Peds CH 38 & 39

The nurse is preparing to insert a nasogastric tube into a 4-year-old child for intermittent suctioning after abdominal surgery. Place in correct sequence the steps for inserting a nasogastric tube. a. Lubricate the nasogastric tube with water-soluble lubricant. b. Tape the nasogastric tube securely to the child's face. c. Check the placement of the tube by aspirating stomach contents. d. Place the child in the supine position with head slightly hyperflexed. e. Insert the nasogastric tube through the nares. f. Measure the tube from the tip of the nose to the earlobe to the midpoint between the xiphoid process and the umbilicus.

1. Step one: D 2. Step two: F 3. Step three: A 4. Step four: E 5. Step five: C 6. Step six: B

18. When liquid medication is given to a crying 10-month-old infant, which approach minimizes the possibility of aspiration? a. Administering the medication with a syringe (without needle) placed along the side of the infant's tongue b. Administering the medication as rapidly as possible with the infant securely restrained c. Mixing the medication with the infant's regular formula or juice and administering by bottle d. Keeping the child upright with the nasal passages blocked for a minute after administration

ANS: A Administer the medication with a syringe without needle placed alongside of the infant's tongue. The contents are administered slowly in small amounts, allowing the child to swallow between deposits. Medications should be given slowly to avoid aspiration. The medication should be mixed with only a small amount of food or liquid. If the child does not finish drinking/eating, it is difficult to determine how much medication was consumed. Essential foods also should not be used. The child may associate the altered taste with the food and refuse to eat in future. Holding the child's nasal passages increases the risk of aspiration.

12. The nurse gives an injection in a patient's room. Which method should the nurse use to dispose of the needle? a. Dispose of syringe and needle in a rigid, puncture-resistant container in patient's room. b. Dispose of syringe and needle in a rigid, puncture-resistant container in an area outside of patient's room. c. Cap needle immediately after giving injection and dispose of in proper container. d. Cap needle, break from syringe, and dispose of in proper container.

ANS: A All needles (uncapped and unbroken) are disposed of in a rigid, puncture-resistant container located near the site of use. Consequently, these containers should be installed in the patient's room. The uncapped needle should not be transported to an area distant from use.

8. What intervention should the nurse implement when a 5 year old tells the nurse, ―I need a Band-Aid‖ after having an injection. a. Apply a Band-Aid. b. Ask why he/she wants a Band-Aid. c. Explain why a Band-Aid is not needed. d. Show he/her that the bleeding has already stopped.

ANS: A Children in this age-group still fear that their insides may leak out at the injection site, even if the bleeding has stopped. Provide the Band-Aid. No explanation should be required.

2. When a preschool child is hospitalized without adequate preparation, what is the child may likely see hospitalization as? a. Punishment b. Threat to child's self-image c. An opportunity for regression d. Loss of companionship with friends

ANS: A If a toddler is not prepared for hospitalization, a typical preschooler fantasy is to attribute the hospitalization to punishment for real or imagined misdeeds. Threat to child's self-image and loss of companionship with friends are reactions typical of school-age children. Regression is a response characteristic of toddlers when threatened with loss of control.

3. The most appropriate nursing action to implement when a preschooler being prepped for outpatient surgery refused to allow the parent to remove his/her underwear? a. Allow the child to wear their underpants. b. Discuss to the mother why this is important. c. Ask the mother to explain to her child why he/she must remove the underwear. d. Explain in a kind, matter-of-fact manner that this is hospital policy.

ANS: A It is appropriate for the child to leave his/her underpants on. This allows his/her some measure of control during the foot surgery. The mother should not be required to make the child more upset. The child is too young to understand what hospital policy means.

31. A 6-year-old child is hospitalized for intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy. He eats little on his ―regular diet‖ trays. He tells the nurse that all he wants to eat is pizza, tacos, and ice cream. Which is the best nursing action? a. Request these favorite foods for him. b. Identify healthier food choices that he likes. c. Explain that he needs fruits and vegetables. d. Reward him with ice cream at the end of every meal that he eats.

ANS: A Loss of appetite is a symptom common to most childhood illnesses. To encourage adequate nutrition, favorite foods should be requested for the child. Even though these substances are not nutritious, they can provide necessary fluid and calories and can be supplemented with additional fruits and vegetables. Ice cream and other desserts should not be used as rewards or punishment.

9. A 3 year old has a 102F fever associated with a viral illness that has not responded to acetaminophen. The nurse's action should be based on what knowledge about fevers in children? a. Fevers such as this are common with viral illnesses. b. Seizures are common in children when antipyretics are ineffective. c. Fever over 102F indicates greater severity of illness. d. Fever over 102F indicates a probable bacterial infection.

ANS: A Most fevers are of brief duration, have limited consequences, and are viral. Little evidence supports the use of antipyretic drugs to prevent febrile seizures. Neither the increase in temperature nor its response to antipyretics indicates the severity or etiology of infection

19. A previously ―potty-trained‖ 30-month-old child has reverted to wearing diapers while hospitalized. The nurse should reassure the parents based on what knowledge concerning regressive behaviors? a. Regression is seen during hospitalization. b. Developmental delays occur because of the hospitalization. c. The child is experiencing urinary urgency because of hospitalization. d. The child was too young to be ―potty-trained.‖

ANS: A Regression is expected and normal for all age-groups when hospitalized. Nurses should assure the parents this is temporary and the child will return to the previously mastered developmental milestone when back home. This does not indicate a developmental delay. The child should not be experiencing urinary urgency because of hospitalization and this would not be normal. Successful ―potty-training‖ can be started at 2 years of age if the child is ready.

