Pediatric Success Questions RESPIRATORY

A school-age child has been diagnosed with strep throat. The parent asks the nurse when the child can return to school. Which is the nurse's best response?1. "48 hours after the first documented normal temperature."2. "24 hours after the first dose of antibiotics." 3. "48 hours after the first dose of antibiotics." 4. "24 hours after the first documented normal temperature."

Children with strep throat are no longer contagious 24 hours after initia- tion of antibiotic therapy.

The parent of a 10-month-old male brings the child to the pediatrician's office with URI symptoms and a fever. The parent asks the nurse what can be done at home to improve the child's current condition. Which is the nurse's best response?1. "Give your child small amounts of fluid every hour to prevent dehydration." 2. "Give your child Robitussin at night to reduce his cough and help him sleep." 3. "Give your child a baby aspirin every 4 to 6 hours to help reduce the fever." 4. "Give your child an over-the-counter cold medicine at night."

It is essential that parents ensure that their children remain hydrated during a URI. The best way to accomplish this is by giving small amounts of fluid frequently.Over-the-cou

A pediatric client had a tonsillectomy 24 hours ago. The nurse is reviewing discharge instructions with the parents. The parents tell the nurse that the child is a big eater, and they want to know what foods to give the child for the next 24 hours. What is the nurse's best response? 1. "The child's diet should not be restricted at all."2. "The child's diet should be restricted to clear liquids."3. "The child's diet should be restricted to ice cream and cold liquids." 4. "The child's diet should be restricted to soft foods."

Soft foods are recommended to limit the child's pain and to decrease the risk for bleeding.

A 5-year-old is brought to the ER with a temperature of 99.5° F (37.5°C), a barky cough, stridor, and hoarseness. Which of the following nursing interventions should the nurse prepare for?1. Immediate IV placement. 2. Respiratory treatment of racemic epinephrine.3. A tracheostomy set at the bedside.4. Informing the child's parents about a tonsillectomy.

2. The child has stridor, indicating airway edema, which can be relieved by aerosolized racemic epinephrine.

A pediatric client is admitted in status asthmaticus. The parent reports that the child is currently taking Singulair, albuterol, and Flovent. What is the most important piece of information that the nurse must ask the parent in order to best treat the patient? 1. "What time did your child eat last?"2. "Has your child been exposed to any of the usual asthma triggers?" 3. "When was your child last admitted to the hospital for asthma?"4. "When was your child's last dose of medication?"

The nurse needs to know what med- ication the child had last and when the child took it in order to know howto begin treatment for the current asthmatic condition.

A school-age child is admitted to the hospital for a tonsillectomy. The nurse caring for this patient is assessing the child 8 hours after surgery. During the nurse's assessment, the child's parent tells the nurse that the child is in pain. Which of the following observations should be of most concern to the nurse? 1. The child's heart rate and blood pressure are elevated. 2. The child complains of having a sore throat.3. The child is refusing to eat solid foods.4. The child is swallowing excessively.

Excessive swallowing is a sign thatthe child is swallowing blood. This should be considered a medical emer- gency, and the physician should be contacted immediately. The child is likely bleeding and will need to return to surgery.

A 5-year-old female is diagnosed with pharyngitis. The child is complaining of throat pain. Which of the following statements by the mother indicates that she needs more education regarding the care and treatment of her daughter's throat pain?1. "I will have my daughter gargle with warm saline three times a day." 2. "I will offer my daughter ice chips several times a day."3. "I will give my daughter Tylenol every 4 to 6 hours as needed."4. "I will give my daughter her amoxicillin until all doses of the antibiotic are gone."

Pharyngitis is a self-limiting viral ill- ness that does not require antibiotic therapy. Pharyngitis should be treated with rest and comfort measures, in- cluding Tylenol, throat sprays, cold liquids, and popsicles.

A 6-month-old is diagnosed with an ear infection. The parents report that the child is not sleeping well and is crying frequently. The child also has a moderate amount of yellow drainage coming from the infected ear. This is the parents' first baby. Which of the following nursing objectives is the priority for this family at this time? 1. Educating the parents about signs and symptoms of an ear infection. 2. Providing emotional support for the parents.3. Providing pain relief for the child.4. Promoting the flow of drainage from the ear.

