Nursing Elites

1. The nurse is taking a health history of an adolescent. Which best describes how the chief complaint should be determined?

• A. Request a detailed listing of symptoms.
• B. Ask the adolescent, "Why did you come here today?"
• C. Interview the parent away from the adolescent to determine the chief complaint
• D. Use what the adolescent says to determine, in correct medical terminology, what the problem is

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Asking the adolescent directly about the reason for their visit encourages open communication and helps the nurse understand the primary concern from the patient's perspective.

2. The nurse is conducting discharge teaching to an adolescent with a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. What should the nurse include in the instructions?

• A. Avoid sharing of towels and washcloths
• B. All are applicable
• C. Use bleach when laundering towels and washcloths
• D. Take a daily bath or shower with an antibacterial soap

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Avoiding sharing of towels and washcloths, using bleach when laundering, and taking daily baths with antibacterial soap are critical to prevent the spread of MRSA. Cold water is not effective for laundering in these cases.

3. The nurse is teaching the family of a child with a long-term central venous access device about signs and symptoms of bacteremia. What finding indicates the presence of bacteremia?

• A. Hypertension
• B. Pain at the entry site
• C. Fever and general malaise
• D. Redness and swelling at the entry site

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Fever and general malaise are systemic signs of bacteremia, indicating that the infection may have spread beyond the local entry site. Localized pain, redness, and swelling are signs of a localized infection but do not necessarily indicate bacteremia.

4. 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.

5. A 12-month-old infant has been diagnosed with failure to thrive (FTT). Which assessment findings does the nurse expect to be documented with this infant?

• A. Fear of strangers
• B. Minimal smiling
• C. Avoidance of eye contact
• D. All of the above

Correct answer: D

Rationale: These behaviors are consistent with FTT and indicate social withdrawal, which is often observed in infants who are not thriving. A wide-eyed gaze and avoidance of eye contact can also indicate developmental delays or emotional disturbances.

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