Nursing Elites

1. What information should be reinforced with the parents of a school-aged child about Reye's syndrome?

• A. Vaccinate your child before the age of 7 against Reye's syndrome.
• B. Keep the child at home for 2 days after the symptoms appear.
• C. Avoid giving any medication containing aspirin during a viral illness.
• D. Do not provide any citrus juices during a bacterial or viral illness.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: 'Avoid giving any medication containing aspirin during a viral illness.' It is crucial to advise parents to avoid giving any medication containing aspirin during a viral illness to prevent Reye's syndrome. Reye's syndrome is a rare but serious condition linked to the use of aspirin during viral illnesses in children and teenagers. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because vaccinating against Reye's syndrome is not applicable as there is no specific vaccine for it, keeping the child at home for 2 days after symptoms appear is not a preventive measure for Reye's syndrome, and avoiding citrus juices is not directly related to the prevention of Reye's syndrome.

2. A 5-year-old child is brought to the emergency department with severe abdominal pain and vomiting. The child’s parent reports that the pain started suddenly and is located in the lower right abdomen. What should the nurse do first?

• A. Administer pain medication
• B. Notify the healthcare provider immediately
• C. Start an IV line for fluid administration
• D. Obtain a complete blood count

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to notify the healthcare provider immediately. The child's presentation of sudden, severe abdominal pain in the lower right abdomen is highly concerning for appendicitis, a medical emergency. Promptly notifying the healthcare provider is crucial for further evaluation and management. Administering pain medication as the first action might mask symptoms and delay diagnosis. Starting an IV line for fluid administration and obtaining a complete blood count are important interventions but should come after healthcare provider notification.

3. A 2-year-old child is admitted with severe dehydration due to gastroenteritis. Which assessment finding indicates that the child's condition is improving?

• A. Decreased heart rate.
• B. Sunken fontanelle.
• C. Increased urine output.
• D. Dry mucous membranes.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Increased urine output is a positive sign indicating that the child's hydration status is improving. It suggests that the kidneys are functioning more effectively and able to excrete urine, which is a crucial indicator of improved hydration levels in a dehydrated patient. Decreased heart rate (Choice A) can be a sign of possible shock. A sunken fontanelle (Choice B) is a sign of dehydration. Dry mucous membranes (Choice D) are also indicative of dehydration.

4. When planning care for a child diagnosed with rheumatic fever, what is the primary goal of nursing care?

• A. Reduce fever.
• B. Maintain fluid and electrolyte balance.
• C. Prevent cardiac damage.
• D. Maintain joint mobility and function.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The primary goal of nursing care for a child diagnosed with rheumatic fever is to prevent cardiac damage. Rheumatic fever can lead to complications affecting the heart, making it crucial to monitor and prevent cardiac involvement to avoid long-term consequences. While addressing fever and joint pain are important aspects of care, preventing cardiac damage takes precedence in managing rheumatic fever. Therefore, choices A, B, and D are not the primary goals of nursing care in this case.

5. What intervention should the nurse implement first for a male toddler brought to the emergency center approximately three hours after swallowing tablets from his grandmother's bottle of digoxin (Lanoxin)?

• A. Administer activated charcoal
• B. Prepare gastric lavage
• C. Obtain a 12-lead electrocardiogram
• D. Give IV digoxin immune fab (Digibind)

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Administering activated charcoal is the priority intervention as it binds with digoxin, preventing further absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. This helps reduce the amount of digoxin available for systemic circulation and minimizes its toxic effects. Gastric lavage is no longer recommended due to potential complications and lack of evidence of efficacy. Obtaining an electrocardiogram may help assess the effects of digoxin toxicity, but it is not the initial priority. IV digoxin immune fab (Digibind) is used in severe cases of digoxin toxicity but is not the first-line intervention.

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