7. Latasha, age 8 years, is being admitted to the hospital from the emergency department with an injury from falling off her bicycle. What intervention will help an 8 year old most in adjusting to a hospital admission? a. Explain hospital schedules such as mealtimes. b. Use terms such as ―honey‖ and ―dear‖ to show a caring attitude. c. Explain when parents can visit and why siblings cannot come to see her. d. Orient her parents, because she is young, to her room and hospital facility.

ANS: A School-age children need to have control of their environment. The nurse should offer explanations or prepare the child for experiences that are unavoidable. The nurse should refer to the child by the preferred name. Telling the child about all of the limitations of visiting does not help him/her adjust to the hospital. At the age of 8 years, the child and parents should be oriented to the environment.

20. When teaching a mother how to administer eyedrops, where should the nurse instruct to place them? a. In the conjunctival sac that is formed when the lower lid is pulled down b. Carefully under the upper eyelid while it is gently pulled upward c. On the sclera while the child looks to the side d. Anywhere as long as drops contact the eye's surface

ANS: A The lower lid is pulled down, forming a small conjunctival sac. The solution or ointment is applied to this area. The medication should not be administered directly on the eyeball.

1. What represents the major stressor of hospitalization for children from middle infancy throughout the preschool years? a. Separation anxiety b. Loss of control c. Fear of bodily injury d. Fear of pain

ANS: A The major stress for children from infancy through the preschool years is separation anxiety, also called anaclitic depression. This is a major stressor of hospitalization. Loss of control, fear of bodily injury, and fear of pain are all stressors associated with hospitalization. However, separation from family is a primary stressor in this age-group.

4. A 10 year old, who needs to have another intravenous (IV) line started, keeps telling the ―Wait a minute,‖ and, ―I'm not ready.‖ How should the nurse interpret these requests? a. This is normal behavior for a school-age child. b. This behavior is usually not seen past the preschool years. c. The child thinks the nurse is punishing her. d. The child has successfully manipulated the nurse in the past

ANS: A This school-age child is attempting to maintain control. The nurse should provide the girl with structured choices about when the IV will be inserted. This can be characteristic behavior when an individual needs to maintain some control over a situation. The child is trying to have some control in the hospital experience. None of the other options accurately interprets the child's statement.

11. The nurse wore gloves during a dressing change. When the gloves are removed, the nurse should perform which initial action? a. Wash hands thoroughly. b. Check the gloves for leaks. c. Rinse gloves in disinfectant solution. d. Apply new gloves before touching the next patient.

ANS: A When gloves are worn, the hands are washed thoroughly after removing the gloves because both latex and vinyl gloves fail to provide complete protection. Gloves should be disposed of after use and hands should be thoroughly washed again before new gloves are applied.

30. What critical information should the nurse incorporate into care when using restraints on a child? a. Use the least restrictive type of restraint. b. Tie knots securely so they cannot be untied easily. c. Secure the ties to the mattress or side rails. d. Remove restraints every 4 hours to assess skin.

ANS: A When restraints are necessary, the nurse should institute the least restrictive type of restraint. Knots must be tied so that they can be easily undone for quick access to the child. The ties are never tied to the mattress or side rails. They should be secured to a stable device, such as the bed frame. Restraints are removed every 2 hours to allow for range of motion, position changes, and assessment of skin integrity.

2. What is an age-appropriate nursing intervention to facilitate psychologic adjustment for an adolescent expected to have a prolonged hospitalization? (Select all that apply.) a. Encourage parents to bring in homework and schedule study times. b. Allow the adolescent to wear street clothes. c. Involve the parents in care. d. Follow home routines. e. Encourage parents to bring in favorite foods

ANS: A, B, E Encouraging parents to bring in homework, street clothes, and favorite foods are all developmentally appropriate approaches to facilitate adjustment and coping for an adolescent who will be experiencing prolonged hospitalization. Involving parents in care and following home routines are important interventions for the preschool child who is in the hospital. Adolescents do not need parents to assist in their care. They are used to performing independent self-care. Adolescents may want their parents to be nearby, or they may enjoy the freedom and independence from parental control and routines.

2. The advantages of the ventrogluteal muscle as an injection site in young children include which of the following? (Select all that apply.) a. Less painful than vastus lateralis b. Free of important nerves and vascular structures c. Cannot be used when child reaches a weight of 20 lbs d. Increased subcutaneous fat, which increases drug absorption e. Easily identified by major landmarks

ANS: A, B, E Less painful, free of important nerves and vascular structures, and easily identifiable are advantages of the ventrogluteal muscle. The major disadvantage is lack of familiarity by health professionals and controversy over whether the site can be used before weight bearing. Cannot be used when a child is 20 lbs or more and increased subcutaneous fat are not advantages of the ventrogluteal muscle as an injection site in young children.

