ATI RN
Nursing Care of Children Final ATI
1. The nurse is caring postoperatively for an 8-year-old child with multiple fractures and other traumatic injuries from a motor vehicle crash. The child is experiencing severe pain. What is an important consideration in managing the child’s pain?
- A. Give only an opioid analgesic at this time.
- B. Increase the dosage of analgesic until the child is adequately sedated.
- C. Plan a preventive schedule of pain medication around the clock.
- D. Give the child a clock and explain when they can have pain medications.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: For severe postoperative pain, a preventive around-the-clock schedule is necessary to prevent decreased plasma levels of medications. Providing only an opioid analgesic at this time may not be sufficient for effective pain management. Increasing the dosage without an order is unsafe and may lead to oversedation. Planning a preventive schedule of pain medication around the clock ensures consistent pain relief and better management. Giving the child a clock and explaining when they can have pain medications may increase the child's focus on waiting for relief rather than addressing the pain promptly, making it a less effective strategy.
2. A school-age child is admitted to the pediatric unit with a vaso-occlusive crisis. Which of these should be included in the nursing plan of care?
- A. Correction of alkalosis
- B. Pain management and administration of heparin
- C. Adequate oxygenation and replacement of factor VIII to correct the sickling
- D. Adequate hydration, oxygenation, and pain management
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. Vaso-occlusive crises in sickle cell anemia require a comprehensive approach that includes adequate hydration to reduce blood viscosity, oxygenation to prevent further sickling of red blood cells, and aggressive pain management. This approach helps improve tissue perfusion and manage pain effectively. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. Correction of alkalosis is not a priority in vaso-occlusive crisis management. Administration of heparin is not indicated as it can increase the risk of bleeding in sickle cell patients. Factor VIII replacement is not relevant to sickle cell anemia as it is a treatment for hemophilia, not sickle cell disease.
3. The nurse is admitting a child with severe isotonic dehydration. Which intravenous fluid should the nurse anticipate the doctor to order initially to replace fluids?
- A. 0.9% normal saline
- B. D5 0.2% (1/4) normal saline
- C. D5W
- D. Albumin
Correct answer: A
Rationale: In the case of severe isotonic dehydration, the initial fluid of choice is 0.9% normal saline. This solution is preferred because it helps to restore both fluids and electrolytes effectively. Options B, C, and D are not suitable for the initial management of severe isotonic dehydration. D5 0.2% (1/4) normal saline (Choice B) is a hypotonic solution and might worsen the imbalance. D5W (Choice C) is a hypotonic solution that does not contain electrolytes essential for rehydration. Albumin (Choice D) is a colloid solution used for specific indications like hypoproteinemia or hypoalbuminemia, not for initial rehydration in severe dehydration.
4. When taking a child’s blood pressure, what percentage of the upper arm should the nurse ensure the cuff bladder width covers?
- A. 20%
- B. 40%
- C. 60%
- D. 80%
Correct answer: B
Rationale: When taking a child's blood pressure, the nurse should select a cuff with a bladder width that covers 40% of the arm circumference at the midpoint of the upper arm. This ensures accurate readings. Choosing a cuff that covers less or more than 40% can lead to incorrect blood pressure measurements. Therefore, options A, C, and D are incorrect.
5. Which characteristic best describes the fine motor skills of an infant at age 5 months?
- A. Neat pincer grasp
- B. Strong grasp reflex
- C. Builds a tower of two cubes
- D. Able to grasp object voluntarily
Correct answer: D
Rationale: By 5 months, infants develop the ability to grasp objects voluntarily, showing improved motor control. The neat pincer grasp and building towers are skills that develop later.