PEDS: Nursing Care of Children 1

A nurse is caring for a toddler and is preparing to administer 0.9% sodium chloride 100 mL IV to infuse over 4 hr. The drop factor of the manual IV tubing is 60 gtt/mL. The nurse should set the manual IV infusion to deliver how many gtt/min? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.) ________ gtt

25 gtt

A nurse on a pediatric unit is admitting a 4-year-old child. Which of the following toys should the nurse plan to provide for the child to engage in independent play? A. Brightly colored mobile B. Plastic stethoscope C. Small piece jigsaw puzzle D. A book of short stories

B. Plastic stethoscope Preschool play centers on imitative activities. Providing a stethoscope allows the child an opportunity for therapeutic play. Imitating health care personnel helps to ease the fear of unfamiliar equipment.

A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old child who is 1 day postoperative following a tonsillectomy. Which of the following methods should the nurse use to determine if the child is experiencing pain? A. Ask the parents. B. Use the FACES scale. C. Use the numeric rating scale. D. Check the child's temperature.

B. Use the FACES scale. Pain is a subjective experience even for a 3-year-old child. The FACES scale can be used to accurately determine the presence of pain in children as young as 3 years of age.

A nurse is teaching the parent of a toddler about home safety. Which of the following statements by the parent indicates an understanding of the teaching? A. "I lock my medications in the medicine cabinet." B. "I keep my child's crib mattress at the highest level." C. "I turn pot handles to the side of my stove while cooking." D. "I will give my child syrup of ipecac if she swallows something poisonous."

A. "I lock my medications in the medicine cabinet." Locking up medications and other potential poisons prevents access. Toddlers have improved gross and fine motor skills that allow for further exploration of the environment and possible access to hazardous substances.

A nurse is caring for a child who has bacterial endocarditis. The child is scheduled to receive moderate term antibiotic therapy and requires a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC). Which of the following statements should the nurse include when teaching the child's parent? A. "The PICC line will last several weeks with proper care." B. "The public health nurse will rotate the insertion site every 3 days." C. "You will need to make certain the arm board is in place at all times." D. "Your child will go to the operating room to have the line placed."

A. "The PICC line will last several weeks with proper care." PICC lines are the preferred venous access device for short to moderate term IV therapy. They can remain in place for long periods with proper care.

A nurse is providing teaching to the parents of a 4-year-old child about fine motor development. Which of the following tasks should the nurse include in the teaching as an expected finding for this age group? A. Copies a circle B. Cuts foods using a table knife C. Begins writing in cursive D. Prints first and last name clearly

A. Copies a circle The nurse should explain that copying a circle is a skill achieved by the age of 4 years.

A nurse is teaching the parent of an infant about food allergens. Which of the following foods should the nurse include as being the most common food allergy in children? A. Cow's milk B. Wheat bread C. Corn syrup D. Eggs

A. Cow's milk According to evidence-based practice, the nurse should instruct the parent that cow's milk is the most common food allergy in children. Some children are sensitive to the protein, called casein, found in cow's milk. They have difficulty metabolizing the casein and are, therefore, allergic to cow's milk.

A nurse providing teaching about promoting sleep with the parent of a 3-year-old toddler. Which of the following information should the nurse include? A. Follow a nightly routine and established bedtime. B. Encourage active play prior to bedtime. C. Let the child remain awake until tired enough to go to sleep. D. Reward the child with a food treat just prior to sleep if the child goes to bed on time.

A. Follow a nightly routine and established bedtime. Preschool-age children test limits. Consistency in approach to bedtime is very important. Bedtime is more likely to be pleasant for everyone if a routine is established and followed every night.

A nurse at a pediatric clinic is assessing a 5-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider? A. Head lags when pulled from a lying to a sitting position B. Absence of startle and crawl reflexes C. Inability to pick up a rattle after dropping it D. Rolls from back to side

A. Head lags when pulled from a lying to a sitting position At the age of 5 months, the infant should have no head lag when pulled to a sitting position; therefore, the nurse should report this finding to the provider.

A nurse is assessing a 12-month-old male infant's vital signs during a well-child visit. The infant is in the 90th percentile of height. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider? A. Heart rate 175/min B. Respiratory rate 26/min C. Blood pressure 88/40 mm Hg D. Temperature 37.6° C (99.7° F)

A. Heart rate 175/min A heart rate of 175/min is above the expected reference range for a 12-month-old infant; therefore, the nurse should report this finding to the provider.

