant in the prone position, is not appropriate as it does not address the immediate need to protect the exposed intestines. Choice B, sterile water feedings, and Choice C, monitoring serum laboratory electrolytes, are not the priority interventions for this condition. Sterile water feedings may not provide the necessary protection for the exposed intestines, and monitoring electrolytes, while important, is secondary to the immediate need for protection and hydration of the exposed abdominal contents.

3. Which condition is characterized by a 'seal-like' barking cough in children?

• A. Croup
• B. Asthma
• C. Bronchitis
• D. Pneumonia

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Croup is the correct answer. Croup is characterized by a 'seal-like' barking cough due to inflammation and narrowing of the upper airways, particularly the larynx and trachea. It is most common in young children and can cause significant respiratory distress, especially at night. Treatment often includes humidified air and corticosteroids. Asthma (choice B) typically presents with wheezing and shortness of breath, not a barking cough. Bronchitis (choice C) is characterized by productive cough with mucus, not a barking cough. Pneumonia (choice D) often presents with fever, productive cough, and chest pain, not a barking cough.

4. Parents of a newborn with ambiguous genitalia want to know how long they will have to wait to know whether they have a boy or a girl. The nurse answers the parents based on what knowledge?

• A. Chromosome analysis will be complete in 7 days.
• B. A physical examination will be able to provide a definitive answer.
• C. Additional laboratory testing is necessary to assign the correct gender.
• D. Gender assignment involves collaboration between the parents and a multidisciplinary team.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Gender assignment in cases of ambiguous genitalia is a complex process that requires a multidisciplinary approach, including genetic, endocrinological, and psychological evaluations. The decision should be made collaboratively with the parents.

5. The nurse's approach when introducing hospital equipment to a preschooler who seems afraid should be based on which principle?

• A. The child may think the equipment is alive.
• B. Explaining the equipment will only increase the child’s fear
• C. One brief explanation will be enough to reduce the child’s fear
• D. The child is too young to understand what the equipment does

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Preschoolers may engage in magical thinking and believe inanimate objects are alive, so the nurse should explain the equipment in a way that reduces fear.

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