Nursing Elites

1. The child is admitted with acute abdominal pain and possible appendicitis. What intervention is appropriate to relieve the abdominal discomfort during the evaluation?

• A. Place the child in the Trendelenburg position.
• B. Apply moist heat to the abdomen.
• C. Allow the child to assume a position of comfort.
• D. Administer a saline enema to cleanse the bowel.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Allowing the child to assume a position of comfort is appropriate as it helps alleviate discomfort without the risk of complications. Placing the child in the Trendelenburg position could increase intra-abdominal pressure and worsen the condition. Applying moist heat may lead to vasodilation and potential perforation in case of appendicitis. Administering a saline enema can be harmful if the appendix is inflamed or perforated.

2. The parents of a young child ask the nurse for suggestions about discipline. When discussing the use of time-outs, which should the nurse include?

• A. Send the child to his or her room if the child has one.
• B. A general rule for length of time is 1 hour per year of age.
• C. Select an area that is safe and nonstimulating, such as a hallway.
• D. If the child cries, refuses, or is more disruptive, try another approach.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Time-outs should be in a safe, nonstimulating area, with the length typically being 1 minute per year of the child's age, not 1 hour.

3. A parent of a school-age child tells the school nurse that the parents are going through a divorce. The child has not been doing well in school and sometimes has trouble sleeping. The nurse should recognize this as what?

• A. Indicative of maladjustment
• B. A common reaction to divorce
• C. Suggestive of a lack of adequate parenting
• D. An unusual response that indicates a need for referral

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Poor academic performance and sleep disturbances are common reactions in children going through their parents' divorce, reflecting stress and adjustment challenges.

4. Melena, the passage of black, tarry stools, suggests bleeding from which source?

• A. The perianal or rectal area
• B. The upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract
• C. The lower GI tract
• D. Hemorrhoids or anal fissures

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Melena indicates bleeding from the upper GI tract. The black, tarry appearance of the stool results from the partial digestion of blood as it passes through the intestines, typically originating from sources like the stomach or duodenum. Lower GI bleeding usually presents as bright red blood in the stool, originating from sources like the colon or rectum. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because melena specifically points to upper GI bleeding rather than issues in the perianal/rectal area, lower GI tract, or hemorrhoids/anal fissures.

5. For a child with Kawasaki disease, which symptom is most indicative of the acute phase?

• A. Strawberry tongue
• B. Joint pain
• C. Rash
• D. Peeling skin

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Strawberry tongue. In Kawasaki disease, a 'strawberry tongue' is most indicative of the acute phase. This refers to the tongue appearing red and swollen with enlarged fungiform papillae, giving it a strawberry-like appearance. Joint pain (Choice B) is more commonly associated with other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Rash (Choice C) and peeling skin (Choice D) are also seen in Kawasaki disease but are not as specific to the acute phase as the presence of a strawberry tongue.

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