Nursing Elites

1. You are dispatched to a residence for a 4-year-old female who is sick. Your assessment reveals that she has increased work of breathing and is making a high-pitched sound during inhalation. Her mother tells you that she has been running a high fever for the past 24 hours. Your MOST immediate concern should be:

• A. determining if the child has a history of croup.
• B. preparing to treat her for a febrile seizure.
• C. assessing the need for ventilation assistance.
• D. taking her temperature to see how high it is.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In a child with increased work of breathing, a high-pitched sound during inhalation, and a high fever, upper airway obstruction should be suspected. The child's condition may require immediate ventilation assistance to ensure adequate oxygenation and ventilation. Therefore, the most immediate concern in this scenario is to assess the need for ventilation assistance.

2. The nurse is preparing to administer vitamin K to a newborn. The mother asks why this injection is necessary. What is the nurse's best response?

• A. It helps the baby's liver function properly.
• B. It prevents bleeding disorders in the newborn.
• C. It boosts the baby's immune system.
• D. It promotes the baby's growth and development.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Vitamin K is administered to newborns to prevent bleeding disorders since they have low levels of vitamin K, which is essential for blood clotting. By providing this injection, the nurse ensures that the newborn has an adequate supply of vitamin K to support proper blood clotting and prevent potential bleeding complications. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because vitamin K's primary role in newborns is related to blood clotting and preventing bleeding, not liver function, immune system, or growth and development.

3. A 30-year-old woman is 22 weeks pregnant with her first child. She tells you that her rings are not fitting as loosely as they usually do and that her ankles are swollen. Her blood pressure is 150/86 mm Hg. She is MOST likely experiencing:

• A. a condition unrelated to pregnancy.
• B. gestational diabetes.
• C. a hypertensive emergency.
• D. preeclampsia.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The symptoms of swollen ankles, tight rings, and elevated blood pressure in a pregnant woman at 22 weeks gestation are concerning for preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure and signs of organ damage, commonly seen with symptoms such as swelling (edema) and protein in the urine. It is crucial to monitor and manage preeclampsia promptly as it can lead to severe complications for both the mother and the baby.

4. What assessment finding places a newborn at risk for developing physiologic jaundice?

• A. Cephalohematoma
• B. Mongolian spots
• C. Telangiectatic nevi
• D. Molding

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A, Cephalohematoma. Physiologic jaundice in newborns can occur due to the breakdown of excess red blood cells. A cephalohematoma, a collection of blood caused by ruptured blood vessels between a cranial bone's surface and periosteal membrane, can lead to increased red blood cell breakdown. This increased breakdown can contribute to the development of physiologic jaundice in newborns. Choices B, Mongolian spots, and C, Telangiectatic nevi, are both benign skin conditions and are not directly associated with increased red blood cell breakdown. Choice D, Molding, refers to the shaping of the fetal head during passage through the birth canal and is not related to the development of physiologic jaundice.

5. During the initial assessment of the newborn, which of the following data would be considered normal?

• A. Chest circumference 31.5 cm, head circumference 33.5 cm
• B. Chest circumference 30 cm, head circumference 29 cm
• C. Chest circumference 38 cm, head circumference 31.5 cm
• D. Chest circumference 32.5 cm, head circumference 36 cm

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. During the initial assessment of a newborn, the average head circumference at birth is 32 to 37 cm, while the average chest circumference ranges from 30 to 35 cm. Normally, the head's circumference is about 2 cm greater than the chest circumference at birth. Choice A provides measurements of chest circumference 31.5 cm and head circumference 33.5 cm, both falling within the normal range in terms of actual size and relative size. Choices B, C, and D do not align with the typical measurements seen in a healthy newborn. Choice B has both circumferences below the average range, choice C has the chest circumference above the average, and choice D has the head circumference notably higher than the chest circumference, which is not typical for a newborn.

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