Providing pain relief for the infant is essential. With pain relief, the child will likely stop crying and rest better.

A 7-year-old female with asthma is playing a soccer game in gym class. During the game the child begins to cough, wheeze, and have difficulty catching her breath. The school nurse is called to the soccer field. Which of the following should the nurse administer to provide quick relief? 1. Prednisone. 2. Singulair. 3. Albuterol. 4. Flovent.

Albuterol is the quick-relief bron- chodilator of choice for treating an asthma attack.

There are several children in the ER waiting area who all have asthma. The nurse has only one room left in the ER. Based on the following information, which child should be seen first? A 5-year-old who is speaking in complete sentences, is pink in color, is wheezing bilaterally, and has an oxygen saturation of 93%. A 9-year-old who is quiet, is pale in color, and is wheezing bilaterally with an oxygen saturation of 92%. A 12-month-old who has a mild cry, is pale in color, has diminished breath sounds, and has an oxygen saturation of 93%. A 16-year-old who is speaking in short sentences, is wheezing, is sitting upright, and has an oxygen saturation of 93%.

This child is exhibiting signs of severe asthma. This child should be seen first. The child no longer has wheezes and now has diminished breath signs.

A 3-year-old female is admitted to the ER with drooling, difficulty swallowing, sore throat, and a fever of 39°C (102.2° F). The physician suspects epiglottitis. The parents ask the nurse how the physician will know for sure if their daughter has epiglottitis. Which is the nurse's best response? 1. "A simple blood test will tell us if your daughter has epiglottitis."2. "We will swab your daughter's throat and send it for culture."3. "We will do a lateral neck x-ray of the soft tissue."4. "The diagnosis is made based on your daughter's signs and symptoms."

A lateral neck x-ray is the method used to diagnose epiglottitis definitively. The child is at risk for complete airway obstruction and should always be ac- companied by a nurse to the x-ray department.

The parent of an 18-year-old with CF is excited about the possibility of the child receiving a double lung transplant. What should the parent understand? The transplant will cure the child of CF and allow the child to lead a long and healthy life. The transplant will not cure the child of CF but will allow the child to have a longer life. The transplant will help to reverse the multisystem damage that has already been caused by CF. The transplant will be the child's only chance at surviving long enough to graduate college.

A lung transplant does not cure CF, but it does offer the patient an opportunity to live a longer life. The concerns are that, after the lung transplant, the child is at risk for rejection of the new organ and for development of secondary infec- tions because of the immunosuppressive therapy.

A 3-year-old female is admitted to the hospital with asthma. The nurse is trying to work with the child on breathing exercises to increase her expiratory phase. What should the nurse have the child do?1. Use an incentive spirometer. 2. Breathe into a paper bag. 3. Blow a pinwheel.4. Take several deep breaths.

Blowing a pinwheel is an excellent means of increasing a child's expira- tory phase. Play is an effective means of engaging a child in therapeutic activities. Blowing bubbles is another method to increase the child's expiratory phase.

Which of the following is the highest priority for receiving the flu vaccine? 1. An 18-year-old who is living in a college dormitory.2. A healthy 8-month-old who attends day care.3. A 7-year-old who attends public school. 4. A 3-year-old who is undergoing chemotherapy.

Children between the ages of 6 and23 months are at the highest risk for having complications as a result of the flu. Their immune systems are not so developed, so they are at a higher risk for influenza-related hospitalizations.

Nursing care management of the pediatric client with a diagnosis of mononucleosis should include which of the following?1. Limit the child's visitors to family only.2. Limit the child's activity to bedrest. 3. Limit the child's diet to clear liquids. 4. Limit the child's daily fluid intake.

Children with mononucleosis are more susceptible to secondary infections. Therefore, they should be limited to visitors within the family, especially during the acute phase of illness.

A 3-year-old is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of epiglottitis. The child is in severe distress and needs to be intubated. The mother is crying and tells the nurse that she should have brought her son in yesterday when he said his throat was sore. Which is the nurse's best response? "Children this age rarely get epiglottitis; you should not blame yourself." "It is always better to have your child evaluated at the first sign of illness rather than wait until symptoms worsen." "Epiglottitis is slowly progressive, so early intervention may have decreased the extent of your son's symptoms." "Epiglottitis is rapidly progressive; you could not have predicted that his symptoms would worsen so quickly."

