chapter 29

An adolescent with a new piercing comes to the health center at the school. The client reports feeling hot. Which action will the nurse complete first?

Assess the client for signs of infection.

The parents of a 16-year-old male are worried about recent changes in his behavior, ignoring his schoolwork and sports, and spending almost all of his free time interacting with his girlfriend. Which suggestion should the nurse point out would best address this situation?

He has developed his own identity by now; being able to establish close relationships with girls is important preparation for all of his adult relationships. They should honor his need to be with, or talk to, his girlfriend as long as he has completed his schoolwork for the day.

While caring for a 16-year-old client expected to be hospitalized for several months, the nurse will perform which action to assist the client in meeting the current stage of psychosocial development?

Permit peers to visit during open visitation hours.

The nurse is caring for adolescent athlete who is being seen for a fractured arm. The parent reports that this is the third sports injury in the past 2 years. The parent asks the nurse why the adolescent who is healthy overall continues to have injuries. How should the nurse respond?

The bones, joints and tendons of adolescents are vulnerable to injury due to their rapid state of growth

The nurse is performing an assessment on a 12-year-old boy. Which finding is consistent with the child's age?

curling pubic hair

The nurse is assessing an adolescent's risk for harm from guns being present in the home. What question would be best to ask during the assessment?

"Are the guns in your home locked in a safe?"

A high school athlete comes to the emergency department with hypertension, aggressiveness, and psychosis. What question would be important for the nurse to ask the client?

"Do you take anabolic steroids?"

A 16-year-old adolescent is talking with the nurse at a local health clinic about skin care. Which comments by the teen does the nurse determine require additional conversation? Select all that apply.

"I only tan before going on spring break to get a base tan so I won't burn." "My favorite time of day to be outside is the middle of the day, around noon." "The more exposure and burns I get now will toughen my skin so I won't get skin cancer when I'm older."

A 15-year-old female adolescent tells the nurse she would like to get a tattoo. What response by the nurse is most appropriate?

"Tattoos are invasive and there is the potential for disease with their application."

The parent of a black adolescent voices concern to the nurse because the daughter, "has gotten her period before all of her friends." How should the nurse respond?

"That must be difficult, but on average black girls start their period earlier than other ethnicities."

he parents are concerned their 14-year-old child is always eating. The child weighs 54 kg and is 65 inches (165 cm) tall. What is the best explanation the nurse can give the parents?

"The calories help his body increase muscle mass."

The nurse is meeting with a group of caregivers of adolescents and discussing sex and sexuality, including how to discuss these issues with their children. Which comment should the nurse prioritize with this group of caregivers?

Being honest and straightforward with teenagers will encourage them to ask about subjects like sexuality.

For reasons of anticipatory guidance, nurses should be aware that menarche appears earlier in some ethnic groups than others. In which ethnic group is menarche likely to appear first?

Black

A 17-year-old adolescent chats excitedly with the nurse about plans for college and a career. The adolescent states having checked out every college in the region and determined which one is the best fit and would give the adolescent the best career options. The nurse recognizes which developmental aspect in this client?

Formal operational thought

The nurse is talking with parents of a depressed 16-year-old boy. Which question is of the mostimportance?

Is there a gun in your home?

An adolescent asks the nurse what the term "puberty" means. What is the nurse's best response?

It is the age at which one first becomes capable of sexual reproduction."

The nurse is meeting with a group of caregivers of adolescents. Which example should the nurse point out is most effective for the caregiver to support the adolescent?

Let them choose their hairstyle, even though it may not look the best for them.

The nurse is caring for a 15-year-old male client. The nurse notes the client's height is 47.5 in (120.65 cm) and weight is 112 lb (50.8 kg). Which action will the nurse take next?

Notify the primary health care provider

An 18-year-old adolescent reveals the presence of nipple ring and is looking to get a tattoo in the next few months. What is the most important thing that the nurse can teach the adolescent at this time?

Tattooing carries risks such as infection, disease, and nerve damage.

The nurse is admitting a 15-year-old adolescent to the hospital pediatric unit. What does the nurse recognize as a priority for this adolescent?

The adolescent's need for privacy should be respected.

A 15-year-old client's parent comments on the fact that the adolescent seems to always choose the opposite of what everyone else wants and that mood swings are a common occurrence. What statement shows the nurse that the client's parent understands these changes?

This is common for this age group and it will get better with time."

While assessing a 17-year-old client, the nurse notes the following: blood pressure 152/96 mm Hg, pulse 124 beats/minute, respirations 20 breaths/minute, temperature 98.8°F (37.1°C), dilated pupils, euphoric state, and pressured speech. Which prescription will the nurse anticipate firstfrom the primary health care provider?

Urine drug screen

A 15-year-old adolescent is seen at a health care facility for facial acne. When counseling the teen, the nurse would teach that the basic cause of acne is:

activation of androgen hormones.

The school nurse is assessing a 16-year-old girl who was removed from class because of disruptive behavior. She arrives in the nurse's office with dilated pupils and is talking rapidly. Which drug might she be using?

amphetamines

The adolescent comes to the clinic seeking information about sexuality concerns. The clinic nurse assures the adolescent that confidentiality and privacy will be maintained unless a life-threatening situation occurs. Maintaining confidentiality demonstrates which nursing goal? Select all that apply.

development of a trusting relationship compliance with existing laws an environment where adolescents can be truthful

The school nurse is preparing health promotion presentations regarding unintentional injuries for a high school health fair. On which topic should the nurse place as the priority when preparing the presentation?

motor vehicle safety

The school nurse is assessing a 15-year-old female client. The client states, "I just want to be pretty and to look like everyone else." Which response by the nurse is appropriate?

"You seem concerned. Let's talk about your feelings."

The nurse is caring for an 11-year-old girl. The girl's mother reports that the girl does not want to play team sports like soccer or volleyball anymore. Her daughter insists she does not enjoy them. The mother is concerned that her daughter will not get enough physical activity and asks the nurse for guidance. How should the nurse respond?

"Give her some options; it's important to find something she enjoys."

The nurse is caring for a 13-year-old girl. The child has been identified as overweight with no underlying psychological or secondary causes. The nurse is reviewing the child's weight-loss progress and nutrition at a follow-up visit. What finding indicates a need for further discussion and teaching?

"Her goal is to be a size smaller by our vacation in two weeks."

The nurse is preparing to participate in a community discussion on the needs of the adolescents in the local school. The nurse should point out which goal is the primary concern for these young individuals as the committee makes plans?

Teens are busy developing their own personal identity