Nursing Elites

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 teen with asthma asks the nurse why it is hard to breathe during an asthma attack. The nurse explains that exposure to a “trigger” results in which of these manifestations?

• A. Bronchodilation, muscle relaxation, and decreased mucus production
• B. Air trapping and hypo-inflation of the alveoli
• C. Air trapping and decreased blood flow to the upper airway
• D. Bronchoconstriction, airway inflammation, and excess mucus production

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. Asthma triggers cause bronchoconstriction, airway inflammation, and increased mucus production, leading to difficulty breathing. This combination of manifestations results in narrowing of the airways, making it hard for the individual to breathe effectively. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because during an asthma attack, bronchodilation, muscle relaxation, and decreased mucus production do not occur. Instead, the airways constrict, become inflamed, and produce excess mucus, contributing to the breathing difficulties experienced by individuals with asthma.

3. What is the major cause of death for children older than 1 year in the United States?

• A. Heart disease
• B. Childhood cancer
• C. Unintentional injuries
• D. Congenital anomalies

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death among children older than 1 year in the United States.

4. For minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS), prednisone is effective when what occurs?

• A. Appetite increases and blood pressure is normal
• B. Urinary tract infection is gone and edema subsides
• C. Generalized edema subsides and blood pressure is normal
• D. Diuresis occurs as urinary protein excretion diminishes

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The effectiveness of prednisone in treating MCNS is indicated by diuresis and a decrease in urinary protein excretion. Subsidence of generalized edema is also a positive sign, but the key indicator is the reduction in proteinuria, which is achieved through diuresis.

5. During a well-child checkup, the parent of a 5-year-old child reports the child seems much smaller than the 2 older siblings did at this same age. A review of the medical record reveals that the child is 44 inches tall and weighs 42 pounds. What information should be included in the response by the nurse?

• A. The weight of your child at this time is within normal limits for this age but the child is moderately taller than other children this age.
• B. Your child is within the acceptable range for height but the child is significantly smaller in weight for this age.
• C. Your child is within normal limits for weight but the child is slightly shorter in stature than other children this age.
• D. Your child is slightly taller than other children this age but the child’s weight is normal.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. The child is slightly taller than average, but the weight is within normal limits. This information should be reassuring to the parent and provides insights into normal growth patterns. Choice A is incorrect as it inaccurately states that the child is taller than other children this age. Choice B is incorrect because the child's weight is actually within normal limits. Choice C is incorrect as it inaccurately states that the child is shorter in stature than other children this age.

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