A nurse is planning care for a 10-month-old infant who has suspected failure to thrive (FTT). Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care? (Select all that apply.) A. Observe the parents' actions when feeding the child. B. Maintain a detailed record of food and fluid intake. C. Follow the child's cues as to when food and fluids are provided. D. Sit beside the child's high chair when feeding the child. E. Play music videos during scheduled meal times.

A. Observe the parents' actions when feeding the child. B. Maintain a detailed record of food and fluid intake. Inappropriate feeding techniques and meal patterns provided by parents can contribute to a child's growth failure. A nutritional goal for the child who has suspected FTT is to correct nutritional deficiencies, which can be identified by recording all food and fluid intake.

A nurse is assessing a 6-year-old child at a well-child visit. Which of the following findings requires further assessment by the nurse? A. Presence of sparse, fine pubic hair B. Decreased head circumference compared to full height C. Increased leg length related to height D. Presence of a loose, central incisor

A. Presence of sparse, fine pubic hair The development of sexual characteristics prior to the age of 9 years in boys, and 8 years in girls, is an indication of precocious puberty and requires further evaluation.

A nurse is caring for a preschool-age child who is dying. Which of the following findings is an age-appropriate reaction to death by the child? (Select all that apply.) A. The child views death as similar to sleep. B. The child is interested in what happens to his body after death. C. The child recognizes that death is permanent. D. The child believes his thoughts can cause death. E. The child thinks death is a punishment.

A. The child views death as similar to sleep D. The child believes his thoughts can cause death. E. The child thinks death is a punishment. Preschool-age children believe that their thoughts and wishes can make things happen since they are egocentric. This is one reason why the death of a family member can be very difficult for a child at this age. Preschool-age children sometimes believe that death is the result of guilt or punishment due to something they have done, said, or thought.

A nurse is planning to collect a specimen from a male infant using a urine collection bag. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? A. Wash and dry the infant's genitalia and perineum thoroughly. B. Apply a small coating of water-soluble lubricant to the skin of the infant's perineal area. C. Avoid placing the scrotum inside the collection bag. D. Wait several hours after positioning the device before checking it.

A. Wash and dry the infant's genitalia and perineum thoroughly. This is the method used to obtain a routine urine specimen of any sort in a child who is not toilet trained. The skin should be washed and dried to promote application of the adhesive of the collection device.

A nurse is performing a physical assessment on a 6-month-old infant. Which of the following reflexes should the nurse expect to find? A. Stepping B. Babinski C. Extrusion D. Moro

B. Baninski The Babinski reflex, which is elicited by stroking the bottom of the foot and causing the toes to fan and the big toe to dorsiflex, should be present until the age of 1 year. Persistence of neonatal reflexes might indicate neurological deficits.

A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a 2-year-old child who was found by his parents crying and holding a container of toilet bowl cleaner. The child's lips are edematous and inflamed, and he is drooling. Which of the following is the priority action by the nurse? A. Remove the child's contaminated clothing. B. Check the child's respiratory status. C. Administer an antidote to the child. D. Establish IV access for the child.

B. Check the child's respiratory status. The nurse should apply the ABC priority-setting framework when answering this item. This framework emphasizes the basic core of human functioning: having an open airway, being able to breathe in adequate amounts of oxygen, and circulating oxygen to the body's organs via the blood. An alteration in any of these can indicate a threat to life, and is therefore the nurse's priority concern. When applying the ABC priority setting framework, airway is always the highest priority because the airway must be clear and open for oxygen exchange to occur. Breathing is the second highest priority in the ABC priority setting framework because adequate ventilatory effort is essential in order for oxygen exchange to occur. Circulation is the third highest priority in the ABC priority setting framework because delivery of oxygen to critical organs only occurs if the heart and blood vessels are capable of efficiently carrying oxygen to them. The nurse observes that the child's lips are edematous and inflamed and that he is drooling. These findings indicate that the child might have swelling of the oral cavity and pharynx, which can result in a compromised airway.

