Nursing Elites

1. When assessing a child with chronic renal failure, which clinical manifestations would the nurse expect to find?

• A. Uremic frost
• B. Hypotension
• C. Massive hematuria
• D. Severe metabolic acidosis

Correct answer: A

Rationale: When assessing a child with chronic renal failure, the nurse would expect to find uremic frost as a clinical manifestation. Uremic frost, a white powdery deposit of urea on the skin, occurs in severe cases of chronic renal failure due to the accumulation of urea and other waste products in the blood. Hypotension and massive hematuria are less common in chronic renal failure, while severe metabolic acidosis is typically mild to moderate and not a prominent clinical manifestation.

2. An infant with hydrocephalus is hospitalized for surgical placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Postoperative nursing care would include what?

• A. Monitor closely for signs of infection.
• B. Place the child with the operative side of the head up.
• C. Avoid pumping the shunt reservoir to maintain patency.
• D. Avoid maintaining a Trendelenburg position to decrease pressure on the shunt.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Postoperative nursing care for an infant with hydrocephalus who underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement includes monitoring closely for signs of infection, as infection is the greatest hazard in the postoperative period. Signs of cerebrospinal fluid infection to watch for include elevated temperature, poor feeding, vomiting, decreased responsiveness, and seizure activity. The child should be placed with the operative side of the head up to reduce pressure on the valve. The shunt reservoir should not be pumped to maintain patency, as this can disrupt its function. Maintaining a Trendelenburg position to decrease pressure on the shunt is contraindicated as it can lead to increased intracranial pressure and compromise the shunt's effectiveness.

3. At what age is the first dose of the hepatitis A vaccine recommended to be started?

• A. 1 year
• B. 1 month
• C. 12 years
• D. It is not recommended at any age

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 1 year. The hepatitis A vaccine is now recommended for all children starting at age 1 year (i.e., 12 to 23 months). This is due to the recognition of hepatitis A as a significant child health problem, especially in areas with high infection rates. The virus is primarily spread through fecal-oral transmission, person-to-person contact, ingestion of contaminated food or water, and rarely through blood transfusion. Administering the first dose at 1 year helps protect children from this infection. Choices B and C are incorrect as the vaccine is not recommended at 1 month or 12 years. Choice D is also incorrect as the hepatitis A vaccine is recommended at a specific age to prevent the infection.

4. What laboratory finding should the nurse expect in a child with an excess of water?

• A. Decreased hematocrit
• B. High serum osmolality
• C. High urine specific gravity
• D. Increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Water excess typically leads to hemodilution, resulting in a decreased hematocrit. High serum osmolality and specific gravity would indicate dehydration, while elevated BUN could suggest renal impairment or dehydration, not fluid overload.

5. A 3-year-old child, previously potty-trained, becomes a bed-wetter again during a hospital stay. Which explanation should the nurse provide to the parents?

• A. “Your child is no longer potty-trained and will need to be retrained when she goes home.”
• B. “The child may have developed a bladder infection in the hospital. I will notify the doctor.”
• C. “Preschool children may regress in their behaviors when they are ill in the hospital but should return to normal when they go back home.”
• D. “Don’t worry about it, she is fine.”

Correct answer: C

Rationale: During a hospital stay, preschool children may exhibit regression in behaviors such as bed-wetting due to stress. It is important for parents to understand that this behavior is a common response to the hospital environment and should resolve once the child is back home. Therefore, the correct explanation for the nurse to provide to the parents is choice C. Choice A is incorrect because it inaccurately states that the child is no longer potty-trained. Choice B is incorrect as it assumes a medical issue without evidence. Choice D is incorrect as it dismisses the parents' concerns without addressing the underlying cause of the behavior.

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