1.
Salma, with suspected rheumatic fever, is admitted to the pediatric unit. When obtaining the child’s history, the nurse considers which information to be most important?
Correct Answer
C. A recent episode of pharyngitis
Explanation
A recent episode of pharyngitis is the most important factor in establishing the diagnosis of rheumatic fever. Although the child may have a history of fever or vomiting or lack interest in food, these findings are not specific to rheumatic fever.
2.
Nurse Rola is administering a medication via the intraosseous route to a child. Intraosseous drug administration is typically used when a child is:
Correct Answer
C. Critically ill and under age 3
Explanation
In an emergency, intraosseous drug administration is typically used when a child is critically ill and under age 3.
3.
When assessing a child’s cultural background, the nurse in charge should keep in mind that:
Correct Answer
D. Behavioral patterns are passed from one generation to the next
Explanation
A family’s behavioral patterns and values are passed from one generation to the next. Cultural background commonly plays a major role in determining a family’s health practices. Physical characteristics do not indicate a child’s culture. Although heritage plays a role in culture, it does not dictate a group’s shared values and its effect on culture is weaker than that of behavioral patterns.
4.
While examining a 2-year-old child, the nurse in charge sees that the anterior fontanel is open. The nurse should:
Correct Answer
A. Notify the doctor
Explanation
Because the anterior fontanel normally closes between ages 12 and 18 months, the nurse should notify the doctor promptly of this finding. An open fontanel does not indicate abuse and is not associated with Tay-Sachs disease.
5.
The nurse is aware that the most common assessment finding in a child with ulcerative colitis is:
Correct Answer
B. Profuse diarrhea
Explanation
Ulcerative colitis causes profuse diarrhea, intense abdominal cramps, anal fissures, and abdominal distentions are more common in Crohn’s disease.
6.
When administering an I.M. injection to an infant, the nurse in charge should use which site?
Correct Answer
D. Vastus lateralis
Explanation
The recommended injection site for an infant is the vastus lateralis or rectus femoris muscles. The deltoid is inappropriate. The dorsogluteal and ventrogluteal sites can be used only in toddlers who have been walking for about 1 year.
7.
A child with a poor nutritional status and weight loss is at risk for a negative nitrogen balance. To help diagnose this problem, the nurse in charge anticipates that the doctor will order which laboratory test?
Correct Answer
C. Total protein
Explanation
A negative nitrogen balance may result from inadequate protein intake and is best detected by measuring the total protein level. Measuring total iron-binding capacity, hemoglobin, and serum transferrin levels would help detect iron-deficiency anemia, not a negative nitrogen balance.
8.
When developing a plan of care for a male adolescent, the nurse considers the child’s psychosocial needs. During adolescence, psychosocial development focuses on:
Correct Answer
B. Establishing an identity
Explanation
According to Erikson, the primary psychosocial task during adolescence is to establish a personal identity confusion. The adolescent attempts to establish a group identity by seeking acceptance and approval from peers, and strives to attain a personal identity by becoming more independent from the family. Becoming industrious is the developmental task of the school-age child, achieving intimacy is the task of the young adult, and developing initiative is the task of the preschooler.
9.
Nurse Walid suspects that a child, age 4, is being neglected physically. To best assess the child’s nutritional status, the nurse should ask the parents which question?
Correct Answer
C. “What did your child eat for breakfast?”
Explanation
The nurse should obtain objective information about the child’s nutritional intake, such as by asking about what the child ate for a specific meal. The other options ask for subjective replies that would be open to interpretation.
10.
A female child, age 2, is brought to the emergency department after ingesting an unknown number of aspirin tablets about 30 minutes earlier. On entering the examination room, the child is crying and clinging to the mother. Which data should the nurse obtain first?
Correct Answer
A. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure
Explanation
The most important data to obtain on a child’s arrival in the emergency department are vital sign measurements. The nurse should gather the other data later.
11.
A mother asks the nurse how to handle her 5-year-old child, who recently started wetting the pants after being completely toilet trained. The child just started attending nursery school 2 days a week. Which principle should guide the nurse’s response?
Correct Answer
D. The child returns to a level of behavior that increases the sense of security.
Explanation
The stress of starting nursery school may trigger a return to a level of successful behavior from earlier stages of development. A child’s skills remain intact, although increased stress may prevent the child from using these skills. Growth occurs when the child does not regress. Parents rarely desire less mature behaviors.
12.
A female child, age 6, is brought to the health clinic for a routine checkup. To assess the child’s vision, the nurse should ask:
Correct Answer
D. “How are you doing in school?”
Explanation
A child’s poor progress in school may indicate a visual disturbance. The other options are more appropriate questions to ask when assessing vision in a geriatric patient.