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 5-year-old has patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for pain management after abdominal surgery. What information does the nurse include in teaching the parents about the PCA?

• A. The child may not be pain-free.
• B. The parents or nurse may push the button for a bolus if needed.
• C. The pump allows for a continuous basal rate to deliver a constant amount of medication for pain control.
• D. Monitoring is required every 1 to 2 hours to assess patient response.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because the PCA pump can be programmed to deliver a continuous basal rate of pain medication to maintain pain control. While the goal of PCA is effective pain relief, it does not guarantee a pain-free state. In the case of a 5-year-old child, the parents or nurse can administer boluses if necessary since the child may not fully comprehend using the PCA button. Monitoring every 1 to 2 hours for patient response is adequate and there is no need for monitoring every 15 minutes, as stated in choice D, unless specific circumstances dictate more frequent monitoring.

3. The nurse is caring for an adolescent who has just started dialysis. The child always seems angry, hostile, or depressed. The nurse should recognize that this is most likely related to what underlying cause?

• A. Physiologic manifestations of renal disease
• B. The fact that adolescents have few coping mechanisms
• C. Neurologic manifestations that occur with dialysis
• D. Resentment of the control and enforced dependence imposed by dialysis

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Adolescents may feel anger and depression due to the loss of independence and control over their lives, which is imposed by the need for regular dialysis treatments. This reaction is common as they struggle with the restrictions placed on their social and personal lives.

4. The nurse notes that a child has lost 3.6 kg (8 lb) after 4 days of hospitalization for acute glomerulonephritis. What is the most likely cause of this weight loss?

• A. Poor appetite
• B. Reduction of edema
• C. Restriction to bed rest
• D. Increased potassium intake

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The weight loss is most likely due to the reduction of edema, as glomerulonephritis often causes fluid retention that resolves with treatment, leading to significant weight loss.

5. Apgar scoring is conducted at 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth. It is used to determine:

• A. Major body systems’ responses at birth
• B. Future intelligence of the newborn
• C. Level of parent and newborn interaction
• D. Gestational age of the newborn

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The Apgar score assesses a newborn's physical condition immediately after birth by evaluating heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflex response, and color. Therefore, the correct answer is A. The other choices are incorrect because B) the Apgar score does not predict future intelligence, C) it does not measure parent and newborn interaction, and D) it is not used to determine gestational age.

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