1. A child has just been unexpectedly admitted to the intensive care unit after abdominal surgery. The nursing staff has completed the admission process, and the child's condition is beginning to stabilize. When speaking with the parents, the nurses should expect which stressors to be evident? (Select all that apply.) a. Unfamiliar environment b. Usual day-night routine c. Strange smells d. Provision of privacy e. Inadequate knowledge of condition and routine

ANS: A, C, E Intensive care units, especially when the family is unprepared for the admission, are a strange and unfamiliar place. There are many pieces of unfamiliar equipment, and the sights and sounds are much different from a general hospital unit. Also, with the child's condition being more precarious, it may be difficult to keep the parents updated and knowledgeable about what is happening. Lights are usually on around the clock, seriously disrupting the diurnal rhythm. There is usually little privacy available for families in intensive care units.

4. A child is being discharged from an ambulatory care center after an inguinal hernia repair. Which discharge interventions should the nurse implement? (Select all that apply.) a. Discuss dietary restrictions. b. Hold any analgesic medications until the child is home. c. Send a pain scale home with the family. d. Suggest the parents fill the prescriptions on the way home. e. Discuss complications that may occur.

ANS: A, C, E The discharge interventions a nurse should implement when a child is being discharged from an ambulatory care center should include dietary restrictions being very specific and giving examples of ―clear fluids‖ or what is meant by a ―full liquid diet.‖ The nurse should give specific information on pain control and send a pain scale home with the family. All complications that may occur after an inguinal hernia repair should be discussed with the parents. The pain medication, as prescribed, should be given before the child leaves the building, and prescriptions should be filled and given to the family before discharge.

29. Which nursing action is the most appropriate when applying a face mask to a child prescribed oxygen therapy? a. Set the oxygen flow rate at less than 6 L/min. b. Make sure the mask fits properly. c. Keep the child warm. d. Remove the mask for 5 minutes every hour

ANS: B A properly fitting face mask is essential for adequate oxygen delivery. The oxygen flow rate should be greater than 6 L/min to prevent rebreathing of exhaled carbon dioxide. Oxygen delivery through a face mask does not affect body temperature. A face mask used for oxygen therapy is not routinely removed.

6. What is an appropriate nursing intervention to minimize separation anxiety in a hospitalized toddler? a. Provide for privacy. b. Encourage parents to room in. c. Explain procedures and routines. d. Encourage contact with children the same age.

ANS: B A toddler experiences separation anxiety secondary to being separated from the parents. To avoid this, the parents should be encouraged to room in as much as possible. Maintaining routines and ensuring privacy are helpful interventions, but they would not substitute for the parents. Contact with same-aged children would not substitute for having the parents present.

33. After collecting blood by venipuncture in the antecubital fossa, what intervention should the nurse implement in order to assure control of any bleeding? a. Keep arm extended while applying a bandage to the site. b. Keep arm extended, and apply pressure to the site for a few minutes. c. Apply a bandage to the site, and keep the arm flexed for 10 minutes. d. Apply a gauze pad or cotton ball to the site, and keep the arm flexed for several minutes.

ANS: B Applying pressure to the site of venipuncture stops the bleeding and aids in coagulation. Pressure should be applied before a bandage is applied.

12. Which situation poses the greatest challenge to the nurse working with a child and family? a. Twenty-four-hour observation b. Emergency hospitalization c. Outpatient admission d. Rehabilitation admission

ANS: B Emergency hospitalization involves: (1) limited time for preparation both for the child and family, (2) situations that cause fear for the family that the child may die or be permanently disabled, and (3) a high level of activity, which can foster further anxiety. Although preparation time may be limited with a 24-hour observation, this situation does not usually involve the acuteness of the situation and the high levels of anxiety associated with emergency admission. Outpatient admission generally involves preparation time for the family and child. Because of the lower level of acuteness in this setting, anxiety levels are not as high. Rehabilitation admission follows a serious illness or disease. This type of unit may resemble a home environment, which decreases the child's and family's anxiety.

15. What is the most appropriate statement for the nurse to make to a 5-year-old child who is undergoing a venipuncture? a. ―You must hold still or I'll have someone hold you down. This is not going to hurt.‖ b. ―This will hurt like a pinch. I'll get someone to help hold your arm still so it will be over fast and hurt less.‖ c. ―Be a big boy and hold still. This will be over in just a second.‖ d. ―I'm sending your mother out so she won't be scared. You are big, so hold still and this will be over soon.‖

ANS: B Honesty is the best approach. Children should be told what sensation they will feel during a procedure. A 5-year-old child should not be expected to hold still, and assistance ensures safety to everyone. Telling the child that ―This will be over in just a second‖ is not supportive or honest. Parents should be encouraged to remain with the child unless they are extremely uncomfortable doing so.

2. The nurse is planning how to best prepare a 4-year-old child for some diagnostic procedures. What guideline should the nurse consider when preparing a preschooler for a diagnostic procedure? a. Planning for a short teaching session of about 30 minutes b. Telling the child that procedures are never a form of punishment c. Keeping equipment out of the child's view d. Using correct scientific and medical terminology in explanations

ANS: B Illness and hospitalization may be viewed as punishment in preschoolers. Always state directly that procedures are never a form of punishment. Teaching sessions for this age-group should be 10 to 15 minutes in length. Demonstrate the use of equipment and allow the child to play with miniature or actual equipment. Explain the procedure and how it affects the child in simple terms.

21. A 2-year-old child comes to the emergency department demonstrating signs of dehydration and hypovolemic shock. Which best explains why an intraosseous infusion is started? a. It is less painful for small children. b. Rapid venous access is not possible. c. Antibiotics must be started immediately. d. Long-term central venous access is not possible.

