how should a nurse manage a child with a new diagnosis of sickle cell anemia

HESI LPN

LPN Nutrition Practice Test

1. How should a caregiver manage a child with a new diagnosis of sickle cell anemia?

A. Ensure the child receives frequent blood transfusions
B. Promote adequate hydration and pain management
C. Restrict physical activity
D. Administer high doses of vitamin C

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Promoting adequate hydration and pain management is crucial for managing sickle cell anemia to prevent crises and complications. Adequate hydration helps prevent sickling of red blood cells, while effective pain management is essential for addressing the frequent pain episodes associated with the condition. Ensuring the child receives frequent blood transfusions is not the initial management for sickle cell anemia; transfusions are usually reserved for specific complications. Restricting physical activity should be individualized based on the child's condition; some physical activity is beneficial for overall health. Administering high doses of vitamin C is not a standard treatment for sickle cell anemia and does not address the underlying pathology of the disease.

2. How should a healthcare professional respond to a parent concerned about their child's weight gain?

A. Provide guidance on healthy eating and physical activity
B. Suggest restrictive dieting
C. Recommend increased caloric intake
D. Avoid discussing the issue

Correct answer: A

Rationale: When a parent expresses concern about their child's weight gain, the most appropriate response is to provide guidance on healthy eating and physical activity. This approach promotes healthy weight management and overall well-being. Suggesting restrictive dieting (Choice B) can be harmful, especially for children, as it may lead to unhealthy relationships with food and potential nutritional deficiencies. Recommending increased caloric intake (Choice C) without proper assessment and guidance can exacerbate the issue. Avoiding discussing the issue (Choice D) neglects a critical opportunity to address the parent's concerns and support the child's health.

3. How is gastroesophageal reflux (GER) typically treated in infants?

A. Keeping the infant NPO
B. Thickening the formula or breast milk with cereal
C. Placing the infant to sleep on the side
D. Switching the infant to cow's milk

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Thickening the formula or breast milk with cereal is a common treatment for gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in infants. By adding cereal, the feedings become heavier, making it less likely for the stomach contents to reflux. Keeping the infant NPO (nothing by mouth) is not typically necessary for GER treatment and might not be appropriate. Placing the infant to sleep on the side is not recommended due to the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Switching the infant to cow's milk is also not a recommended treatment for GER as it can exacerbate symptoms due to its protein content.

4. You have been asked to help a top nutrition researcher conduct human experiments on vitamin C. As the subjects walk into the laboratory, you distribute all the vitamin C pill bottles to the girls and all the placebo pill bottles to the boys. What should you have done?

A. Giving all the boys the vitamin C and the girls the placebo, and telling them what they were getting.
B. Distributing the bottles randomly, randomizing the subjects, and telling them what they were getting.
C. Telling the subjects which group they were in, but preventing yourself from knowing the contents of the pill bottles.
D. Preventing yourself from knowing what is in the pill bottles, and distributing the bottles randomly to the subjects.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct approach in a scientific experiment is to prevent yourself from knowing the contents of the pill bottles and distribute them randomly to the subjects. This randomization helps to avoid bias and ensures that the results are not influenced by preconceived notions. Option A is incorrect because it introduces gender bias by assigning pills based on gender. Option B is incorrect as it mentions telling the subjects what they are getting, which could lead to placebo effects. Option C is incorrect as it suggests disclosing group information to the subjects, which can also introduce bias.

5. Gram for gram, which class of nutrient provides the most energy?

A. fats
B. alcohols
C. proteins
D. carbohydrates

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is fats. Fats provide 9 kilocalories per gram, which is more energy-dense compared to proteins and carbohydrates. While proteins and carbohydrates provide 4 kilocalories per gram, fats provide more than twice the energy, making them the most energy-providing nutrient. Alcohols are not considered essential nutrients and do not provide energy for the body, unlike fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Therefore, fats are the correct answer for the most energy-providing nutrient.