Nursing Elites

1. The mother of a child with type 1 diabetes asks the nurse why her child cannot avoid all those ‘shots’ and take pills like an uncle does. How should the nurse respond?

• A. The pills work with adult pancreases only.
• B. Your child needs insulin replaced, and the oral hypoglycemic only add to an existing supply of insulin.
• C. The drugs affect fat and protein metabolism, not sugar.
• D. Perhaps when your child is older the pancreas will produce its own insulin, and then your child can take oral hypoglycemic agents.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Children with type 1 diabetes require insulin replacement because their pancreas produces little or no insulin. Oral hypoglycemics used in type 2 diabetes work by improving the effectiveness of insulin the body already makes, which is not sufficient in type 1 diabetes. Choice A is incorrect because the issue is not about the pancreas being adult or child-specific but rather the type of diabetes. Choice C is incorrect because it misstates the mechanism of action of the medications. Choice D is incorrect because it provides inaccurate information about the potential for the child's pancreas to produce insulin in the future, which is unlikely in type 1 diabetes.

2. Which of the following is the best indicator of a child's nutritional status?

• A. Weight
• B. Height
• C. Head circumference
• D. Mid-upper arm circumference

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Mid-upper arm circumference is a good indicator of muscle mass and fat stores, reflecting a child's nutritional status. It is particularly useful in assessing malnutrition, as it is less affected by fluid retention or dehydration compared to other anthropometric measurements. Weight can fluctuate due to factors like hydration status, making it less reliable as a sole indicator of nutritional status. Height reflects growth but may not directly indicate current nutritional status. Head circumference is more related to brain growth and development rather than overall nutritional status.

3. Which information about hemophilia will the nurse include in the teaching plan for the parents of a child diagnosed with hemophilia?

• A. Autosomal dominant disorder in which the blood clotting factors are deficient.
• B. X-linked recessive inherited disorder in which blood clotting factors are deficient.
• C. X-linked recessive inherited disorder involving decreased platelets causing prolonged bleeding.
• D. Autosomal recessive disorder in which the blood clotting factors are deficient.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Hemophilia is an X-linked recessive disorder, primarily affecting males and passed from mothers to sons. It involves a deficiency in clotting factors, leading to prolonged bleeding. Choice A is incorrect as hemophilia is not autosomal dominant. Choice C is incorrect as hemophilia does not involve platelets. Choice D is incorrect as hemophilia is not autosomal recessive.

4. What is the most critical physiologic 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 onset of breathing is the most immediate and critical physiologic change required for the transition to extrauterine life. Factors that interfere with this normal transition increase fetal asphyxia, which is a condition of hypoxemia, hypercapnia, and acidosis. While body temperature maintenance, stabilization of fluid and electrolytes, and closure of fetal shunts in the heart are crucial changes in the transition to extrauterine life, breathing and the exchange of oxygen for carbon dioxide must take precedence as they are essential for newborn survival.

5. An infant requires surgery for repair of a cleft lip. An important priority of the preoperative nursing care is which?

• A. Initiating discharge teaching
• B. Performing baseline physical and behavioral assessment
• C. Observing for allergic reactions to preoperative antibiotics
• D. Determining whether this defect exists in other family members

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Performing a baseline physical and behavioral assessment is crucial to determine the infant's current health status and to identify any potential risks before surgery.

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