Nursing Elites

1. The nurses caring for a child are concerned about the child’s frequent requests for pain medication. During a team conference, a new nurse suggests they consider administering a placebo instead of the usual pain medication to see how the child responds. The team educates the nurse on why this is not appropriate and bases the decision on what knowledge?

• A. This practice is unjustified and unethical.
• B. This practice is effective in determining whether a child’s pain is real.
• C. The absence of a response to a placebo means the child’s pain has an organic basis.
• D. A positive response to a placebo will not occur if the child’s pain has an organic basis.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. The use of placebos without the patient’s consent is unethical and goes against the principles of beneficence and autonomy. Choice B is incorrect because using placebos does not provide reliable information about the presence or severity of the pain; it only indicates the response to the placebo itself. Choice C is wrong as the absence of a response to a placebo does not definitively mean that the child’s pain has an organic basis; there could be various reasons for the lack of response. Choice D is also incorrect as individuals may have a positive response to a placebo even if their pain has a significant organic cause. Therefore, the most appropriate response is A, emphasizing the ethical concerns surrounding the use of placebos without informed consent.

2. The nurse is educating a new nurse on the identification of pain in children. What does the nurse teach about physiologic measurements in children’s pain assessment?

• A. Not useful as the only indicator for pain
• B. Best indicator of pain in children of all ages
• C. Most valuable when children also report having pain
• D. Essential to determine whether a child is telling the truth about pain

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Physiologic manifestations of pain may vary considerably, so they do not provide a consistent measure of pain. Heart rate may increase or decrease. The same signs that may suggest fear, anxiety, or anger also indicate pain. In chronic pain, the body adapts, and these signs decrease or stabilize. Physiologic measurements are of limited value and must be viewed in the context of a pain rating scale, behavioral assessment, and parental report. When the child reports pain on an appropriate pain scale, the appropriate interventions should be used. Therefore, physiologic measurements are not considered a reliable standalone indicator for pain in children, making choice A the correct answer. Choice B is incorrect because physiologic measurements alone do not serve as the best indicator of pain. Choice C is incorrect as physiologic measurements are still limited even when children report pain. Choice D is incorrect as physiologic measurements are not primarily used to determine the truthfulness of a child's pain report.

3. The nurse is aware that which age group is at risk for childhood injury because of the cognitive characteristic of magical and egocentric thinking?

• A. Preschool
• B. Young school age
• C. Middle school age
• D. Adolescent

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Preschool children are at higher risk for injury due to magical and egocentric thinking, which can lead to misjudgments about their abilities and dangers.

4. Which pediatric condition is characterized by a "string sign" on an upper GI series?

• A. Intussusception
• B. Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis
• C. Hirschsprung disease
• D. Meckel diverticulum

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. The "string sign" is associated with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, a condition where the pyloric canal is narrowed, leading to gastric outlet obstruction. Intussusception (choice A) typically presents with colicky abdominal pain and currant jelly stools. Hirschsprung disease (choice C) is characterized by the absence of ganglion cells in the distal colon. Meckel diverticulum (choice D) is a congenital outpouching of the small intestine that can present with painless rectal bleeding.

5. What is often the initial sign of acute rheumatic fever in children?

• A. Polyarthritis
• B. Carditis
• C. Erythema marginatum
• D. Sydenham chorea

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Polyarthritis is indeed frequently the initial sign of acute rheumatic fever in children. It presents as joint pain, swelling, and redness. Carditis (inflammation of the heart), Erythema marginatum (a skin rash), and Sydenham chorea (involuntary muscle movements) are typically seen in the later stages of acute rheumatic fever and not as the initial sign.

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