Nursing Elites

1. 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.

2. A child who has just had definitive repair of a high rectal malformation is to be discharged. What should the nurse address in the discharge preparation of this family?

• A. Safe administration of daily enemas
• B. Necessity of firm stools to keep suture line clean
• C. Bowel training beginning as soon as the child returns home
• D. Changes in stooling patterns to report to the practitioner

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Postoperative care should focus on monitoring changes in stooling patterns, which could indicate complications such as stenosis or obstruction. It is crucial to educate the family on the importance of promptly reporting any changes in stooling patterns to the healthcare provider. Options A and B are not recommended unless specifically ordered by the physician as they can potentially cause harm or discomfort postoperatively. Option C may not be appropriate immediately after surgery and should be guided by the healthcare provider's recommendations.

3. The clinic nurse is teaching parents about physiologic anemia that occurs in infants. What statement should the nurse include about the cause of physiologic anemia?

• A. Maternally derived iron stores are depleted in the first 2 months.
• B. Fetal hemoglobin results in a shortened survival of red blood cells.
• C. The production of adult hemoglobin decreases in the first year of life.
• D. Low levels of fetal hemoglobin depress the production of erythropoietin.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Physiologic anemia is caused by the transition from fetal to adult hemoglobin, with fetal hemoglobin having a shorter lifespan, leading to a temporary decrease in red blood cells.

4. As the primary caregiver for a 5-month-old baby, according to Maslow’s hierarchy of basic needs, which intervention takes the highest priority?

• A. Feeding every four hours
• B. Protection from harm
• C. Providing stimulation
• D. Providing love

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Feeding every four hours. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, physiological needs, such as food, water, and warmth, take the highest priority. Ensuring that the baby is fed regularly is crucial for survival and overall health. Choice B, protection from harm, relates more to safety needs which come after physiological needs. Choice C, providing stimulation, is associated with higher-level needs like belongingness and esteem. Choice D, providing love, corresponds to esteem and self-actualization needs, which are higher in the hierarchy than physiological needs.

5. The nurse notes that a child has lost 3.6 kg (8 lb) after 4 days of hospitalization for acute glomerulonephritis. What is the most likely cause of this weight loss?

• A. Poor appetite
• B. Reduction of edema
• C. Restriction to bed rest
• D. Increased potassium intake

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The weight loss is most likely due to the reduction of edema, as glomerulonephritis often causes fluid retention that resolves with treatment, leading to significant weight loss.

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