Nursing Elites

1. The nurse is assessing a 3-year-old African American child whose height and weight are at the 20th percentile on the growth chart. What should the nurse recognize?

• A. The data suggest the child requires nutritional intervention
• B. The NCHS charts are accurate for U.S. African American children
• C. A correction factor is used for nonwhite ethnic groups
• D. No assessment can be made until several measurements are plotted over time

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The NCHS growth charts serve as reference guides for all racial or ethnic groups, including African American children. The 20th percentile for height and weight does not indicate nutritional failure but provides a reference point for ongoing assessment. Choice A is incorrect because being at the 20th percentile does not automatically imply the need for nutritional intervention. Choice C is incorrect as there is no correction factor specifically used for nonwhite ethnic groups in this context. Choice D is incorrect as a single measurement at the 20th percentile can provide valuable information for assessment.

2. A 13-year-old boy comes to the school nurse complaining of sudden and severe scrotal pain. He denies any trauma to the scrotum. What is the most appropriate nursing action?

• A. Refer him for immediate medical evaluation
• B. Administer analgesics and recommend scrotal support.
• C. Apply an ice bag and observe for increasing pain.
• D. Reassure the adolescent that occasional pain is common with the changes of puberty.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Sudden and severe scrotal pain in an adolescent male is a medical emergency and may indicate testicular torsion, which requires immediate evaluation and intervention to prevent testicular loss.

3. A child with acute glomerulonephritis is in the playroom and experiences blurred vision and a headache. What action should the nurse take?

• A. Check the urine to see if hematuria has increased.
• B. Obtain the child's blood pressure and notify the healthcare provider.
• C. Obtain serum electrolytes and send urinalysis to the laboratory.
• D. Reassure the child and encourage bed rest until the headache improves.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Blurred vision and headache in a child with acute glomerulonephritis may indicate severe hypertension, which requires immediate assessment and intervention. Blood pressure should be checked, and the healthcare provider notified.

4. 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.

5. 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.

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