Nursing Elites

1. Which of the following clinical signs would MOST suggest acute respiratory distress in a 2-month-old infant?

• A. Heart rate of 130 beats/min
• B. Respiratory rate of 30 breaths/min
• C. Abdominal breathing
• D. Grunting respirations

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Grunting respirations are a key clinical sign of acute respiratory distress in infants. Grunting is a protective mechanism where the infant exhales against a partially closed glottis to increase functional residual capacity and oxygenation. This is often seen in conditions such as respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, or other causes of respiratory compromise in infants. Monitoring respiratory patterns like grunting is crucial for early recognition and intervention in infants with respiratory distress. Choices A, B, and C are less specific to acute respiratory distress in infants. While an elevated heart rate and respiratory rate can be present in respiratory distress, grunting respirations are a more direct indicator of significant respiratory compromise in infants.

2. Which of the following is a more reliable indicator of perfusion in children than in adults?

• A. Blood pressure
• B. Heart rate
• C. Respiratory rate
• D. Capillary refill

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Capillary refill is a more reliable indicator of perfusion in children than in adults. This is because children have more compliant vessels, making capillary refill a more sensitive indicator of perfusion status in this population. In contrast, while blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate are important indicators, they may not be as reliable in children as capillary refill. Blood pressure can be affected by various factors such as anxiety or pain, heart rate can be influenced by emotions or temperature, and respiratory rate may vary with activity levels. Therefore, capillary refill is preferred in children for a more accurate assessment of perfusion.

3. A 3-year-old child has been admitted to your pediatric ward. The doctor gave a provisional diagnosis of respiratory tract infection. After careful assessment and history, a final diagnosis of lower respiratory infection was made. Which of the following signs will confirm the diagnosis?

• A. Cough
• B. Fever
• C. Inability to lie supine
• D. Inability to eat

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Inability to lie supine is a characteristic sign of lower respiratory infection. This positioning preference is often seen in patients with lower respiratory infections due to discomfort or difficulty breathing when lying flat on their back. While cough and fever are common symptoms associated with respiratory infections, they are not specific to lower respiratory infections. Inability to eat may indicate general illness or discomfort but is not a specific indicator of lower respiratory infection.

4. A new parent is concerned because their newborn's stools are loose and yellow. The healthcare provider should explain that this is:

• A. A sign of dehydration
• B. A normal finding in breastfed infants
• C. Indicative of an infection
• D. Due to lactose intolerance

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Loose, yellow stools are a normal finding in breastfed infants. Breastfed infants often have loose, yellow stools due to the composition of breast milk. It is not typically a sign of dehydration, infection, or lactose intolerance in this context.

5. Which of the following statements regarding febrile seizures in children is correct?

• A. They can occur even after a child has had a fever for longer than 24 hours.
• B. They can be caused by viral or bacterial meningitis.
• C. They do not typically occur on the first day of a fever.
• D. They typically last less than 15 minutes and often do not have a postictal phase.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. Febrile seizures in children typically last less than 15 minutes and often do not have a postictal phase, meaning there is usually no prolonged recovery period or confusion after the seizure. They are commonly associated with the rapid rise in body temperature at the onset of a fever, rather than the duration of the fever itself. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because febrile seizures can occur even after a child has had a fever for longer than 24 hours, they can be caused by viral or bacterial meningitis, and they do not have a typical pattern of occurring on the first day of a fever.

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