ANS: B In situations in which rapid establishment of systemic access is vital and venous access is hampered, such as peripheral circulatory collapse and hypovolemic shock, intraosseous infusion provides a rapid, safe lifesaving alternative. The procedure is painful, and local anesthesia and systemic analgesia are given. Antibiotics could be given when vascular access is obtained. Long-term central venous access is time-consuming, and intraosseous infusion is used in an emergency situation.

26. In preparing to give ―enemas until clear‖ to a young child, the nurse should select which solution? a. Tap water b. Normal saline c. Oil retention d. Fleet solution

ANS: B Isotonic solutions should be used in children. Saline is the solution of choice. Plain water is not used. This is a hypotonic solution and can cause rapid fluid shift, resulting in fluid overload. Oil-retention enemas will not achieve the ―until clear‖ result. Fleet enemas are not advised for children because of the harsh action of the ingredients. The osmotic effects of the Fleet enema can result in diarrhea, which can lead to metabolic acidosis.

4. Using knowledge of child development, what is the best approach when preparing a toddler for a procedure? a. Avoid asking the child to make choices. b. Demonstrate the procedure on a doll. c. Plan for the teaching session to last about 20 minutes. d. Show necessary equipment without allowing child to handle it.

ANS: B Prepare toddlers for procedures by using play. Demonstrate on a doll, but avoid the child's favorite doll because the toddler may think the doll is really ―feeling‖ the procedure. In preparing a toddler for a procedure, the child is allowed to participate in care and help whenever possible. Teaching sessions for toddlers should be about 5 to 10 minutes. Use a small replica of the equipment and allow the child to handle it.

5. A 6 year old, hospitalized again because of a chronic illness, is told by school-age siblings that, ―We are sick of Mom always sitting with you in the hospital and playing with you. It is not fair that you get everything and we have to stay with the neighbors.‖ What is the nurse's best assessment of the cause of the siblings' resentment? a. The siblings are immature and probably spoiled. b. Jealousy and resentment are common reactions to the illness or hospitalization of a sibling. c. The family has ineffective coping mechanisms to deal with chronic illness. d. The siblings need to better understand the patient's illness and needs.

ANS: B Siblings experience loneliness, fear, worry, anger, resentment, jealousy, and guilt. The siblings experience stress equal to that of the hospitalized child. These are not uncommon responses by normal siblings. There is no evidence that the family has maladaptive coping or that the siblings lack understanding.

25. A child is receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN; hyperalimentation). At the end of 8 hours, the nurse observes the solution and notes that 200 mL/8 hr is being infused rather than the ordered amount of 300 mL/8 hr. The nurse should adjust the rate so that how much will infuse during the next 8 hours? a. 200 mL b. 300 mL c. 350 mL d. 400 mL

ANS: B The TPN infusion rate should not be increased or decreased without the practitioner being informed because alterations in rate can cause hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. Knowing this will result in the infusion rate being set to the original prescribed flow rate.

14. What is an important nursing consideration when performing a bladder catheterization on a young boy? a. Use clean technique, not Standard Precautions. b. Insert 2% lidocaine lubricant into the urethra. c. Lubricate catheter with water-soluble lubricant such as K-Y Jelly. d. Delay catheterization for 20 minutes while anesthetic lubricant is absorbed.

ANS: B The anxiety, fear, and discomfort experienced during catheterization can be significantly decreased by preparing the child and parents, selecting the correct catheter, and using appropriate insertion technique. Generous lubrication of the urethra before catheterization and use of lubricant containing 2% lidocaine may reduce or eliminate the burning and discomfort associated with this procedure. Catheterization is a sterile procedure, and Standard Precautions for body-substance protection should be followed. Water-soluble lubricants do not provide appropriate local anesthesia. Catheterization should be delayed only 2 to 3 minutes. This provides sufficient local anesthesia for the procedure.

19. Guidelines for intramuscular administration of medication in school-age children include what instruction? a. Inject medication as rapidly as possible. b. Insert the needle quickly, using a dart-like motion. c. Penetrate the skin immediately after cleansing the site, before skin has dried. d. Have the child stand, if possible, and if he or she is cooperative.

ANS: B The needle should be inserted quickly in a dart-like motion at a 90-degree angle unless contraindicated. Inject medications slowly. Allow skin preparation to dry completely before skin is penetrated. Place the child in a lying or sitting position.

21. A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a 5-year-old child with symptoms of pneumonia and a fever of 102F. Which intervention can the nurse implement to promote a sense of control for the child? a. None, this is an emergency and the child should not participate in care. b. Allow the child to hold the digital thermometer while taking the child's blood pressure. c. Ask the child if it is OK to take a temperature in the ear. d. Have parents wait in the waiting room.

ANS: B The nurse should allow the child to hold the digital thermometer while taking the child's blood pressure. Unless an emergency is life threatening, children need to participate in their care to maintain a sense of control. Because emergency departments are frequently hectic, there is a tendency to rush through procedures to save time. However, the extra few minutes needed to allow children to participate may save many more minutes of useless resistance and uncooperativeness during subsequent procedures. The child may not give permission, if asked, for a procedure that is necessary to be performed. It is better to give choices such as, ―Which ear do you want me to do your temperature in?‖ instead of, ―Can I take your temperature?‖ Parents should remain with their child to help with decreasing the child's anxiety.

