what is an essential nursing action when caring for a young child with severe diarrhea
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Pediatric HESI Test Bank

1. What is an essential nursing action when caring for a young child with severe diarrhea?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Promoting perianal skin integrity is crucial when caring for a young child with severe diarrhea as it helps prevent skin breakdown from the irritation caused by frequent stooling. Maintaining the IV (Choice A) may be necessary but is not directly related to managing perianal skin integrity. Taking daily weights (Choice B) is important for monitoring fluid status but not the priority when addressing perianal skin integrity. While replacing lost calories (Choice C) is essential, promoting perianal skin integrity takes precedence in preventing complications associated with skin breakdown.

2. You are managing a 10-month-old infant who has had severe diarrhea and vomiting for 3 days and is now showing signs of shock. You have initiated supplemental oxygen therapy and elevated the lower extremities. En route to the hospital, you note that the child's work of breathing has increased. What must you do first?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In this scenario, the infant is presenting with signs of respiratory distress, as evidenced by the increased work of breathing. Lowering the extremities can help reduce the workload on the diaphragm and improve respiratory mechanics. This action can be beneficial in optimizing the infant's breathing before considering more invasive interventions. Option B, initiating positive pressure ventilations, should be considered if the infant's condition deteriorates further and not as the first step. Option C, placing a nasopharyngeal airway and increasing oxygen flow, is not indicated as the primary intervention for increased work of breathing. Option D, listening to the lungs with a stethoscope, may provide additional information but is not the most urgent action needed in this situation.

3. The nurse has developed a plan of care for a 6-year-old with muscular dystrophy. He was recently injured when he fell out of bed at home. Which intervention would the nurse suggest to prevent further injury?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: For a child with muscular dystrophy who fell out of bed, it is important to prevent further injuries. Using bed side rails when a caregiver is not present can help provide a safety measure and prevent falls. While continuous caregiver presence (choice B) may be ideal, it may not always be feasible. Recommending raising the bed's side rails throughout the day and night (choice A) may limit the child's mobility unnecessarily. Encouraging the use of a loose restraint (choice C) can be dangerous and may increase the risk of injury in case of a fall.

4. The mother of a 5-year-old child with eczema is getting a check-up for her child before school starts. What will the nurse do during the visit?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: During a check-up for a child with eczema, assessing compliance with treatment regimens is a key nursing intervention. This helps ensure that the child is following the prescribed treatment plan effectively, which is crucial in managing eczema and preventing flare-ups. Changing a bandage on a cut is not directly related to managing eczema. Discussing systemic corticosteroid therapy may be part of the visit, but assessing compliance is more immediate and essential. Assessing the child’s fluid volume is important for overall health assessment but not specifically related to managing eczema.

5. A child with a diagnosis of celiac disease is being discharged. What dietary instructions should the nurse provide?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'Avoid gluten.' Celiac disease is a condition in which the immune system reacts to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Avoiding gluten is essential in managing celiac disease as it helps prevent damage to the small intestine and alleviate symptoms. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because dairy products, high-fat foods, and foods high in sugar do not directly relate to the management of celiac disease. It is crucial to focus on eliminating gluten-containing foods to effectively control the condition.

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