A child diagnosed with a soft tissue tumor is being treated with chemotherapy. Prior to administering the chemotherapy, which laboratory test should the nurse monitor to determine if the child has any capability of fighting infections?
- A. Hemoglobin
- B. Red blood cell count
- C. Platelets
- D. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) is crucial for determining the child's ability to fight infections. Neutrophils play a key role in combating bacterial infections. Monitoring the ANC is essential before administering chemotherapy, as a low ANC indicates an increased risk of infection. Hemoglobin, red blood cell count, and platelets are important for assessing oxygen-carrying capacity, anemia, and clotting function, respectively, but they do not directly reflect the child's capability to fight infections.
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A 14-month-old child is admitted to the hospital with laryngotracheobronchitis (LTB). Which assessment findings should the nurse expect?
- A. Cyanosis and dyspnea
- B. Productive cough and high fever
- C. Barking cough and inspiratory stridor
- D. Pale laryngeal and dyspnea
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: 'Barking cough and inspiratory stridor.' Classic signs of laryngotracheobronchitis (LTB) include a barking cough, often described as a seal-like cough, and inspiratory stridor, which is a high-pitched sound heard during inspiration. These symptoms occur due to inflammation and narrowing of the upper airway. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect as they do not align with the typical assessment findings of LTB. Cyanosis and dyspnea (Choice A) may occur in severe cases but are not specific to LTB. Productive cough and high fever (Choice B) are more indicative of lower respiratory tract infections. Pale laryngeal and dyspnea (Choice D) are not characteristic findings of LTB.
A parent calls the hospital nursing hotline and asks, 'My 8-week-old infant cries 8 hours a day, and is hard to console. Is that normal?' What should the nurse's response be to this parent?
- A. No, call your health care provider.
- B. Let me ask you some more questions to see if there are symptoms of colic.
- C. Yes, maybe your infant is just tired.
- D. Yes, infants cry all the time at that age.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct response for the nurse to provide in this situation is to ask more questions to determine if the infant is displaying symptoms of colic. Colic is a common condition in infants that can lead to prolonged crying and fussiness. It is essential to assess for other symptoms before giving advice to the parent. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not address the possibility of colic or the need for further assessment of the infant's condition.
A hospitalized child with minimal change nephrotic syndrome is receiving high doses of prednisone. What nursing goal is appropriate for this child?
- A. Stimulate appetite
- B. Detect evidence of edema
- C. Minimize risk of infection
- D. Promote adherence to the antibiotic regimen
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Prednisone, an immunosuppressant, increases the child's susceptibility to infections, making infection prevention a critical nursing goal. Detecting edema and stimulating appetite are important but secondary to preventing potentially life-threatening infections.
A 12-year-old child had an appendectomy 18 hours ago. The nurse is monitoring the child for pain control. Which of the following tools is most appropriate for assessing the child's pain?
- A. FLACC scale
- B. Numeric scale
- C. NIPS scale
- D. FACES scale
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Numeric scale is the most appropriate tool for assessing pain in older children, like a 12-year-old, as they can comprehend and use numbers to indicate their pain levels accurately. The FLACC scale is typically used for nonverbal or preverbal children. The NIPS scale is designed for neonates and infants. The FACES scale is more commonly used in younger children who may have difficulty expressing their pain in other ways.
A nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of teaching regarding care of a child with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) that is in remission after the administration of prednisone. The nurse realizes further teaching is required if the parents state what?
- A. We will keep our child away from anyone who is ill.
- B. We will be sure to administer the prednisone as ordered.
- C. We will encourage our child to eat a balanced diet, but we will watch his salt intake.
- D. We understand our child will not be able to attend school, so we will arrange for homeschooling.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Children with MCNS who are in remission can usually attend school and participate in normal activities with precautions to avoid infections. Home schooling may not be necessary, and this indicates a misunderstanding of the condition's management.