28. What information should the nurse include when teaching parents how to care for a child's gastrostomy tube at home? a. Never turn the gastrostomy button. b. Clean around the insertion site daily with soap and water. c. Expect some leakage around the button. d. Remove the tube for cleaning once a week.

ANS: B The skin around the tube insertion site should be cleaned with soap and water once or twice daily. The gastrostomy button should be rotated in a full circle during cleaning. Leakage around the tube should be reported to the physician. A gastrostomy tube is placed surgically. It is not removed for cleaning.

3. A nurse plans therapeutic play time for a hospitalized child. Which are the benefits of therapeutic play? (Select all that apply.) a. Serves as method to assist disturbed children. b. Allows the child to express feelings. c. The nurse can gain insight into the child's feelings. d. The child can deal with concerns and feelings. e. Gives the child a structured play environment.

ANS: B, C, D Therapeutic play is an effective, nondirective modality for helping children deal with their concerns and fears, and at the same time, it often helps the nurse gain insights into children's needs and feelings. Play and other expressive activities provide one of the best opportunities for encouraging emotional expression, including the safe release of anger and hostility. Nondirective play that allows children freedom for expression can be tremendously therapeutic. Play therapy is a structured therapy that helps disturbed children. It should not be confused with therapeutic play.

7. The nurse is caring. What skin care interventions for an unconscious child should be included in the plan of care? a. Avoiding use of pressure reduction on the bed b. Massaging reddened bony prominences to prevent deep tissue damage c. Using drawsheet to move child in bed to reduce friction and shearing injuries d. Avoiding rinsing skin after cleansing with mild antibacterial soap to provide a protective barrier

ANS: C A drawsheet should be used to move the child in the bed or onto a gurney to reduce friction and shearing injuries. Do not drag the child from under the arms. Bony prominences should not be massaged if reddened. Deep tissue damage can occur. Pressure-reduction devices should be used to redistribute weight instead. The skin should be cleansed with mild nonalkaline soap or soap-free cleaning agents for routine bathing.

15. During the first 4 days of hospitalization, an 18 month old cried inconsolably when his/her parents left and he/she refused the staff's attention. Now the nurse observes that the child appears to be ―settled in‖ and unconcerned about seeing his/her parents. How should the nurse interpret this change in behavior? a. The child has successfully adjusted to the hospital environment. b. The child has transferred their trust to the nursing staff. c. The child may be experiencing detachment, which is the third stage of separation anxiety. d. Because the child is ―at home‖ in the hospital now, seeing his mother frequently will only start the cycle again.

ANS: C Detachment is a behavioral manifestation of separation anxiety. Superficially it appears that the child has adjusted to the loss and transferred his trust to the nursing staff. Detachment is a sign of resignation, not contentment. Parents should be encouraged to be with their child. If parents restrict visits, they may begin a pattern of misunderstanding the child's cues and not meeting his needs.

6. The nurse monitoring a child for signs and symptoms of malignant hyperthermia should be alert for which early sign of this disorder? a. Apnea b. Bradycardia c. Muscle rigidity d. Decreased blood pressure

ANS: C Early signs of malignant hyperthermia include tachycardia, increasing blood pressure, tachypnea, mottled skin, and muscle rigidity. Apnea is not a sign of malignant hyperthermia. Tachycardia, not bradycardia, is an early sign of malignant hyperthermia. Increased, not decreased, blood pressure is characteristic of malignant hyperthermia.

10. What intervention is appropriate when administering tepid water or sponge baths prescribed for hyperthermia in children? a. Add isopropyl alcohol to the water. b. Direct a fan on the child in the bath. c. Stop the bath if the child begins to chill. d. Continue the bath for 5 minutes.

ANS: C Environmental measures such as sponge baths can be used to reduce temperature if tolerated by the child and if they do not induce shivering. Shivering is the body's way of maintaining the elevated set point. Compensatory shivering increases metabolic requirements above those already caused by the fever. Ice water and isopropyl alcohol are inappropriate, potentially dangerous solutions. Fans should not be used because of the risk of the child developing vasoconstriction, which defeats the purpose of the cooling measures. Little blood is carried to the skin surface, and the blood remains primarily in the viscera to become heated. The child is placed in a tub of tepid water for 20 to 30 minutes.

14. What is the best action for the nurse to take when a 5-year-old child who requires another 2 days of intravenous (IV) antibiotics cries, screams, and resists having the IV restarted? a. Exit the room and leave the child alone until he stops crying. b. Tell the child big boys and girls ―don't cry.‖ c. Let the child decide which color arm board to use with the IV. d. Administer a narcotic analgesic for pain to quiet the child.

ANS: C Giving the preschooler some choice and control, while maintaining boundaries of treatment, supports the child's coping skills. Leaving the child alone robs the child of support when a coping difficulty exists. Crying is a normal response to stress. The child needs time to adjust and support to cope with unfamiliar and painful procedures during hospitalization. Although administration of a topical analgesic is indicated before restarting the child's IV, a narcotic analgesic is not indicated.