Epiglottitis is rapidly progressive and cannot be predicted.

A 6-month-old is admitted to the hospital with RAD. The nurse is assessing the child. Which of the following physical findings should be of most concern?1. The baby has tachypnea.2. The baby has mild retractions. 3. The baby is wheezing. 4. The baby is grunting.

Grunting is a sign of impending respi- ratory failure and is a very concerning physical finding.

Which of the following statements about the inheritance of CF is most accurate? CF is an autosomal-dominant trait that is passed on from the child's mother. CF is an autosomal-dominant trait that is passed on from the child's father. The child of parents who are both carriers of the gene for CF has a 50% chance of acquiring CF. The child of a mother who has CF and a father who is a carrier of the gene for CF has a 50% chance of acquiring CF.

If the child is born to a mother with CF and a father who is a carrier, the child has a 50% chance of acquiring the dis- ease and a 50% chance of being a carrier of the disease.

The nurse caring for a female pediatric client with CF sends a stool for analysis. The results show an excessive amount of azotorrhea and steatorrhea. What does the nurse realize about the laboratory values?1. They reflect that the patient is not compliant with taking her vitamins. 2. They reflect that the patient is not compliant with taking her enzymes. 3. They reflect that the patient is eating too many foods high in fat.4. They reflect that the patient is eating too many foods high in fiber.

If the patient were not taking her en- zymes, the result would be a large amount of undigested food, azotorrhea, and steatorrhea in the stool. CF patients must take digestive enzymes with all meals and snacks. Pancreatic ducts become clogged with thick mucus that blocks the flow of digestive enzymes from the pancreas to the duodenum. Therefore, patients must take digestive enzymes to aid in absorption of nutri- ents. Often, teens are noncompliant with their medication regimen because they want to be like their peers.

The parents of a 6-year-old who has a new diagnosis of asthma asks the nurse what to do to make their home a more allergy-free environment for the child. Which is the nurse's best response?1. "Use a humidifier in your child's room." 2. "Have your carpet cleaned chemically once a month." 3. "Wash household pets weekly."4. "Avoid purchasing upholstered furniture."

Leather furniture is recommended rather than upholstered furniture. Upholstered furniture can harbor large amounts of dust, whereas leather furniture may be wiped off regularly with a damp cloth.

A pediatric client is seen in the ER with a nonproductive cough, clear nasal drainage, and congestion. The child is diagnosed with nasopharyngitis. What information should the nurse include in the discharge instructions?1. Inform the parents to complete the entire prescription of antibiotics. 2. Recommend that the parents avoid sending the child to day care.3. Educate the parents on comfort measures for the child.4. Instruct the parents to restrict the child to clear liquids for 24 hours.

Nursing care for nasopharyngitis is primarily supportive. Keeping the child comfortable during the course of the illness is all the parents can do. Nasal congestion can be relieved using normal saline drops and a bulb suction. Tylenol can also be givenfor discomfort or a mild fever.

The parent of a 10-month-old with CF asks the nurse how to meet the child's increased nutritional needs. Which is the nurse's best suggestion? "You may need to increase the number of fresh fruits and vegetables you give your child each day." "You may need to advance your child's diet to whole cow's milk because it is higher in fat than formula." "You may need to change your child to a higher-calorie formula." "You may need to increase your child's carbohydrate intake each day."

Often infants with CF need to have a higher-calorie formula to meet their nutritional needs. Infants may also be placed on hydrolysate formulas that con- tain added medium-chain triglycerides.

A 6-year-old presents to the ER with respiratory distress and stridor. The child is diagnosed with RSV. The parent asks the child's nurse how the child will be treated. Which is the nurse's best response?1. "We will treat your child with intravenous antibiotics." 2. "We will treat your child with intravenous steroids."3. "We will treat your child with nebulized racemic epinephrine."4. "We will treat your child with alternating doses of Tylenol and Motrin."

Racemic epinephrine promotes mucosal vasoconstriction.

The nurse is caring for a 22-month-old male who has had repeated bouts of otitis media. The nurse is educating the parents about otitis media. Which of the following statements from the parents indicates they need additional teaching? "If I quit smoking, my child may have less chance of getting an ear infection." "As my child gets older, he should have fewer ear infections, because his immune system will be more developed." "My child will have fewer ear infections if he has his tonsils removed." "My child may need a speech evaluation."

