the nurse is caring for a child who has been admitted for a sickle cell crisis what would the nurse do first to provide adequate pain management
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Nursing Elites

HESI LPN

Pediatrics HESI 2023

1. The child has been admitted for a sickle cell crisis. What would the nurse do first to provide adequate pain management?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Initiating pain assessment with a standardized pain scale is crucial in managing pain effectively during a sickle cell crisis. This step allows the nurse to objectively evaluate the child's pain level and tailor the pain management plan accordingly. Administering medication without a proper assessment could lead to inappropriate pain management. Using guided imagery and therapeutic touch may be beneficial as adjunct therapies but should not replace the initial pain assessment. Meperidine is not typically the first-line choice for pain management in sickle cell crisis due to its potential for neurotoxic metabolites.

2. A child with a diagnosis of pyloric stenosis is scheduled for surgery. What preoperative intervention is important for the nurse to perform?

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct preoperative intervention for a child with pyloric stenosis is to monitor for signs of dehydration. Pyloric stenosis involves the obstruction of the pyloric sphincter, leading to projectile vomiting, which can result in dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Monitoring for signs of dehydration is crucial to assess the child's fluid status and prevent complications. Administering intravenous fluids, although important in managing dehydration, is not typically a preoperative intervention but rather a treatment during or after surgery. Monitoring for signs of infection and pain may also be important but are not the priority preoperative interventions in a child with pyloric stenosis.

3. The healthcare provider is assessing a family to determine if they have access to adequate health care. Which statement accurately describes how certain families are affected by common barriers to health care?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Choice B is the correct answer as white, non-Hispanic children are more likely to be in very good or excellent health compared to African American and Hispanic children. This is an important disparity in health outcomes that may be influenced by various social determinants. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not accurately describe how certain families are affected by common barriers to health care. Choice A discusses the declining percentage of children in low-income families, which is not directly related to barriers to health care. Choice C talks about overweight children and the increase in African American females but does not address access to health care. Choice D discusses the impact of health care plans on working families but does not specifically address barriers to health care access for families.

4. Upon assessing a newborn immediately after delivery, you note that the infant is breathing spontaneously and has a heart rate of 90 beats/min. What is the most appropriate initial management for this newborn?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In a newborn, a heart rate below 100 beats/min indicates the need for positive pressure ventilation to improve oxygenation. Providing blow-by oxygen or assessing skin condition/color may not address the primary issue of inadequate oxygenation due to the low heart rate. Starting chest compressions and contacting medical control is not warranted as the newborn is breathing spontaneously and only has a slightly low heart rate, which can be managed initially with positive pressure ventilations.

5. At 0345, you receive a call for a woman in labor. Upon arriving at the scene, you are greeted by a very anxious man who tells you that his wife is having her baby 'now.' This man escorts you into the living room where a 25-year-old woman is lying on the couch in obvious pain. After determining that delivery is not imminent, you begin transport. While en route, the mother tells you that she feels the urge to push. You assess her and see the top of the baby's head bulging from the vagina. What is your most appropriate first action?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct action in this scenario is to advise your partner to stop the ambulance and assist with the delivery. When the mother feels the urge to push and you see the baby's head bulging from the vagina, it indicates an imminent delivery. Stopping the ambulance allows for a safer environment for the delivery of the baby and ensures that immediate assistance can be provided to both the mother and the newborn. Allowing the head to deliver before checking for the cord (Choice A) may delay necessary interventions in case of complications. Instructing the mother to take short, quick breaths (Choice C) is not appropriate when the baby's head is already visible. Preparing for an emergency delivery and opening the obstetrics kit (Choice D) is important but should come after stopping the ambulance and assisting with the imminent birth.

Similar Questions

A 1-week-old infant has been in the pediatric unit for 18 hours following placement of a spica cast. The nurse observes a respiratory rate of fewer than 24 breaths/min. No other changes are noted. Because the infant is apparently well, the nurse does not report or document the slow respiratory rate. Several hours later, the infant experiences severe respiratory distress and emergency care is necessary. What should be considered if legal action is taken?
An infant with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) is admitted to the pediatric unit. What does the nurse expect to find when palpating the infant’s abdomen?
When caring for a 2-year-old girl who is wheezing and has difficulty breathing, which interview question would provide the most useful information related to the symptoms of the child?
A parent of a 2-year-old child tells a nurse at the clinic, 'Whenever I go to the store, my child has a screaming tantrum, demanding a toy or candy on the shelves. How can I deal with this situation?' What is the nurse’s best response?
What should the nurse include in the preoperative teaching for a 4-year-old child scheduled for a myringotomy?

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