11. The nurse is caring for an adolescent hospitalized after a bicycle accident. Which statement by the adolescent would be expected about separation anxiety? a. ―I wish my parents could spend the night with me while I am in the hospital.‖ b. ―I think I would like for my siblings to visit me but not my friends.‖ c. ―I hope my friends don't forget about visiting me.‖ d. ―I will be embarrassed if my friends come to the hospital to visit.‖

ANS: C Loss of peer-group contact may pose a severe emotional threat to an adolescent because of loss of group status; friends' visiting is an important aspect of hospitalization for an adolescent and would be very reassuring. Adolescents may welcome the opportunity to be away from their parents. The separation from siblings may produce reactions from difficulty coping to a welcome relief.

18. A school-age child, admitted for intravenous antibiotic therapy for osteomyelitis, reports difficulty in going to sleep at night. Which intervention should the nurse implement to assist the child in going to sleep at bedtime? a. Request a prescription for a sleeping pill. b. Allow the child to stay up late and sleep late in the morning. c. Create a schedule similar to the one the child follows at home. d. Plan passive activities in the morning and interactive activities right before bedtime.

ANS: C Many children obtain significantly less sleep in the hospital than at home; the primary causes are a delay in sleep onset and early termination of sleep because of hospital routines. One technique that can minimize the disruption in the child's routine is establishing a daily schedule. This approach is most suitable for noncritically ill school-age and adolescent children who have mastered the concept of time. It involves scheduling the child's day to include all those activities that are important to the child and nurse, such as treatment procedures, schoolwork, exercise, television, playroom, and hobbies. The school-age child with osteomyelitis would benefit from a schedule similar to the one followed at home. Requesting a prescription for a sleeping pill would be inappropriate, and allowing the child to stay up late and sleep late would not be keeping the child in a routine followed at home. Passive activities in the morning and interactive activities at bedtime should be reversed; it would be better to keep the child active in the morning hours and plan quiet activities at bedtime.

17. The nurse administering a bitter oral medication to an infant or small child should mix the medication with what substance? a. A bottle of formula or milk b. Any food the child is going to eat c. A teaspoon of jam or ice cream d. Large amounts of water to dilute medication sufficiently

ANS: C Mix the drug with a small amount (about 1 teaspoon) of sweet-tasting substance. This will make the medication more palatable to the child. The medication should be mixed with only a small amount of food or liquid. If the child does not finish drinking/eating, it is difficult to determine how much medication was consumed. Medication should not be mixed with essential foods and milk. The child may associate the altered taste with the food and refuse to eat in future.

13. What is the primary disadvantage associated with outpatient and day facility care? a. Increased cost b. Increased risk of infection c. Lack of physical connection to the hospital d. Longer separation of the child from family

ANS: C Outpatient and day facility care do not provide extended care; therefore, a child requiring extended care must be transferred to the hospital, causing increased stress to the child and parents. Outpatient care decreases cost and reduces the risk of infection. Outpatient care also minimizes separation of the child from family.

9. Emma, age 3 years, is being admitted for about 1 week of hospitalization. The parents of a 3 year old being admitted tell the nurse that they are going to buy their child ―a lot of new toys to help during the hospital.‖ The nurse's reply should be based on an understanding of comfort measures for that age-group? a. New toys do make hospitalization easier. b. New toys are usually better than older ones for children of this age. c. At this age children often need the comfort and reassurance of familiar toys from home. d. Buying new toys for a hospitalized child is a maladaptive way to cope with parental guilt.

ANS: C Parents should bring favorite items from home to be with the child. Young children associate inanimate objects with significant people; they gain comfort and reassurance from these items. New toys will not serve the purpose of familiar toys and objects from home. The parents may experience some guilt as a response to the hospitalization, but there is no evidence that it is maladaptive.

35. What nursing consideration is related to the administration of oxygen (O2) in an infant? a. Humidify the oxygen if the infant can tolerate it. b. Assess the infant to determine how much oxygen should be given. c. Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) readings are used to guide O2 therapy. d. Direct the oxygen flow so that it blows directly into the infant's face in a hood.

ANS: C Pulse oximetry is a continuous, noninvasive method of determining arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) to guide oxygen therapy. Oxygen is drying to the tissues. Oxygen should always be humidified when delivered to a patient. A child receiving oxygen therapy should have the oxygen saturation monitored at least as frequently as vital signs. Oxygen is a medication, and it is the responsibility of the practitioner to modify dosage as indicated. Humidified oxygen should not be blown directly into an infant's face.

16. What important consideration in providing atraumatic care should the nurse consider when preforming a venipuncture on a 6-year-old child? a. Use an 18-gauge needle if possible. b. If not successful after four attempts, have another nurse try. c. Restrain the child only as needed to perform venipuncture safely. d. Show the child equipment to be used before procedure.

ANS: C Restrain the child only as needed to perform the procedure safely; an alternative would be the use of therapeutic hugging. Use the smallest gauge needle that permits free flow of blood. A two-try-only policy is desirable, in which two operators each have only two attempts. If insertion is not successful after four punctures, alternative venous access should be considered. Keep all equipment out of sight until used.

27. What nursing action is appropriate for specimen collection? a. Follow sterile technique for specimen collection. b. Sterile gloves are worn if the nurse plans to touch the specimen. c. Use Standard Precautions when handling body fluids. d. Avoid wearing gloves in front of the child and family.

ANS: C Standard Precautions should always be used when handling body fluids. Specimen collection is not always a sterile procedure. Gloves should be worn if there is a chance the nurse will be contaminated. The choice of sterile or clean gloves will vary according to the procedure or specimen. The child and family should be educated in the purpose of glove use, including the fact that gloves are used with every patient, so that they will not be offended or frightened.