Removing children's tonsils may not have any effect on their ear infection. Children who have repeated bouts of tonsillitis can have ear infections sec- ondary to the tonsillitis, but there is no indication in this question that the child has a problem with tonsillitis.

An 8-month-old male twin is in the hospital with RSV. The nurse educated the parent on how to prevent the healthy twin at home from contracting RSV. Which statement indicates the parent needs further teaching? "I should make sure that both my children receive Synagis injections for the remainder of this year." "I should be sure to keep my infected son away from his brother until he has recovered." "I should insist that all people who come in contact with my twins thoroughly wash their hands before playing with them." "I should insist that anyone with a respiratory illness avoid contact with my children until the children are well."

Synagis will not help the child who has already contracted the illness. Synagis is an immunization and a method of primary prevention.

A 2-month-old is seen in the pediatrician's office for his 2-month well-child checkup. The nurse is assessing the patient and reports to the physician that the child is exhibiting early signs of respiratory distress. Which of the following would indicate an early sign of distress? 1. The infant is breathing shallowly. 2. The infant has tachypnea.3. The infant has tachycardia.4. The infant has bradycardia.

Tachypnea is an early sign of distress and is often the first sign of respiratory illness in infants.

A pediatric client is admitted to the ER with an acute asthma exacerbation. The nurse tells the parents that blood will have to be drawn for some diagnostic labora- tory studies. Which laboratory result will provide the health-care team with the most important information regarding the child's respiratory status?1. A CBC.2. An ABG.3. A BUN.4. A PTT.

The ABG gives the health-care team valuable information about the child's respiratory status: level of oxygenation, carbon dioxide, and blood pH.

A 2-year-old is admitted to the hospital in respiratory distress. The physician tells the parents that the child probably has RSV. The parents ask the nurse how they will determine if their child has RSV. Which is the nurse's best response? "We will need to do a simple blood test to determine whether your child has RSV." "There is no specific test for RSV. The diagnosis is made based on the child's symptoms." "We will swab your child's nose and send those secretions for testing." "We will have to send a viral culture to an outside lab for testing."

The child is swabbed for nasal secre- tions. The secretions are tested to determine if a child has RSV.

A physician diagnoses a school-age child with strep throat and pharyngitis. The child's parent asks the nurse what treatment the child will need. Which is the nurse's best response? "Your child will be sent home on bedrest and should recover in a few days without any intervention." "Your child will need to have the tonsils removed to prevent future strep infections." "Your child will need oral penicillin for 10 days and should feel better in a few days." "Your child will need to be admitted to the hospital for 5 days of intravenous antibiotics."

The child will need a 10-day course of penicillin to treat the strep infection. It is essential that the nurse always tell the family that, although the child will feel better in a few days, the entire course of antibiotics must be completed.

The parent of a pediatric client calls the ER. The parent reports that the child has had a barky cough for the last 3 days and it always gets worse at night. The parent asks the nurse what to do. Which is the nurse's best response?1. "Take your child outside in the night air for 15 minutes." 2. "Bring your child to the ER immediately."3. "Give your child an over-the-counter cough suppressant." 4. "Give your child warm liquids to soothe the throat."

The night air will help decrease sub- glottic edema, easing the child's respi- ratory effort. The coughing should diminish significantly, and the child should be able to rest comfortably. If the symptoms do not improve after taking the child outside, the parent should have the child

The parents of a 5-week-old have just been told that their child has CF. The mother had a sister who died of CF when she was 19 years of age. The parents are sad and ask the nurse several questions about CF and the current projected life expectancy. What is the nurse's best initial intervention? The nurse should tell the parents that the life expectancy for CF patients has improved significantly in recent years. The nurse should tell the parents that their child might not follow the same course that the mother's sister did. The nurse should listen to the parents and tell them that the physician will come to speak to them about treatment options. The nurse should listen to the parents and be available to them anytime during the day to answer their questions.

The nurse's best intervention is to let the parents express their concerns and fears. The nurse should be available if the parents have any other concerns or questions or if they just need someone with whom to talk.