A nurse is developing a plan of care for a school-age child who underwent a surgical procedure that resulted in a temporary loss of vision. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care? A. Assign an assistive personnel to feed the child. B. Explain sounds the child is hearing. C. Have the child use a cane when ambulating. D. Rotate nurses caring for the child.

B. Explain sounds the child is hearing. The noises in a facility can be frightening to a child who is experiencing a sensory loss. It is important to explain these noises to allay the child's fears.

A nurse is preparing to administer a liquid medication to an infant. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? A. Administer the medication while the infant is supine. B. Give the medication at the side of the infant's mouth. C. Add the medication to a full bottle of the infant's formula. D. Administer the medication slowly while holding the nares closed.

B. Give the medication at the side of the infant's mouth. When administering medications to an infant, a needleless oral syringe or medicine dropper is placed in the side of the mouth (buccal cavity alongside the tongue) to prevent gagging and aspiration.

A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which of the following findings indicates that the infant has a developmental delay? A. Creeps on hands and knees B. Inability to vocalize vowel sounds C. Uses crude pincer grasp D. Stands by holding onto support

B. Inability to vocalize vowel sounds The infant should begin vocalizing vowel sounds at the age of 7 months, and by the age of 10 months, be able to say at least one word.

A nurse is caring for an 18-year-old adolescent who is up-to-date on immunizations and is planning to attend college. The nurse should inform the client that he should receive which of the following immunizations prior to moving into a campus dormitory? A. Pneumococcal polysaccharide B. Meningococcal polysaccharide C. Rotavirus D. Herpes zoster

B. Meningococcal polysaccharide The meningococcal polysaccharide immunization is used to prevent infection by certain groups of meningococcal bacteria. Meningococcal infection can cause life-threatening illnesses, such as meningococcal meningitis, which affects the brain, and meningococcemia, which affects the blood. Both of these conditions can be fatal. College freshmen, particularly those who live in dormitories, are at an increased risk for meningococcal disease relative to other persons their age. Therefore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a recommendation that all incoming college students receive the meningococcal immunization.

A nurse in a pediatric clinic is assessing a toddler at a well-child visit. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? A. Perform the assessment in a head to toe sequence. B. Minimize physical contact with the child initially. C. Explain procedures using medical terminology. D. Stop the assessment if the child becomes uncooperative.

B. Minimize physical contact with the child initially. The nurse should initially minimize physical contact with the toddler, and then progress from the least traumatic to the most traumatic procedures.

A nurse is providing education to the parent of a toddler who is about to receive her first dose of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) immunization. Which of the following statements by the parent indicates an understanding of the teaching? A. "I am not going to let my child play with other children for 2 days." B. "I will need to return in 2 weeks for my child to receive the varicella immunization." C. "I can give my child acetaminophen for discomfort associated with the immunization." D. "My child might have some discharge from the injection site."

C. "I can give my child acetaminophen for discomfort associated with the immunization." Parents can give acetaminophen for minor discomforts such as low-grade fever and local tenderness resulting from the administration of the immunization.

A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a 12-year-old child who has ingested bleach. Which of the following statements by the nurse indicates an understanding of this ingestion? A. "The absence of oral burns excludes the possibility of esophageal burns." B. "Treatment focuses on neutralization of the chemical." C. "Injury by a corrosive liquid is more extensive than by a corrosive solid." D. "Immediate administration of activated charcoal is warranted."

C. "Injury by a corrosive liquid is more extensive than by a corrosive solid." The coating action of liquids permits larger areas of contact with tissues and results in more extensive injury.

A nurse is assessing a 30-month-old toddler during a well-child visit. Which of the following findings requires further assessment by the nurse? A. Primary dentition is complete B. Unable to hop on one foot C. Birth weight is tripled D. Able to state first and last name

C. Birth weight is tripled The birth weight should triple by 12 months of age. By 30 months of age, the birth weight should be quadrupled.

A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance about accidental ingestion of a toxic substance to the parents of a toddler. The nurse should instruct the parents to take which of the following actions first if the child ingests a hazardous substance? A. Give the toddler milk. B. Go to an emergency department. C. Call the poison control center. D. Induce vomiting.

C. Call the poison control center. According to evidence-based practice, the nurse should instruct the parents to first call the poison control center, which will then identify what further actions the parents should take.