24. What intervention should the nurse implement when suctioning a child with a tracheostomy? a. Encouraging the child to cough to raise the secretions before suctioning b. Selecting a catheter with a diameter three-fourths as large as the diameter of the tracheostomy tube c. Ensuring that each pass of the suction catheter take no longer than 10 seconds d. Allowing the child to rest after every 5 times the suction catheter is passed

ANS: C Suctioning should require no longer than 10 seconds per pass. Otherwise the airway may be occluded for too long. If the child is able to cough up secretions, suctioning may not be indicated. The catheter should have a diameter one-half the size of the tracheostomy tube. If it is too large, it might block the child's airway. The child is allowed to rest for 30 to 60 seconds after each aspiration to allow oxygen tension to return to normal. Then the process is repeated until the trachea is clear.

5. The nurse is cleaning multiple facial abrasions on a 9-year-old who was brought to the emergency department by his/her mother. When the child begins crying and screaming loudly, what intervention should the nurse implement to best manage this situation? a. Calmly ask the child to be quieter. b. Suggest that his/her mother help the child to relax. c. Tell the child it is okay to cry and scream. d. Suggest that he/she talk to his/her mother as a form of distraction.

ANS: C The child should be allowed to express feelings of anger, anxiety, fear, frustration, or any other emotion. The child needs to know that it is all right to cry. There is no reason for him to be quieter. He is too upset and needs to be able to express his feelings.

1. What should the nurse consider when having consent forms signed for surgery and procedures on children? a. Only a parent or legal guardian can give consent. b. The person giving consent must be at least 18 years old. c. The risks and benefits of a procedure are part of the consent process. d. A mental age of 7 years or older is required for a consent to be considered ―informed.‖

ANS: C The informed consent must include the nature of the procedure, benefits and risks, and alternatives to the procedure. In special circumstances such as emancipated minors, the consent can be given by someone younger than 18 years without the parent or legal guardian. A mental age of 7 years is too young for consent to be informed.

17. A nurse is preparing to complete an admission assessment on a 2-year-old child who is sitting on the parent's lap. Which technique should the nurse implement to complete the physical examination? a. Ask the parent to place the child in the hospital crib. b. Take the child and parent to the examination room. c. Perform the examination while the child is on the parent's lap. d. Ask the child to stand by the parent while completing the examination.

ANS: C The nurse should complete the examination while the child is on the parent's lap. For young children, particularly infants and toddlers, preserving parent-child contact is the best means of decreasing the need for or stress of restraint. The entire physical examination can be done in a parent's lap with the parent hugging the child for procedures such as an otoscopic examination. Placing the child in the crib, taking the child to the examination room, or asking the child to stand by the parent would separate the child from the parent and cause anxiety.

20. The nurse needs to take a blood pressure on the child playing in the playroom. Which is the appropriate procedure for obtaining the blood pressure? a. Take the blood pressure in the playroom. b. Ask the child to come to the exam room to obtain the blood pressure. c. Ask the child to return to his or her room for the blood pressure, then escort the child back to the playroom. d. Document that the blood pressure was not obtained because the child was in the playroom.

ANS: C The playroom is a safe haven for children, free from medical or nursing procedures. The child can be returned to his or her room for the blood pressure and then escorted back to the playroom. The examination room is reserved for painful procedures that should not be performed in the child's hospital bed. Documenting that the blood pressure was not obtained because the child was in the playroom is inappropriate.

13. Frequent urine testing for specific gravity and glucose are required on a 6-month-old infant. How should the nurse collect small amounts of urine for these tests? a. Apply a urine-collection bag to the perineal area. b. Tape a small medicine cup to the inside of the diaper. c. Aspirate urine from cotton balls inside the diaper with a syringe. d. Aspirate urine from a superabsorbent disposable diaper with a syringe.

ANS: C To obtain small amounts of urine, use a syringe without a needle to aspirate urine directly from the diaper. If diapers with absorbent material are used, place a small gauze dressing or cotton balls inside the diaper to collect the urine, and aspirate the urine with a syringe. For frequent urine sampling, the collection bag would be too irritating to the child's skin. Taping a small medicine cup to the inside of the diaper is not feasible; the urine will spill from the cup. Diapers with superabsorbent gels absorb the urine, so there is nothing to aspirate.

16. A 14-year-old boy is being admitted to the hospital for an appendectomy. Which roommate should the nurse assign with this patient? a. A 4-year-old boy who is first day postappendectomy surgery b. A 6-year-old boy with pneumonia c. A 15-year-old boy admitted with a vaso-occlusive sickle cell crisis d. A 12-year-old boy with cellulitis

ANS: C When a child is admitted, nurses follow several fairly universal admission procedures. The minimum considerations for room assignment are age, sex, and nature of the illness. Age-grouping is especially important for adolescents. The 14-year-old boy being admitted to the unit after appendectomy surgery should be placed with a noninfectious child of the same sex and age. The 15-year-old child with sickle cell is the best choice. The 4-year-old boy who is postappendectomy is too young, and the child with pneumonia is too young and possibly has an infectious process. The 12-year-old boy with cellulitis is the right age, but he has an infection (cellulitis).

32. What procedure is recommended to facilitate a heelstick on an ill neonate to obtain a blood sample? a. Apply cool, moist compresses. b. Apply a tourniquet to the ankle. c. Elevate the foot for 5 minutes. d. Wrap foot in a warm washcloth.