Which of the following patients is at highest risk for requiring hospitalization as a result of RSV? 1. A 3-year-old with a congenital heart defect.2. A 2-month-old who is a former 32-week preemie. 3. A 4-year-old who is a former 30-week preemie.4. A sixteen-month-old with a tracheostomy.

The younger the child, the greater the risk for developing complications re- lated to RSV. The age and the prema- ture status of this child make the the patient the highest risk.

Which of the following children is in the greatest need of emergency medical treatment? A 6-year-old who has high fever, no spontaneous cough, and frog-like croaking. A 3-year-old who has a barky cough, is afebrile, and has mild intercostal retractions. A 7-year-old who has abrupt onset of moderate respiratory distress, a mild fever, and a barky cough. A 13-year-old who has a high fever, stridor, and purulent secretions.

This child has signs and symptoms of epiglottitis and should receive immedi- ate emergency medical treatment. The patient has no spontaneous cough and has a frog-like croaking because of a significant airway obstruction.

A 2-year-old child is brought to the ER with a high fever, dysphagia, drooling, rapid pulse, and tachypnea. What should the nurse's first action be?1. Prepare for immediate IV placement.2. Prepare for immediate respiratory treatment. 3. Place the child on a stretcher for a thorough physical assessment. 4. Allow the child to sit in the parent's lap while awaiting an x-ray.

This child is exhibiting signs and symptoms of epiglottitis and should be kept as comfortable as possible. The child should be allowed to remain in the parent's lap until a lateral neck film is obtained for a definitive diagnosis.

The parent of a pediatric client who has had frequent ear infections asks the nurse if there is anything that can be done to help the child avoid future ear infections. Which is the nurse's best response?1. "Your child should be put on a daily dose of Singulair." 2. "Your child should be kept away from tobacco smoke."3. "Your child should be kept away from other children with otitis." 4. "Your child should always wear a hat when outside."

Tobacco smoke has been proved to increase the incidence of ear infec- tions. The tobacco smoke damages mucociliary function, prolonging the inflammatory process and impeding drainage through the eustachian tube.

A pediatric client was seen at the pediatrician's office and was diagnosed with viral tonsillitis. The parent asks how to care for the child at home. Which is the nurse's best response?1. "You will need to give your child a prescribed antibiotic for 10 days." 2. "You will need to schedule a follow-up appointment in 2 weeks."3. "You can give your child Tylenol every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain." 4. "You can place warm towels around your child's neck for comfort."

Tylenol is recommended prn for pain relief.

A 2-year-old has just been diagnosed with CF. The parents ask the nurse what early respiratory symptoms they should expect to see in their child. Which is the nurse's best response?1. "You can expect your child to develop a barrel-shaped chest." 2. "You can expect your child to develop a chronic productive cough." 3. "You can expect your child to develop bronchiectasis."4. "You can expect your child to develop wheezing respirations."

Wheezing respirations and a dry non- productive cough are common early symptoms in CF.

A 2-year-old is diagnosed with asthma. The parents are big sports fans and want their child to play sports. The parents ask the nurse what impact asthma will have on the child's future in sports. Which is the nurse's best response? "As long as your child takes prescribed asthma medication, the child will be fine." "The earlier a child is diagnosed with asthma, the more significant the symptoms." "The earlier a child is diagnosed with asthma, the better the chance the child has of growing out of the disease." "Your child should avoid playing contact sports and sports that require a lot of running."

When a child is diagnosed with asthma at an early age, the child is more likely to have significant symptoms on aging.

A 2-month-old is diagnosed with otitis. The parent asks the nurse if the otitis will have any long-term effects for the child. Understanding the complications that can occur with otitis, which is the nurse's best response?1. "The child could suffer hearing loss." 2. "The child could suffer some speech delays."3. "The child could suffer recurrent ear infections." 4. "The child could require ear tubes."

When children acquire an ear infection at such a young age, there is an in- creased risk of recurrent infections.

What does the therapeutic management of CF patients include? Select all that apply. 1. Providing a high-protein, high-calorie diet.2. Providing a high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet.3. Encouraging exercise. 4. Minimizing pulmonary complication. 5. Encouraging medication compliance.

