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. What is the primary treatment goal for a child with nephrotic syndrome?

• A. Reduce proteinuria
• B. Lower blood pressure
• C. Increase urine output
• D. Prevent infections

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Reduce proteinuria. In nephrotic syndrome, the primary treatment goal is to reduce proteinuria to prevent further kidney damage. Lowering blood pressure (choice B) is important in managing some types of kidney disease but is not the primary treatment goal in nephrotic syndrome. Increasing urine output (choice C) and preventing infections (choice D) are important aspects of supportive care but are not the primary treatment goal for nephrotic syndrome.

3. The nurse discovers welts on the back of a Vietnamese child during a home health visit. The child's mother says she has rubbed the edge of a coin on her child's oiled skin. The nurse should recognize this as what?

• A. Child abuse
• B. Cultural practice to rid the body of disease
• C. Cultural practice to treat enuresis or temper tantrums
• D. Child discipline measure common in the Vietnamese culture

Correct answer: B

Rationale: This practice, known as "coining," is a cultural method believed to rid the body of illness and is not indicative of child abuse.

4. A child is admitted with renal failure. Which of these findings should the nurse expect?

• A. Decreased BUN
• B. Azotemia and oliguria
• C. Increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
• D. Polyuria and elevated creatinine clearance

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Azotemia (elevated BUN and creatinine) and oliguria (reduced urine output) are classic signs of renal failure, indicating impaired kidney function. In renal failure, the kidneys are unable to effectively filter waste products, leading to an increase in BUN and creatinine levels in the blood. Additionally, oliguria occurs due to decreased kidney function. Increased GFR (Choice C) is not expected in renal failure as it signifies improved kidney function, which is not the case in renal failure. Polyuria and elevated creatinine clearance (Choice D) are not typical findings in renal failure. Polyuria is more commonly associated with conditions like diabetes insipidus, while elevated creatinine clearance would indicate increased kidney function, which is contrary to the impaired function seen in renal failure.

5. A 5-year-old has patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for pain management after abdominal surgery. What information does the nurse include in teaching the parents about the PCA?

• A. The child may not be pain-free.
• B. The parents or nurse may push the button for a bolus if needed.
• C. The pump allows for a continuous basal rate to deliver a constant amount of medication for pain control.
• D. Monitoring is required every 1 to 2 hours to assess patient response.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because the PCA pump can be programmed to deliver a continuous basal rate of pain medication to maintain pain control. While the goal of PCA is effective pain relief, it does not guarantee a pain-free state. In the case of a 5-year-old child, the parents or nurse can administer boluses if necessary since the child may not fully comprehend using the PCA button. Monitoring every 1 to 2 hours for patient response is adequate and there is no need for monitoring every 15 minutes, as stated in choice D, unless specific circumstances dictate more frequent monitoring.

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