ANS: D Before the blood sample is taken, the heel is heated with warm moist compresses for 5 to 10 minutes to dilate the blood vessels in the area. Cooling causes vasoconstriction, making blood collection more difficult. A tourniquet is used to constrict superficial veins. It will have an insignificant effect on capillaries. Elevating the foot will decrease the blood in the foot available for collection.

23. It is important to make certain that sensory connectors and oximeters are compatible since wiring that is incompatible increases the risk of which injury? a. Hyperthermia b. Electrocution c. Pressure necrosis d. Burns under sensors

ANS: D It is important to make certain that sensor connectors and oximeters are compatible. Wiring that is incompatible can generate considerable heat at the tip of the sensor, causing secondand third-degree burns under the sensor. Incompatibility would cause a local irritation or burn, not hyperthermia. A low voltage is used, which should not present risk of electrocution. Pressure necrosis can occur from the sensor being attached too tightly, but this is not a problem of incompatibility.

36. When administering a gavage feeding to a school-age child, the nurse should implement what intervention to assure safety? a. Lubricate the tip of the feeding tube with Vaseline to facilitate passage. b. Check the placement of the tube by inserting 20 mL of sterile water. c. Administer feedings over 5 to 10 minutes. d. Position the child on the right side after administering the feeding.

ANS: D Position the child with the head elevated about 30 degrees and on the right side or abdomen for at least 1 hour. This is in the same manner as after any infant feeding to minimize the possibility of regurgitation and aspiration. Insert a tube that has been lubricated with sterile water or water-soluble lubricant. With a syringe, inject a small amount of air into the tube, while simultaneously listening with a stethoscope over the stomach area. Feedings should be administered via gravity flow and take from 15 to 30 minutes to complete.

8. What is an appropriate intervention to encourage food and fluid intake in a hospitalized child? a. Force child to eat and drink to combat caloric losses. b. Discourage participation in noneating activities until caloric intake is sufficient. c. Administer large quantities of flavored fluids at frequent intervals and during meals. d. Give high-quality foods and snacks whenever child expresses hunger.

ANS: D Small, frequent meals and nutritious snacks should be provided for the child. Favorite foods such as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fruit yogurt, cheese, pizza, macaroni, and cheese should be available. Forcing a child to eat only meets with rebellion and reinforces the behavior as a control mechanism. Large quantities of fluid may decrease the child's hunger and further inhibit food intake.

22. When caring for a child with an intravenous infusion, the nurse should include which intervention in the plan of care? a. Using a macrodropper to facilitate reaching the prescribed flow rate b. Avoid restraining the child to prevent undue emotional stress c. Changing the insertion site every 24 hours d. Observing the insertion site frequently for signs of infiltration

ANS: D The nursing responsibility for intravenous therapy is to calculate the amount to be infused in a given length of time, set the infusion rate, and monitor the apparatus frequently, at least every 1 to 2 hours, to make certain that the desired rate is maintained, the integrity of the system remains intact, the site remains intact (free of redness, edema, infiltration, or irritation), and the infusion does not stop. A minidropper (60 drops/mL) is the recommended intravenous tubing in pediatrics. The intravenous site should be protected. This may require soft restraints on the child. Insertion sites do not need to be changed every 24 hours unless a problem is found with the site. Frequent change exposes the child to significant trauma.

34. Which is the preferred site for intramuscular injections in infants? a. Deltoid b. Dorsogluteal c. Rectus femoris d. Vastus lateralis

ANS: D The preferred site for infants is the vastus lateralis. The deltoid and dorsogluteal sites are used for older children and adults. The rectus femoris is not a recommended site.

10. The nurse is doing a prehospitalization orientation for a 7 year old, who is scheduled for cardiac surgery. As part of the preparation, the nurse explains that he/she will not be able to talk until the endotracheal tube is removed. What is the assessment of this explanation? a. It is unnecessary. b. It is the surgeon's responsibility. c. It is too stressful for a young child. d. It is an appropriate part of the child's preparation.

ANS: D This is a necessary part of preoperative preparation that will help reduce the anxiety associated with surgery. If the child wakes and is not prepared for the inability to speak, she will be even more anxious. It is a joint responsibility of nursing, medical staff, and child life personnel. This is a necessary component of preparation that will help reduce the anxiety associated with surgery.

3. Because of their striving for independence and productivity, which age-group of children is particularly vulnerable to events that may lessen their feeling of control and power? a. Infants b. Toddlers c. Preschoolers d. School-age children

ANS: D When a child is hospitalized, the altered family role, physical disability, loss of peer acceptance, lack of productivity, and inability to cope with stress usurp individual power and identity. This is especially detrimental to school-age children, who are striving for independence and productivity and are now experiencing events that lessen their control and power. Infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, although affected by loss of power are not as significantly affected as are school-age children.

1. The nurse is preparing for the admission of an infant who will have several procedures performed. In which situation is informed consent required? (Select all that apply.) a. Catheterized urine collection b. Intravenous (IV) line insertion c. Oxygen administration d. Lumbar puncture e. Bone marrow aspiration

ANS: D, E Informed consent is required for invasive procedures that involve risk to a child, such as a lumbar puncture, chest tube insertion, and bone marrow aspirations. Catheterized urine collection, IV line insertion, and oxygen administration all fall under this category.