1, 3, 4, 5.1. Children with CF have difficulty ab- sorbing nutrients because of the block- age of the pancreatic duct. Pancreatic enzymes cannot reach the duodenum to aid in digestion of food. These chil- dren often require up to 150% of the caloric intake of their peers. The nutri- tional recommendation for CF patients is high-calorie and high-protein. 2. A high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet is not recommended for adequate nutrition. 3. Exercise is effective in helping CF patients clear secretions. 4. Minimizing pulmonary complications is essential to a better outcome for CF patients. Compliance with CPT, nebulizer treatments, and medications are all components of minimizing pulmonary complications. 5. Medication compliance is a necessary part of maintaining pulmonary and gastrointestinal function.

The parent of a pediatric client with asthma is talking to the nurse about administer- ing the child's albuterol inhaler. Which statement by the parent leads the nurse to believe that the parent needs further education on how to administer the medication? "I should administer two quick puffs of the albuterol inhaler using a spacer." "I should always use a spacer when administering the albuterol inhaler." "I should be sure that my child is in an upright position when administering the inhaler." "I should always shake the inhaler before administering a dose."

The parent should always give one puff at a time and should wait 1 minute be- fore administering the second puff.

A sweat chloride test is used to diagnose CF. A chloride level greater than _____________________ is a positive diagnostic indicator of CF.

0 mEq/L.The definitive diagnosis of CF is made when a patient has a sweat chloride test with a chloride level >60 mEq/L. A normal chloride level is <40 mEq/L.

A female child with CF is hospitalized with constipation. The parent asks the nurse what will need to be done to relieve the child's constipation. Which is the nurse's best response?1. "Your child likely has an obstruction and will require surgery." 2. "Your child will likely be given IV fluids to relieve her constipation."3. "Your child will likely be given GoLYTELY to relieve her constipation."4. "Your child will be placed on a clear liquid diet to relieve her constipation."

CF patients with constipation commonly receive a stool softener or an osmotic so- lution orally to relieve their constipation.

A 3-year-old is brought to the ER with coughing and gagging. The parent reports that the child was eating carrots when she began to gag. What diagnostic evaluation will be used to determine if the child has aspirated the carrot?1. A chest x-ray will be taken. 2. A bronchoscopy will be performed. 3. A blood gas will be drawn.4. A sputum culture will be done.

1. A chest x-ray will only show radiopaque items (items that x-rays cannot go through easily), so it is not helpful in determining if the child aspirated a carrot. 2. A bronchoscopy will allow the physi- cian to visualize the airway and will help determine if the child aspirated the carrot. 3. A blood gas will identify whether the child has suffered any respiratory compromise, but the blood gas cannot definitively determine the cause of the compromise. 4. A sputum culture may be helpful several days later to determine if the child has developed aspiration pneumo- nia. Aspiration pneumonia may take several days or a week to develop following aspiration.

The parent of a 9-month-old calls the ER because his child is choking on a marble. The parent tells the nurse that he knows cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The parent asks how to help his child while waiting for Emergency Medical Services. Which is the nurse's best response? "You should administer five abdominal thrusts followed by five back blows." "You should try to retrieve the object by inserting your finger in your daughter's mouth." "You should perform the Heimlich maneuver." "You should administer five back blows followed by five chest thrusts."

1. Abdominal thrusts are not recommended for children younger than 1 year. 2. Inserting a finger in the child's mouth may cause the object to be pushed further down the airway, making it more difficult to remove. 3. The Heimlich should be performed only on adults. 4. The current recommendation for in- fants younger than 1 year is to admin- ister five back blows followed by five chest thrusts.

The community health nurse is teaching a child-safety class to parents of toddlers. Which information will be most helpful in teaching the parents about the primary prevention of foreign body aspiration?1. Knowledge of the signs and symptoms of foreign body aspiration. 2. Knowledge of the therapeutic management of foreign body aspiration patients. 3. Knowledge of the most common objects that toddlers aspirate.4. Knowledge of the risks associated with foreign body aspiration.

1. Teaching the parents signs and symptoms of foreign body aspiration is important, but it is a tertiary means of prevention and will not help the parents prevent the aspiration. 2. Teaching the parents the therapeutic management of foreign body aspiration is important, but it is a tertiary means of prevention and will not help the parents prevent the aspiration. 3. Teaching parents the most common objects aspirated by toddlers will help them the most. Parents can avoid hav- ing those items in the household or in locations where toddlers may have access to them. Teaching the parents the risks associated with foreign body aspiration is important but it is a tertiary means of prevention and will not help the parents prevent the aspiration.

