Pediatric Chapter 19

8. The nurse teaches parents how to care for their child who has tympanostomy tubes inserted. Which actions by the parents indicate appropriate understanding of the teaching session? (Select all that apply.) 1. Encouraging the child to drink generous amounts of fluids 2. Administering a decongestant for one to two weeks following surgery 3. Restricting the child to quiet activities after surgery 4. Limiting diet to soft, bland foods 5. Avoiding getting water in ears during bath time

Answer: 1,3,5 Rationale 1: The correct responses include encouraging the child to drink generous amount of water, restricting the child to quiet activities after surgery, and avoiding water in the child's ears at bath time. Incorrect responses include administering a decongestant for one to two weeks following surgery and limiting diet to soft, bland foods—decongestants are not needed after surgery, and a regular diet should be resumed.

13. The nurse completes postoperative discharge teaching to the parents of a child who had a tonsillectomy. Which statement by the parents indicates correct understanding of the teaching session? 1. "We will call the physician for any indication of ear pain." 2. "We will plan on administering acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain." 3. "We will be sure to give our child adequate amounts of citrus juices." 4. "We will keep our child on bed rest for 10 days after the surgery."

Answer: 2 Rationale 1: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is recommended for pain after a tonsillectomy. Citrus juices should be avoided for the first week because highly acidic foods and beverages can cause irritation. Ear pain 4 to 8 days after a tonsillectomy may be experienced and does not indicate an ear infection. Children do not need to be confined to bed. They can return to school in 10 days.

15. During an admission assessment, the nurse notes that the child has impaired oral mucous membranes. Which intervention is most appropriate for the nurse to implement for this child? 1. Administering topical analgesics 2. Promoting an adequate intake of nutrients 3. Administering antibiotics as ordered 4. Using lemon and glycerin for oral hygiene

Answer: 2 Rationale 1: Adequate intake of fluids and nutrients promotes the intactness of the oral mucosal membrane tissue, which is the desired outcome for an impaired oral mucous membrane problem. Lemon and glycerin may dry the oral mucous membrane, which is not desirable. Administration of antibiotics or topical analgesics are medical interventions that might be performed but do not ensure that impaired tissue will be resolved.

1. A nurse is assessing infants for visually related developmental milestones. Which infant is showing a delay in meeting an expected milestone? 1. 4-month-old who has a social smile 2. 8-month-old who has just begun to inspect her own hand 3. 12-month-old who stacks blocks 4. 7-month-old who picks up a raisin by raking

Answer: 2 Rationale 1: An 8-month-old who has just begun to inspect her own hand is delayed. The infant usually inspects her own hand beginning at 3 months. A 4-month-old with a social smile, a 12-month-old who stacks blocks, and a 7-month-old who picks up a raisin by raking are all showing appropriate visually related milestones.

7. An infant is diagnosed with acute otitis media. Which intervention is most appropriate for the nurse to teach the infant's parents? 1. Keep the baby in a flat lying position during sleep. 2. Administer acetaminophen (Tylenol) to relieve discomfort. 3. Administer a decongestant. 4. Place baby to sleep with a pacifier.

Answer: 2 Rationale 1: An infant with a bulging tympanic membrane because of acute otitis media will have pain. Parents are taught to administer acetaminophen (Tylenol) to relieve the discomfort associated with acute otitis media. A flat lying position may exacerbate the discomfort. Elevating the head slightly is recommended. Decongestants are not recommended for treatment of acute otitis media. Placing infants to sleep with a pacifier may increase the incidence of otitis media.

11. A nurse is planning to teach school-age children about the common cold. Which information should the nurse include in the teaching session? 1. Vaccinations can prevent contraction of a nasopharyngitis virus. 2. Antibiotics will eliminate the nasopharyngitis virus. 3. Proper handwashing can prevent the spread of the infection. 4. Aspirin should be taken for alleviation of fever if the "common cold" is contracted.

Answer: 3 Rationale 1: Proper handwashing should be taught to school-age children to reduce the spread of the "common cold" virus. No vaccine can prevent the common cold. Antibiotics are not used to treat viral infections. Aspirin should not be taken for fever because of its association with Reye syndrome.

4. The nurse is caring for four clients. Which client has the highest risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity? 1. 30-week-gestation infant who was in an Oxy-Hood for 12 hours and weighed 1800 grams. 2. 32-week-gestation infant who needed no oxygen and weighed 1850 grams. 3. 28-week-gestation infant who has been on long-term oxygen and weighed 1400 grams. 4. 28-week-gestation infant who was on short-term oxygen and weighed 1420 grams.

Answer: 3 Rationale 1: The 28-week-gestation infant on oxygen weighing 1400 grams has the highest risk of retinopathy of prematurity because of gestational age (28 weeks or less), weight (less than 1500 g), and oxygen therapy. The other neonates have fewer risk factors.

