Seventy-two hours after cardiac surgery, a young child has a temperature of 101° F. Which action should the nurse take?
- A. Keep child warm with blankets.
- B. Apply a hypothermia blanket.
- C. Record temperature on nurses' notes.
- D. Report findings to physician.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A temperature of 101°F after cardiac surgery in a young child, especially 72 hours post-surgery, is a concerning finding that should be reported to the physician. This elevated temperature could indicate infection or another complication following the surgery. It is important for the physician to evaluate the child's condition and determine the appropriate course of action. Simply recording the temperature on nurses' notes or keeping the child warm with blankets is not adequate management in this situation. Applying a hypothermia blanket would also not be appropriate as the child is already febrile. The priority in this scenario is to report the findings to the physician for further assessment and intervention.
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A parent asks the nurse to define Talipes Varus. The nurse tells the parent that it is which of the following?
- A. An inversion or bending inward of the foot.
- B. An eversion or bending outward of the foot.
- C. A high arch of the foot.
- D. A low arch (flatfoot) of the foot.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Talipes Varus is a congenital deformity that involves the inward bending or inversion of the foot. The word "varus" specifically refers to the inward deviation of a body part, such as the foot in this case. This condition is also known as clubfoot, where the foot is twisted internally and downward. Treatment typically involves gentle manipulation and stretching of the foot, followed by casting or bracing to gradually correct the position of the foot.
A patient is hemorrhaging from multiple trauma sites. The nurse expects that compensatory mechanisms associated with hypovolemia would cause all of the following symptoms except:
- A. Hypertension
- B. Tachycardia
- C. Oliguria
- D. Tachypnea
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In a patient experiencing hemorrhage from multiple trauma sites leading to hypovolemia, compensatory mechanisms typically include an increase in heart rate (tachycardia), a decrease in urine output (oliguria), and an increase in respiratory rate (tachypnea). These mechanisms are the body's way of trying to maintain vital organ perfusion in the setting of decreased blood volume. However, hypertension is not typically seen in the setting of hypovolemia. In fact, blood pressure tends to decrease as a result of reduced circulating volume.
Which of the following nursing actions is appropriate when a patient returns to his or her room after a bronchoscopy?
- A. Order a meal because the patient has been nil per os (NPO) for 8 hours.
- B. Encourage fluids to flush dye from the patient's system.
- C. Monitor the patient for return to consciousness.
- D. Check for a gag reflex before allowing the patient to drink.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: After a bronchoscopy procedure, it is essential to check for the presence of a gag reflex before allowing the patient to drink. This is crucial to prevent aspiration, as the gag reflex helps protect the airway by triggering swallowing and preventing foreign material from entering the lungs. Allowing the patient to drink without assessing the gag reflex could lead to serious complications such as aspiration pneumonia. Therefore, checking for the gag reflex is an appropriate nursing action to ensure the safety and well-being of the patient after a bronchoscopy.
What deficits would the nurse expect in a right-handed person experiencing a stroke affecting the left side of the cortex?
- A. Expressive aphasia and paralysis on the right side of the body.
- B. Expressive aphasia and paralysis on the left side of the body. .
- C. Dysarthria and paralysis on the right side of the body.
- D. Mixed aphasia and paralysis on the right side of the body.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In a right-handed individual experiencing a stroke that affects the left side of the cortex, the deficits are typically seen on the opposite side of the body due to the way the brain is wired. This phenomenon is known as contralateral organization. In this scenario, the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body.
The nurse is caring for a school-age child who has had a cardiac catheterization. The child tells the nurse that the bandage is "too wet." The nurse finds the bandage and bed soaked with blood. What is the priority nursing action?
- A. Notify physician
- B. Apply new bandage with more pressure
- C. Place the child in Trendelenburg position
- D. Apply direct pressure above catheterization site
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The priority nursing action in this situation is to apply direct pressure above the catheterization site to control the bleeding. This is important to prevent excessive blood loss and ensure the child's safety. The nurse should quickly address the issue of the soaked bandage and bed by applying direct pressure to the catheterization site to stop the bleeding. Once bleeding is controlled, the nurse should then notify the physician for further evaluation and treatment. Placing the child in Trendelenburg position is not necessary in this scenario, as the immediate focus should be on controlling the bleeding.