Nursing Elites

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

• A. Administer a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) as ordered.
• B. Use guided imagery and therapeutic touch.
• C. Administer meperidine as ordered.
• D. Initiate pain assessment with a standardized pain scale.

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. An infant is diagnosed with Hirschsprung disease. What nursing intervention is essential before surgery?

• A. Administering antibiotics
• B. Ensuring bowel rest
• C. Performing regular enemas
• D. Maintaining NPO status

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Maintaining NPO (nothing by mouth) status is essential before surgery for a patient with Hirschsprung disease to prevent aspiration. Administering antibiotics, ensuring bowel rest, and performing regular enemas are not the priority interventions before surgery for this condition. Administering antibiotics may be necessary in the postoperative period to prevent infection, ensuring bowel rest can be beneficial but is not the priority, and performing regular enemas is not typically recommended before surgery for Hirschsprung disease.

3. A healthcare professional is assessing a child with suspected appendicitis. What clinical manifestation is the healthcare professional likely to observe?

• A. Right lower quadrant pain
• B. Left lower quadrant pain
• C. Rebound tenderness
• D. Epigastric pain

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Right lower quadrant pain is a characteristic clinical manifestation of appendicitis. The appendix is typically located in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen, so pain in this area is a common symptom. Left lower quadrant pain (Choice B) is less likely in cases of appendicitis. Rebound tenderness (Choice C) is a sign of peritonitis, not specific to appendicitis. Epigastric pain (Choice D) is more indicative of upper gastrointestinal issues rather than appendicitis.

4. The nurse is conducting a physical examination of a 9-month-old baby with a flat, discolored area on the skin. The nurse documents this as a:

• A. Papule
• B. Macule
• C. Vesicle
• D. Scale

Correct answer: B

Rationale: A macule is defined as a flat, discolored area on the skin that is different from surrounding tissue due to a change in color. In this case, the baby has a flat, discolored area on the skin, which fits the description of a macule. A papule is a small, raised solid bump, a vesicle is a small fluid-filled blister, and a scale is a flake of skin that is often dry and rough. Therefore, choices A, C, and D do not accurately describe the flat, discolored area on the baby's skin, making them incorrect.

5. The nurse is teaching a group of students about myelination in a child. Which statement by the students indicates that the teaching was successful?

• A. Myelination continues into adolescence and beyond.
• B. The process occurs in a cephalocaudal (head-to-toe) pattern.
• C. Myelination decreases the speed of nerve impulses.
• D. Myelination decreases the specificity of nerve impulses.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Myelination occurs in a cephalocaudal (head-to-toe) pattern, improving nerve function progressively. Choice A is incorrect as myelination continues into adolescence and beyond, not just during childhood. Choice C is incorrect because myelination actually increases the speed of nerve impulses rather than decreasing it. Choice D is incorrect as myelination enhances the specificity of nerve impulses, making them more efficient and precise rather than less specific.

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