Nursing Elites

1. The nurse has just started assessing a young child who is febrile and appears ill. There is hyperextension of the child's head (opisthotonos) with pain on flexion. Which is the most appropriate action?

• A. Ask the parent when the neck was injured
• B. Refer for immediate medical evaluation
• C. Continue assessment to determine the cause of the neck pain
• D. Record head lag on the assessment record and continue the assessment of the child

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Opisthotonos with pain on flexion is a sign of possible meningitis or other serious neurological conditions, requiring immediate medical evaluation.

2. An infant is brought to the emergency department with the following clinical manifestations: poor skin turgor, weight loss, lethargy, tachycardia, and tachypnea. This is suggestive of which situation?

• A. Water excess
• B. Sodium excess
• C. Water depletion
• D. Potassium excess

Correct answer: C

Rationale: These symptoms are indicative of dehydration or water depletion, which is common in infants and can rapidly lead to severe consequences if not addressed promptly.

3. Which parameter correlates best with measurements of total muscle mass?

• A. Height
• B. Weight
• C. Skinfold thickness
• D. Upper arm circumference

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Upper arm circumference correlates best with total muscle mass because it includes both muscle and fat components, making it a reliable indicator of muscle mass.

4. The nurse is caring for a 1-month-old infant diagnosed with Hirschsprung’s disease. Which treatment measure should be included in the plan of care?

• A. Barium Enema
• B. Surgical removal of the affected section of bowel
• C. High-fiber diet
• D. Permanent colostomy

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Surgical removal of the affected section of bowel. Hirschsprung's disease is a congenital condition where a portion of the large intestine lacks nerve cells, leading to difficulties in passing stool. The definitive treatment for this condition is the surgical removal of the affected section of the bowel. Barium enema (Choice A) may be used for diagnosis but is not a treatment. A high-fiber diet (Choice C) is not effective in managing Hirschsprung's disease. A permanent colostomy (Choice D) is not the initial treatment for this condition in infants.

5. Which of the following is a hallmark sign of intussusception in children?

• A. Bilious vomiting
• B. "Currant jelly" stools
• C. Abdominal distention
• D. Constipation

Correct answer: B

Rationale: "Currant jelly" stools, consisting of mucus and blood, are characteristic of intussusception in children. It occurs due to the telescoping of a segment of the intestine into an adjacent segment, leading to obstruction and subsequent mucosal ischemia, causing the passage of bloody mucus in the stool. Bilious vomiting can be seen in other conditions like bowel obstruction, abdominal distention can be present but is not as specific, and constipation is less likely in the presentation of intussusception.

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