What is an essential nursing action when caring for a young child with severe diarrhea?
- A. Maintain the IV.
- B. Take daily weights.
- C. Replace the lost calories.
- D. Promote perianal skin integrity.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Promoting perianal skin integrity is crucial when caring for a young child with severe diarrhea as it helps prevent skin breakdown from the irritation caused by frequent stooling. Maintaining the IV (Choice A) may be necessary but is not directly related to managing perianal skin integrity. Taking daily weights (Choice B) is important for monitoring fluid status but not the priority when addressing perianal skin integrity. While replacing lost calories (Choice C) is essential, promoting perianal skin integrity takes precedence in preventing complications associated with skin breakdown.
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The nurse is providing care to a child with a long-leg hip spica cast. What is the priority nursing diagnosis?
- A. Risk for impaired skin integrity due to the cast and its location.
- B. Deficient knowledge related to cast care.
- C. Risk for delayed development related to immobility.
- D. Self-care deficit related to immobility.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Risk for impaired skin integrity due to the cast and its location. When a child has a long-leg hip spica cast, the priority nursing diagnosis is to prevent impaired skin integrity. This is because the child's mobility is restricted, and pressure from the cast can lead to skin breakdown. Option B is incorrect as while education is essential, it is not the priority when skin integrity is at risk. Option C is incorrect because while immobility can impact development, immediate skin integrity concerns take precedence. Option D is incorrect as self-care deficit, while important, is secondary to preventing skin breakdown in this scenario.
A 2-year-old child is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of Kawasaki disease. What is the primary goal of therapy during the acute phase?
- A. Preventing coronary artery aneurysms
- B. Reducing fever
- C. Improving cardiac function
- D. Preventing dehydration
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The primary goal of therapy during the acute phase of Kawasaki disease is to prevent coronary artery aneurysms, which are a serious complication of this condition. Coronary artery aneurysms can lead to long-term cardiovascular issues, making prevention crucial. While reducing fever and improving cardiac function are important aspects of managing Kawasaki disease, the primary focus in the acute phase is on preventing coronary artery aneurysms. Dehydration prevention is also essential but not the primary goal during the acute phase of this disease.
A nurse in the emergency department observes large welts and scars on the back of a child who has been admitted for an asthma attack. What additional information must be included in the nurse's assessment?
- A. History of an injury
- B. Signs of child abuse
- C. Presence of food allergies
- D. Recent recovery from chickenpox
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Signs of child abuse. Large welts and scars on a child may be indicative of abuse, making it crucial for the nurse to assess and report any suspicions. Assessing the history of an injury (choice A) may not provide insight into the cause of the welts and scars as effectively as looking for signs of potential abuse. Food allergies (choice C) and recent recovery from chickenpox (choice D) are not directly relevant to the observation of welts and scars on the child's back.
You are managing a 10-month-old infant who has had severe diarrhea and vomiting for 3 days and is now showing signs of shock. You have initiated supplemental oxygen therapy and elevated the lower extremities. En route to the hospital, you note that the child's work of breathing has increased. What must you do first?
- A. Lower the extremities and reassess the child
- B. Begin positive pressure ventilations and reassess the child
- C. Place a nasopharyngeal airway and increase the oxygen flow
- D. Listen to the lungs with a stethoscope for abnormal breath sounds
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In this scenario, the infant is showing signs of shock with increased work of breathing. Lowering the extremities helps improve venous return to the heart, cardiac output, and oxygenation by reducing the pressure on the diaphragm. This action can alleviate the respiratory distress and is a critical step to take in a child with signs of shock. Beginning positive pressure ventilations (Choice B) should be considered if the infant's respiratory distress worsens despite lowering the extremities. Placing a nasopharyngeal airway and increasing oxygen flow (Choice C) may not directly address the increased work of breathing or the underlying shock condition. Listening to the lungs with a stethoscope (Choice D) may provide information on lung sounds but does not address the immediate need to improve breathing in a child with signs of shock.
At 7 AM, a healthcare professional receives the information that an adolescent with diabetes has a 6:30 AM fasting blood glucose level of 180 mg/dL. What is the priority nursing action at this time?
- A. Encourage the adolescent to start exercising.
- B. Ask the adolescent to obtain an immediate glucometer reading.
- C. Inform the adolescent that a complex carbohydrate such as cheese should be eaten.
- D. Tell the adolescent that the prescribed dose of rapid-acting insulin should be administered.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct priority nursing action in this situation is to administer the prescribed dose of rapid-acting insulin. Rapid-acting insulin is necessary to help lower the elevated blood glucose level quickly, thereby preventing potential complications of hyperglycemia. Encouraging exercise, obtaining a glucometer reading, or suggesting consumption of complex carbohydrates like cheese may not address the immediate need to bring down the high blood glucose level effectively. Exercise could potentially raise blood glucose levels, obtaining a glucometer reading may delay necessary treatment, and consuming complex carbohydrates can further elevate blood glucose levels in this scenario.