Nursing Elites

1. When teaching parents of a 5-year-old child with sickle cell anemia about pain management, what information should be included?

• A. Apply cold compresses to painful areas.
• B. Encourage the child to rest as much as possible.
• C. Administer prescribed pain medication at the first sign of pain.
• D. Offer a high-protein diet to help with pain management.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Administering prescribed pain medication at the first sign of pain is crucial in managing sickle cell anemia-related pain effectively. Prompt administration helps prevent the pain from escalating and becoming severe, enhancing the child's comfort and quality of life. Cold compresses, rest, and diet modifications may play supportive roles but are not as directly impactful in addressing acute pain episodes associated with sickle cell anemia. Therefore, while comforting measures like cold compresses and rest are helpful, they should not replace the importance of timely administration of prescribed pain medication. Additionally, offering a high-protein diet, although important for overall health, is not directly linked to managing acute pain in sickle cell anemia.

2. The practical nurse (PN) is caring for an adolescent who has been diagnosed with mononucleosis. Which activity should the PN advise the adolescent to avoid?

• A. Playing video games.
• B. Drinking caffeinated beverages.
• C. Participating in contact sports.
• D. Eating spicy foods.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Contact sports should be avoided in mononucleosis due to the risk of spleen rupture, which is a serious complication of the disease. The spleen can enlarge in mononucleosis, making it more susceptible to injury from contact sports, potentially leading to a life-threatening situation if rupture occurs.

3. The healthcare provider is preparing to administer a vaccine to a 5-year-old child. The child is visibly anxious and asks if the shot will hurt. What is the healthcare provider’s best response?

• A. It might hurt a little, but it will be over quickly
• B. It won't hurt at all, don't worry
• C. You're a big kid now, and big kids don't cry
• D. If you don't think about it, it won't hurt

Correct answer: A

Rationale: When a child expresses fear or anxiety about receiving a vaccination, it is essential for the healthcare provider to provide honest and reassuring information. Choice A acknowledges the potential for some discomfort but also reassures the child that it will be over quickly. This response validates the child's feelings while also preparing them for the procedure. Choices B, C, and D either provide false reassurance, dismiss the child's feelings, or suggest avoidance, which are not appropriate responses in this situation.

4. What age-appropriate play activity should the practical nurse suggest to the parents of a 7-month-old infant to encourage visual stimulation?

• A. Play peek-a-boo.
• B. Play pat-a-cake.
• C. Imitate animal sounds.
• D. Show how to clap hands.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The practical nurse should suggest playing peek-a-boo to the parents of a 7-month-old infant to encourage visual stimulation. Peek-a-boo is a suitable game for this age group as it helps develop visual tracking skills and the concept of object permanence. By covering and uncovering their face or a toy, the infant learns that things still exist even when they cannot be seen, promoting cognitive development and visual engagement.

5. A 3-year-old with HIV infection is staying with a foster family who is caring for 3 other foster children in their home. When one of the children acquires pertussis, the foster mother calls the clinic and asks the nurse what she should do. Which action should the nurse take first?

• A. Remove the child who has HIV from the foster home.
• B. Report the exposure of the child with HIV to the health department.
• C. Place the child who has HIV in reverse isolation.
• D. Review the immunization documentation of the child who has HIV.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The priority action for the nurse is to review the immunization documentation of the child with HIV to ensure they have received the necessary vaccines. This step is crucial in protecting the child's health and preventing further complications from vaccine-preventable diseases like pertussis. By reviewing the immunization documentation first, the nurse can determine the child's protection against pertussis and other infectious diseases. Removing the child from the foster home (Choice A) may not be necessary if the child is adequately vaccinated. Reporting the exposure to the health department (Choice B) and placing the child in reverse isolation (Choice C) are important steps but reviewing the immunization status takes precedence to assess the child's protection and guide further actions.

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