the parents of a child who is scheduled for open heart surgery ask why their child must be subjected to chest tubes after surgery what should the nurs
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Nursing Elites

HESI LPN

Pediatric HESI Test Bank

1. The parents of a child who is scheduled for open-heart surgery ask why their child must be subjected to chest tubes after surgery. What should the nurse consider before responding in language the parents will understand?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Chest tubes are used to drain air and fluid from the chest cavity to prevent complications such as pneumothorax or cardiac tamponade after surgery. Choice A is incorrect as chest tubes are not used to increase tidal volumes. Choice C is incorrect as chest tubes do not maintain positive intrapleural pressure; instead, they assist in removing excess air or fluid. Choice D is incorrect as chest tubes do not regulate pressure on the pericardium and chest wall; they primarily aid in drainage.

2. How should a nurse prepare a 15-month-old child diagnosed with hydrocephalus for a computed tomography (CT) scan?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Preparing a toddler for a CT scan involves providing a simple explanation of the procedure to help reduce anxiety and fear. Shaving the child's head is unnecessary for a CT scan and may increase distress. Starting an IV infusion or administering sedatives may not be appropriate or necessary for all pediatric patients undergoing CT scans, especially if the child can cooperate without these interventions.

3. When assessing the perfusion status of a 2-year-old child with possible shock, which of the following parameters would be LEAST reliable?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: systolic blood pressure. In young children, systolic blood pressure is the least reliable parameter for assessing perfusion status. Factors such as anxiety, crying, and fear can significantly affect blood pressure measurements, leading to inaccuracies. Distal capillary refill, skin color and temperature, and presence of peripheral pulses are more reliable indicators of perfusion status in pediatric patients. Distal capillary refill assesses peripheral perfusion, skin color, and temperature reflect tissue perfusion, and the presence of peripheral pulses indicates blood flow to the extremities. Therefore, when evaluating a 2-year-old child with possible shock, focusing on parameters other than systolic blood pressure is crucial for an accurate assessment of perfusion status.

4. Parents of a sick infant talk with a nurse about their baby. One parent says, “I am so upset; I didn’t realize our baby was ill.” What major indication of illness in an infant should the nurse explain to the parent?

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. Longer periods of sleep than usual can be a sign of illness in infants. When an infant sleeps more than usual, it can indicate that the baby is conserving energy due to an underlying condition. Grunting respirations (choice A) can be a sign of respiratory distress, not just an indication of illness. Excessive perspiration (choice B) can occur due to various reasons and is not a specific major indication of illness. Crying immediately after feedings (choice D) is a common behavior in infants and not necessarily a major indication of illness.

5. In an adolescent suspected of having type 1 diabetes mellitus, which clinical manifestation may be present?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Poor wound healing is a common clinical manifestation of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Elevated blood glucose levels in diabetes can lead to impaired wound healing by affecting various cellular processes involved in the healing cascade. Moist skin (Choice A) is not typically associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Weight gain (Choice B) is more commonly seen in type 2 diabetes due to insulin resistance. Fluid overload (Choice C) is not a typical clinical manifestation of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Therefore, the correct answer is poor wound healing.

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