A nurse is preparing to administer recommended immunizations to a 2-month-old infant. Which of the following immunizations should the nurse plan to administer? A. Human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis A B. Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (TDaP) C. Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) and inactivated polio virus (IPV) D. Varicella (VAR) and live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV)

C. Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) and inactivated polio virus (IPV) The recommended immunizations for a 2-month-old infant include Hib and IPV. The Hib immunization series consists of 3 to 4 doses, depending on the immunization used, and at a minimum is administered at the ages of 2 months, 4 months, and 12 to 15 months. The IPV immunization series consists of 4 doses and is administered at the ages of 2 months, 4 months, 6 to 18 months, and 4 to 6 years.

A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant at a well-child visit. Which of the following findings indicates the need for further assessment? A. Grabs feet and pulls them to her mouth B. Posterior fontanel is closed C. Legs remain crossed and extended when supine D. Birth weight has doubled

C. Legs remain crossed and extended when supine Legs crossed and extended when supine is an unexpected finding and requires further assessment. At 6 months of age, the legs flex at the knees when the infant is supine. Crossed and extended legs when supine is a finding associated with cerebral palsy.

A nurse on a pediatric unit is reviewing the health record of a client who is demonstrating increasing levels of stress after admission. The nurse should identify which of the following findings as a risk factor for a stress-related reaction to hospitalization? A. Age 10 B. First hospitalization C. Male gender D. Calm, quiet demeanor

C. Male gender Male clients are at increased risk for hospitalization-related stress compared to female clients.

A nurse is observing a mother who is playing peek-a-boo with her 8-month-old child. The mother asks if this game has any developmental significance. The nurse should inform the mother that peek-a-boo helps develop which of the following concepts in the child? A. Hand-eye coordination B. Sense of trust C. Object permanence D. Egocentrism

C. Object permanence Object permanence refers to the cognitive skill of knowing an object still exists even when it is out of sight. In discovering a hidden object while playing peek-a-boo, the infant experiences validation of this concept.

A nurse is teaching the parent of an infant about home safety. Which of the following information should the nurse include? (Select all that apply.) A. Use a wheeled infant walker. B. Place soft pillows around the edge of the infant's crib. C. Position the car seat so it is rear-facing. D. Secure a safety gate at the top and bottom of the stairs. E. Maintain the water heater temperature at 49° C (120° F).

C. Position the car seat so it is rear-facing. D. Secure a safety gate at the top and bottom of the stairs. E. Maintain the water heater temperature at 49° C (120° F) Infants and children should remain in the rear-facing position when in a car seat until the age of 2 years or until they reach the recommended height and weight per the manufacturer's guidelines As the infant begins to crawl and becomes more mobile, the risk of falls increases. To prevent a burn injury, the temperature of the water heater should not exceed 49° C (120° F).

A nurse is assessing a 7-year-old child's psychosocial development. Which of the following findings should the nurse recognize as requiring further evaluation? A. The child prefers playmates of the same sex. B. The child is competitive when playing board games. C. The child complains daily about going to school. D. The child enjoys spending time alone.

C. The child complains daily about going to school. Complaining every day about going to school is an unexpected finding for a 7-year-old child. The child is in Erikson's psychosocial development stage of industry vs. inferiority. Children in this stage want to learn and master new concepts. If the child complains daily about going to school, it warrants further evaluation.

A nurse is caring for a 15-month-old toddler who requires droplet precautions. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? A. Have the toddler wear a disposable gown when in the unit's playroom. B. Wear sterile gloves when changing the toddler's diapers. C. Wear a mask when assisting the toddler with meals. D. Ask visitors to wear an N-95 mask when entering the room.

C. Wear a mask when assisting the toddler with meals. The nurse should wear a mask when within 3 to 6 feet of the toddler to prevent the transmission of infections that are spread via large droplet particles expelled in the air.

A nurse is teaching the parent of a 12-month-old infant about nutrition. Which of the following statements by the parent indicates a need for further teaching? A. "I can give my baby 4 ounces of juice to drink each day." B. "I will offer my baby dry cereal and chilled banana slices as snacks." C. "I am introducing my baby to the same foods the family eats." D. "My infant drinks at least 2 quarts of skim milk each day."

