Nursing Elites

1. The mother of a child with cognitive impairment calls the nurse because her son has been gagging and drooling all morning. The nurse suspects foreign body ingestion. What physiologic occurrence is most likely responsible for the presenting signs?

• A. Gastrointestinal perforation may have occurred.
• B. The object may have been aspirated.
• C. The object may be lodged in the esophagus.
• D. The object may be embedded in the stomach wall.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The symptoms of gagging and drooling suggest that the foreign object is likely lodged in the esophagus. This can cause significant discomfort and potential complications, requiring immediate medical evaluation.

2. A 5-year-old is hospitalized with a fractured femur. Which pain assessment tool is appropriate for this child?

• A. CRIES Scale
• B. Faces Pain Rating Scale
• C. SUN Scale
• D. NIPS Scale

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The Faces Pain Rating Scale is appropriate for assessing pain in children who can express their feelings visually. For a 5-year-old child who can communicate effectively, using a tool like the Faces Pain Rating Scale, which uses facial expressions to indicate pain levels, is more suitable than the CRIES Scale (used for neonates), the SUN Scale (used for infants), or the NIPS Scale (used for preterm and term newborns).

3. The parents of a 4-month-old infant tell the nurse that they are getting a microwave oven and will be able to heat the baby’s formula faster. What should the nurse recommend?

• A. Heat only 8 oz or more.
• B. Do not heat a plastic bottle in a microwave oven.
• C. Leave the bottle top uncovered to allow heat to escape.
• D. Shake the bottle vigorously for at least 30 seconds after heating.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Heating formula in a plastic bottle in the microwave can cause uneven heating and release harmful chemicals from the plastic.

4. The nurse is educating a new nurse on the identification of pain in children. What does the nurse teach about physiologic measurements in children’s pain assessment?

• A. Not useful as the only indicator for pain
• B. Best indicator of pain in children of all ages
• C. Most valuable when children also report having pain
• D. Essential to determine whether a child is telling the truth about pain

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Physiologic manifestations of pain may vary considerably, so they do not provide a consistent measure of pain. Heart rate may increase or decrease. The same signs that may suggest fear, anxiety, or anger also indicate pain. In chronic pain, the body adapts, and these signs decrease or stabilize. Physiologic measurements are of limited value and must be viewed in the context of a pain rating scale, behavioral assessment, and parental report. When the child reports pain on an appropriate pain scale, the appropriate interventions should be used. Therefore, physiologic measurements are not considered a reliable standalone indicator for pain in children, making choice A the correct answer. Choice B is incorrect because physiologic measurements alone do not serve as the best indicator of pain. Choice C is incorrect as physiologic measurements are still limited even when children report pain. Choice D is incorrect as physiologic measurements are not primarily used to determine the truthfulness of a child's pain report.

5. The nurse is interviewing the mother of an infant. The mother reports, "I had a difficult delivery, and my baby was born prematurely." This information should be recorded under which heading?

• A. History
• B. Present illness
• C. Chief complaint
• D. Review of systems

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The history section of the health record includes details about pregnancy, labor, and delivery, as these factors can have significant implications for the child's health.

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