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. What is a high-fiber food that the nurse should recommend for a child with chronic constipation?

• A. White rice
• B. Popcorn
• C. Fruit juice
• D. Ripe bananas

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Popcorn is a high-fiber food that can help manage chronic constipation in children. Other options like white rice and ripe bananas are low in fiber and less effective for treating constipation.

3. Which situation denotes a nontherapeutic nurse-patient-family relationship?

• A. The nurse is planning to read a favorite fairy tale to a patient
• B. During shift report, the nurse is criticizing parents for not visiting their child
• C. The nurse is discussing with a fellow nurse the emotional draw to a certain patient
• D. The nurse is working with a family to find ways to decrease the family’s dependence on health care providers

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Criticizing parents or making negative comments about their involvement is nontherapeutic and can damage the nurse-patient-family relationship.

4. At what age is it safe to give infants whole milk instead of commercial infant formula?

• A. 6 months
• B. 9 months
• C. 12 months
• D. 18 months

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Whole milk should not be introduced before 12 months because it lacks the necessary nutrients, such as iron, that infants need for proper growth and development.

5. 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.

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