D. "My infant drinks at least 2 quarts of skim milk each day." As the infant transitions into toddlerhood, whole milk intake should average 24 to 30 oz per day. Too much milk can affect intake of solid foods and result in iron deficiency anemia. Skim milk is not recommended until after age 2 since it lacks essential fatty acids which are needed for growth and development.

A nurse is teaching a parent of a 12-month old child about development during the toddler years. Which of the following statements should the nurse include? A. "Your child should be referring to himself using the appropriate pronoun by 18 months of age." B. "A toddler's interest in looking at pictures occurs at 20 months of age." C. "A toddler should have daytime control of his bowel and bladder by 24 months of age." D. "Your child should be able to scribble spontaneously using a crayon at the age of 15 months."

D. "Your child should be able to scribble spontaneously using a crayon at the age of 15 months." The nurse should teach the parent that at the age of 15 months, the toddler should be able to scribble spontaneously, and at the age of 18 months, the toddler should be able to make strokes imitatively.

A nurse in an emergency department is caring for an 8-year old who is up-to-date with current immunization recommendations and has a deep puncture injury. Which of the following should the nurse anticipate administering? A. Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine B. A single injection of tetanus immune globulin (TIG) mixed with the pediatric tetanus booster (DT) C. Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine D. Adult tetanus booster (Td)

D. Adult tetanus booster (Td) Td is recommended for wound prophylaxis in children ages 7 years and older. Td is also recommended every 10 years after 18 years of age.

A nurse is caring for a 2-year-old child who has cystic fibrosis. The nurse is planning to take the child to the playroom. Which of the following activities would be appropriate for the child? A. Cutting figures from colored paper B. Drawing stick figures using crayons C. Riding a tricycle D. Building towers of blocks

D. Building towers of blocks Building towers of blocks is an appropriate activity for a 2-year-old child. It promotes fine-motor development, and knocking blocks down provides a means of dealing with the stress of hospitalization.

A nurse in a pediatric clinic is caring for a 3-year-old child who has a blood lead level of 3 mcg/dL. When teaching the toddler's parent about the correlation of nutrition with lead poisoning, which of the following information is appropriate for the nurse to include in the teaching? A. Decrease the child's vitamin C intake until the blood lead level decreases to zero. B. Administer a folic acid supplement to the child each day. C. Give pancreatic enzymes to the child with meals and snacks. D. Ensure the child's dietary intake of calcium and iron is adequate.

D. Ensure the child's dietary intake of calcium and iron is adequate. A child who has an elevated blood lead level should have an adequate intake of calcium and iron to reduce the absorption and effects of the lead. Dietary recommendations should include milk as a good source of calcium.

A nurse is caring for an adolescent who is receiving pain medication via a PCA pump. When the nurse assesses the client's pain at 0800, the client describes the pain as a 3 on a scale of 1 to 10. At 1000, the client describes the pain as a 5. The nurse discovers the client has not pushed the button to deliver medication in the past 2 hr. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? A. Ask the provider to discontinue the PCA so the nurse can administer PRN pain medication. B. Suggest the client's parent push the button for the client if the parent thinks the adolescent is having pain. C. Reevaluate the client in 1 hr since a pain level of 5 is acceptable on a scale of 1 to 10. D. Reinforce teaching with the client about how to push the button to deliver the medication.

D. Reinforce teaching with the client about how to push the button to deliver the medication. The appropriate action at this time is to reinforce client teaching about the PCA. The nurse should remind the client about the availability of the medication, verify that the client knows how to use the equipment, and emphasize the importance of using it regularly to manage pain effectively.

A nurse is planning to implement relaxation strategies with a young child prior to a painful procedure. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? A. Ask the child to hold his breath and then blow it out slowly. B. Ask the child to describe a pleasurable event. C. Bounce the child gently while holding him upright. D. Rock the child in long rhythmic movements.

D. Rock the child in long rhythmic movements. The nurse can implement relaxation strategies by sitting with the child in a well-supported position such as against the chest, and then rocking or swaying back and forth in long, wide movements.

A nurse is assisting a provider during a femoral venipuncture on a toddler. The nurse should place the child in which of the following positions? A. Side-lying B. Semi-recumbent C. Flexed sitting D. Supine

D. Supine The client is placed in the supine position, with the client's legs in a frog position.