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 should the nurse include in the discharge instructions for the parents of an infant diagnosed with acute otitis media?

• A. Keep the baby in an elevated position during sleep
• B. Administer an antibiotic
• C. Place the baby to sleep with a bottle
• D. Administer acetaminophen (Tylenol) to relieve discomfort

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is recommended to help relieve the discomfort associated with acute otitis media, such as pain and fever. Elevating the baby's head during sleep can also help with drainage and relieve pressure, making choice A incorrect. Administering an antibiotic may be necessary for bacterial otitis media but is not usually the first-line treatment for acute otitis media, so choice B is incorrect. Placing the baby to sleep with a bottle can increase the risk of ear infections due to the pooling of milk around the Eustachian tube, so choice C is incorrect.

3. Which are included in the evaluation step of the nursing process? (Select all that apply.)

• A. All below
• B. Ascertaining if the plan requires modification
• C. Determination if the outcome has been met
• D. Selecting alternative interventions if the outcome has not been met

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The evaluation step involves determining if outcomes are met, modifying the plan if needed, and selecting alternative interventions if goals are not achieved.

4. The parents of a child with sickle cell anemia ask why their child did not have a sickle cell crisis until he was approximately 6 months old. How should the nurse respond?

• A. Your child probably had a crisis, and you were unaware of the symptoms.
• B. Are you sure your child has sickle cell anemia and not sickle cell trait?
• C. Affected children can be asymptomatic in early infancy because of high levels of fetal hemoglobin that inhibit sickling.
• D. Have you asked your doctor about this yet?

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is present in high levels during early infancy, inhibiting sickling unlike adult hemoglobin (HbS). As the levels of HbF decrease and HbS increases, the risk of sickling and crises becomes more pronounced, typically after 6 months of age. Choice A is incorrect because it assumes the crisis went unnoticed, which is not supported by medical knowledge. Choice B is incorrect as it questions the child's diagnosis rather than explaining the phenomenon of delayed crises. Choice D is incorrect as it does not provide the parents with the necessary information regarding their query.

5. What is the appropriate site to administer an intramuscular (IM) vaccine to a newborn?

• A. The dorsal gluteal muscle
• B. The vastus lateralis muscle
• C. The ventral gluteal muscle
• D. The biceps muscle

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct site to administer an intramuscular (IM) vaccine to a newborn is the vastus lateralis muscle. For newborns, the vastus lateralis is preferred over the dorsogluteal site because the dorsogluteal site has been associated with low antibody seroconversion rates, indicating a reduced immune response. The vastus lateralis is also recommended for IM injections in newborns, while the deltoid muscle is preferred for older infants and children. The ventral gluteal muscle and the biceps muscle are not appropriate sites for IM injections. Therefore, choice B is the correct answer.

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