A pediatric client is admitted to the hospital with left-sided pneumonia. The client is complaining of pain and wants to be repositioned in the bed. The nurse knows the patient may be most comfortable in which position?1. Lying in the Trendelenburg position. 2. Lying on the left side.3. Lying on the right side.4. Lying in the supine position.

1. The Trendelenburg position is not effec- tive for improving respiratory difficulty. Patients with pneumonia are usually most comfortable in a semierect position. 2. Lying on the left side may provide the patient with the most comfort. Lying on the left splints the chest and reduces the pleural rubbing. 3. It is most comfortable for the patient to lie on the affected side. Lying on the left splints the chest and reduces the pleural rubbing. 4. Lying in the supine position does not pro- vide comfort for the patient and does not improve the child's respiratory effort.

Which of the following statements about pneumonia is accurate? Pneumonia is most frequently caused by bacterial agents. Children with bacterial pneumonia are usually sicker than children with viral pneumonia. Children with viral pneumonia are usually sicker than those with bacterial pneumonia. Children with viral pneumonia must be treated with a complete course of antibiotics.

2. Children with bacterial pneumonia are usually sicker than children with viral pneumonia. Children with bacterial pneumonia can be treated effectively, but they require a course of antibiotics.

A 3-year-old is seen in the physician's office for a dry, hacking cough that is preventing the child from sleeping. The child is diagnosed with a URI. Which of the following interventions is most appropriate for this patient?1. The child should be given cough suppressants at night.2. The child should be given a cough expectorant every 4 hours.3. The child should be given cold and flu medication every 8 hours.4. The child should be given 1/2 teaspoon honey four to five times per day.

4. Warm fluids, humidifcation, and honey are best treatments for a URI.

Which of the following children diagnosed with pneumonia would benefit most from hospitalization? A 14-year-old with a fever of 38.6°C (101.5°F), rapid breathing, and a decreased appetite. A 15-year-old who has been vomiting for 3 days and has a fever of 38.5°C (101.3°F). A 13-year-old who is coughing, has coarse breath sounds, and is not sleeping well. A 16-year-old who has a cough, chills, fever of 38.5°C (101.3°F), and wheezing.

1. 2. 3. 4. These are all common symptoms of pneu- monia and should be monitored but do not require hospitalization. Most people with pneumonia are treated at home, with a focus on treating the symptoms and keeping the patient comfortable. Comfort measures include cool mist, CPT, an- tipyretics, fluid intake, and family support. The teen who has been vomiting for several days and is unable to tolerate oral fluids and medication should be admitted for intravenous hydration. These are all common symptoms of pneumonia and should be monitored but do not require hospitalization. These are all common symptoms of pneumonia and should be monitored but do not require hospitalization.

A pediatric client with severe cerebral palsy is admitted to the hospital with aspira- tion pneumonia. What is the most beneficial educational information that the nurse can provide to the parents?1. The signs and symptoms of aspiration pneumonia. 2. The treatment plan for aspiration pneumonia.3. The risks associated with recurrent aspiration pneumonia. 4. The prevention of aspiration pneumonia.

4. The most valuable information the nurse can give the parents is how to prevent aspiration pneumonia from occurring in the future.

The parent of a 4-month-old with CF asks the nurse what time to begin the child's first CPT each day. Which is the nurse's best response?1. "You should do the first CPT 30 minutes before feeding the child breakfast."2. "You should do the first CPT after deep-suctioning the child each morning." 3. "You should do the first CPT 30 minutes after feeding the child breakfast."4. "You should do the first CPT only when the child has congestion or coughing."

CPT should be done in the morning prior to feeding to avoid the risk of the child vomiting.

Which of the following children would benefit most from having ear tubes placed? 1. A 2-month-old who has had one ear infection.2. A 2-year-old who has had five previous ear infections.3. A 7-year-old who has had two ear infections this year. 4. A 3-year-old whose sibling has had four ear infections.

A 2-year-old who has had multiple ear infections is a perfect candidate for ear tubes. The other issue is that a 2-year-old is at the height of language development, which can be adversely affected by recurrent ear infections.