2. A neonate has been diagnosed with a herpes simplex viral infection of the eye. Which medication will the nurse prepare to administer? 1. Fluoroquinolone eye drops or ointment 2. Intravenous penicillin 3. Oral erythromycin 4. Parenteral acyclovir (Zovirax) and vidarabine (VIRA-A) ophthalmic ointment

Answer: 4 Rationale 1: Neonatal herpes simplex virus is treated vigorously with parenteral acyclovir for 14 days or longer and topical ophthalmic medication (trifluridine, iododeoxyuridine, or vidarabine). Fluoroquinolone eye drops are used to treat bacterial eye infections. Intravenous penicillin treats selected bacterial infections. Oral erythromycin is used to treat chlamydial eye infections.

14. The child who had a tonsillectomy earlier today is now awake and tolerating fluids. The child asks for something to eat. Which food choice is most appropriate for this client? 1. Orange slices 2. Lemonade 3. Grapefruit juice 4. Applesauce

Answer: 4 Rationale 1: Soft foods such as applesauce can be added as tolerated to a diet following a tonsillectomy. Citric juices or citric fruits should be avoided because they may cause a burning sensation in the throat.

9. Which action by the nurse can assist a child who has a mild hearing loss and reads lips to adapt to hospitalization? 1. Speaking directly to the parents for communication 2. Speaking in a loud voice while facing the child 3. Using a picture board as the main means of communication 4. Touching the child lightly before speaking

Answer: 4 Rationale 1: The nurse can facilitate hospital adaptation of a child who has a hearing loss and can lip-read by obtaining the child's visual attention by lightly touching the child before communicating. Speaking to the parents only does not help the child with the hospitalization. Speaking in a loud voice may not promote hearing in the child, and a picture board, while useful, should not be the primary means of communication for a child who reads lips.

6. A nurse is caring for a visually impaired school-age child. Which nursing intervention is the highest priority for this child during the admission process? 1. Explaining playroom policies 2. Orienting the child to where furniture is placed in the room 3. Letting the child touch equipment that will be used during the hospitalization 4. Taking the child on a tour of the unit

Answer: 2 Rationale 1: The priority intervention is to orient the child to furniture placement in the room. This is priority because it addresses basic safety for a visually impaired client. Policies, handling equipment, and tours can be done at a later time.

5. A nurse is caring for a visually impaired 20-month-old who has not begun to walk. Which nursing diagnosis is the most appropriate for this client? 1. Delayed growth and development 2. Impaired physical mobility 3. Self-care deficit 4. Impaired home maintenance

Answer: 1 Rationale 1: A 20-month-old child who is not walking is delayed in growth and development. The child's mobility is not due to a physiological problem, so impaired mobility is not appropriate. Self-care deficit does not apply to this age of child. There is not enough data to determine if home maintenance is impaired.

12. A child is diagnosed with group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS) infection of the throat. Which item will the nurse include in the teaching plan for the parents? 1. Complete the entire course of antibiotics. 2. Keep the child NPO (nothing by mouth). 3. Continue normal activities. 4. Do not allow the child to gargle with saltwater.

Answer: 1 Rationale 1: It is important for parents to complete the entire course of antibiotics for GABHS infections. Nothing-by-mouth, or NPO, status is not recommended because the child needs to stay hydrated. The child should rest, and use of warm saltwater gargles is recommended.

10. A school-age child has epistaxis. Which intervention by the school nurse is the most appropriate? 1. Tilting the child's head forward, squeezing the nares below the nasal bone, and applying ice to the nose 2. Tilting the child's head back, squeezing the bridge of the nose, and applying a warm, moist pack to the nose 3. Lying the child down and applying no pressure, ice, or warm pack 4. Immediately packing the nares with a cotton ball soaked with Neo-Synephrine

Answer: 1 Rationale 1: The correct initial treatment for a nosebleed is to tilt the head forward, squeeze the nares below the nasal bone for 10 to 15 minutes, and apply ice to the nose or back of the head. Tilting the child's head back may cause the blood to trickle down the throat. Warmth can cause an increase in bleeding because of vasodilation. Lying the child down without application of pressure to the nares may not stop the bleeding. A cotton ball soaked with Neo-Synephrine would only be used if the bleeding does not stop with pressure and ice.

3. The nurse suspects that an infant has a visual disorder caused by abnormal musculature. Which test will the nurse perform to detect this disorder? 1. A cover/uncover test 2. An ophthalmologic exam 3. A vision-acuity exam 4. A pupil-reaction-to-light test

Answer: 1 Rationale 1: The cover/uncover test can detect abnormal musculature of the eye that can lead to asymmetric eye movement. An ophthalmologic eye exam allows the practitioner to view the internal structures of the eye, not abnormal musculature. A vision acuity test is used to test for myopia. A pupil-reaction-to-light test evaluates neurological status.