A pediatric client is diagnosed with epiglottitis. The parents ask the nurse what treatment their child will receive. Which is the nurse's best response?1. "Your child will need to complete a course of intravenous antibiotics."2. "Your child will need to have surgery to remove her tonsils." 3. "Your child will need 10 days of aerosolized ribavirin."4. "Your child will recover without any intervention in about 5 days."

Epiglottitis is bacterial in nature and requires intravenous antibiotics. A7- to 10-day course of oral antibiotics is usually ordered following the intra- venous course of antibiotics.

A 6-week-old male is admitted to the hospital with influenza. The child is crying, and the father tells the nurse that his son is hungry. The nurse explains that the baby is taking nothing by mouth. The parent does not understand why the child cannot eat. Which is the nurse's best response to the parent? "We are giving your child intravenous fluids, so there is no need for anything by mouth." "The shorter and narrower airway of infants increases their chances of aspiration." "When your child eats, he burns too many calories; we want to conserve the child's energy." "Your child has too much nasal congestion; if we feed the child by mouth, the dis- tress will likely increase."

Infants are at higher risk of aspiration because their airways are shorter and narrower than those of an adult.

A 7-month-old is taken to the pediatrician's office with a low-grade fever, nasal congestion, and a mild cough. Which should the nursing care management of this child include?1. Maintaining strict bedrest. 2. Avoiding contact with family members.3. Instilling saline nose drops and bulb suctioning. 4. Keeping the head of the bed flat.

Infants are nose breathers and often have increased difficulty when they are congested. Nasal saline drops and gen- tle suctioning with a bulb syringe are often recommended.

The parent of a pediatric client with influenza is concerned about when the child will be able to return to school. The parent asks the nurse when the child is most infectious. Which is the nurse's best response?1. "24 hours before and after the onset of symptoms." 2. "1 week after the onset of symptoms." 3. "1 week before the onset of symptoms." 4. "24 hours after the onset of symptoms."

Influenza is most contagious 24 hours before and 24 hours after onset of symptoms.

A physician prescribes 10 days of amoxicillin to treat a 6-year-old male with an ear infection. The nurse is reviewing discharge instructions with the parent. Which information should be included in the discharge instructions?1. "Administer the amoxicillin until the child's symptoms subside." 2. "Administer an over-the-counter antihistamine with the antibiotic." 3. "Administer the amoxicillin until all the medication is gone."4. "Allow your child to administer his own dose of amoxicillin."

It is essential that all the medication be given.

The school nurse is planning to educate kindergarten children on how to stop the spread of influenza in the classroom. Which of the following should the nurse instruct the children?1. Stay home if they have a runny nose and cough. 2. Wash their hands after using the restroom. 3. Wash their hands after sneezing.4. Have a flu shot annually.

It is essential that children washtheir hands after any contact with nasopharyngeal secretions.

A 15-month-old is brought to the ER. The parents tell the nurse that the child has not been eating well and has had an increased respiratory rate. Which of the following assessments is of greatest concern? The patient is lying down and has moderate retractions, low-grade fever, and nasal congestion. The patient is in the tripod position and has diminished breath sounds and a muffled cough. The patient is sitting up and has coarse breath sounds, coughing, and fussiness. The patient is restless, crying, has bilateral wheezes and poor feeding.

When children are sitting in the tripod position, that is an indication they are having difficulty breathing. The child is sitting and leaning forward in order to breathe more easily. Diminished breath sounds indicate that there is fluid in the lungs and are indicative of a wors- ening condition. A muffled cough indi- cates that the child has some subglottic edema. This child has several signs and symptoms of a worsening respiratory condition.

A 2-year-old is admitted to the hospital with croup. The parent tells the nurse that her 7-year-old just had croup and it cleared up in a couple of days without intervention. She asks the nurse why her 2-year-old is exhibiting worse symptoms and needs to be hospitalized. Which is the nurse's best response? "Some children just react differently to viruses. It is best to treat each child as an individual." "Younger children have wider airways that make it easier for bacteria to enter and colonize." "Younger children have short and wide eustachian tubes, making them more susceptible to respiratory infections." "Children younger than 3 years usually exhibit worse symptoms because their immune systems are not as developed."

Younger children have less developed immune systems and usually exhibit worse symptoms than older children.