Pediatric Success: Respiratory

11. A child's parent asks the nurse what treatment the child will need for the diagnosis of strep throat. Which is the nurse's best response? 1. "Your child will be sent home on bedrest and should recover in a few days without any intervention." 2. "Your child will need to have the tonsils removed to prevent future strep infections." 3. "Your child will need oral penicillin for 10 days and should feel better in a few days." 4. "Your child will need to be admitted to the hospital for 5 days of intravenous antibiotics."

3. "Your child will need oral penicillin for 10 days and should feel better in a few days." 3. 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.

55. Which child diagnosed with pneumonia would benefit most from hospitalization? 1. 13-year-old who is coughing, has coarse breath sounds, and is not sleeping well 2. 14-year-old with a fever of 38.6°C (101.5°F), rapid breathing, and a decreased appetite. 3. 15-year-old who has been vomiting for 3 days and has a fever of 38.5°C (101.3°F). 4. A 16-year-old who has a cough, chills, fever of 38.5°C (101.3°F), and wheezing.

3. 15-year-old who has been vomiting for 3 days and has a fever of 38.5°C (101.3°F). 3. The teen who has been vomiting for several days and is unable to tolerate oral fluids and medication should be admitted for intravenous hydration. .

25. Which would be an early sign of respiratory distress in a 2-month-old? 1. Breathing shallowly. 2. Tachypnea. 3. Tachycardia. 4. Bradycardia.

2. Tachypnea. 2. Tachypnea is an early sign of distress and is often the first sign of respiratory illness in infants.

20. Which should the nurse administer to provide quick relief to a child with asthma who is coughing, wheezing, and having difficulty catching her breath? 1. Prednisone. 2. Singulair (montelukast). 3. Albuterol. 4. Flovent (fluticasone).

3. Albuterol 3. Albuterol is the quick-relief bronchodilator of choice for treating an asthma attack.

47. Which is diagnostic for epiglottitis? 1. Blood test. 2. Throat swab. 3. Lateral neck x-ray of the soft tissue. 4. Signs and symptoms.

3. Lateral neck x-ray of the soft tissue. Will reveal the "thumb" sign 3. A lateral neck x-ray is a definitive test to diagnose epiglottitis. The child is at risk for complete airway obstruction and should always be accompanied by a nurse to the x-ray department.

10. A school-age child has been diagnosed with nasopharyngitis. The parent is concerned because the child has had little or no appetite for the last 24 hours. Which is the nurse's best response? 1. "Do not be concerned; it is common for children to have a decreased appetite during a respiratory illness." 2. "Be sure your child is taking an adequate amount of fluids. The appetite should return soon." 3. "Try offering the child some favorite food. Maybe that will improve the appetite." 4. "You need to force your child to eat whatever you can; adequate nutrition is essential."

. "Be sure your child is taking an adequate amount of fluids. The appetite should return soon." 2. It is common for children to have a decreased appetite when they have a respiratory illness. The nurse is appropriately instructing the parent that the child will be fine by taking in an adequate amount of fluid.

9. A 7-month-old has a low-grade fever, nasal congestion, and a mild cough. What 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.

3. Instilling saline nose drops and bulb suctioning. 3. Infants are nose breathers and often have increased difficulty when they are congested. Nasal saline drops and gentle suctioning with a bulb syringe are often recommended.

12. A child is complaining of throat pain. Which statement by the mother indicates that she needs more education regarding the care and treatment of her daughter's pharyngitis? 1. "I will allow my daughter to have frequent rest periods." 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 ask the nurse practitioner for some amoxicillin."

4. "I will ask the nurse practitioner for some amoxicillin." 4. Pharyngitis is a self-limiting viral illness that does not require antibiotic therapy. Pharyngitis should be treated with rest and comfort measures, including Tylenol, throat sprays, cold liquids, and Popsicles.

17. What is the most important piece of information that the nurse must ask the parent of a child in status asthmaticus? 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?"

4. "When was your child's last dose of medication?" 4. The nurse needs to know what medication the child had last and when the child took it in order to know how to begin treatment for the current asthmatic condition.

62. A chloride level greater than _____________________ is a positive diagnostic indicator of cystic fibrosis (CF).

60 mEq/L. Richardson, Beth. Pediatric Success A Q&A Review Applying Critical Thinking to Test Taking (Davis's Q&A Success) (Page 73). F.A. Davis Company. Kindle Edition. The definitive diagnosis of CF is made when a child has a sweat chloride level >60 mEq/L. A normal chloride level is <40 mEq/L.

59. The parent of a 9-month-old calls the ER because his child is choking on a marble. The parent asks how to help his child while awaiting Emergency Medical Services. Which is the nurse's best response? 1. "You should administer five abdominal thrusts followed by five back blows." 2. "You should try to retrieve the object by inserting your finger in your child's mouth." 3. "You should perform the Heimlich maneuver." 4. "You should administer five back blows followed by five chest thrusts."

4. "You should administer five back blows followed by five chest thrusts." 4. The current recommendation for infants younger than 1 year is to administer five back blows followed by five chest thrusts.

56. Which position would be most comfortable for a child with left-sided pneumonia? 1. Trendelenburg. 2. Left side. 3. Right side. 4. Supine.

. 2. Left side. 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.

21. Which child with asthma should the nurse see first? 1. A 12-month-old who has a mild cry, is pale in color, has diminished breath sounds, and has an oxygen saturation of 93%. 2. A 5-year-old who is speaking in complete sentences, is pink in color, is wheezing bilaterally, and has an oxygen saturation of 93%. 3. A 9-year-old who is quiet, is pale in color, and is wheezing bilaterally with an oxygen saturation of 92%. 4. A 16-year-old who is speaking in short sentences, is wheezing, is sitting upright, and has an oxygen saturation of 93%.

. A 12-month-old who has a mild cry, is pale in color, has diminished breath sounds, 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 sounds.

52. 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 nursing intervention 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.

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

46. Which assessment is of greatest concern in a 15-month-old? 1. The child is lying down, has moderate retractions, low-grade fever, and nasal congestion. 2. The child is in the tripod position, has diminished breath sounds, and a muffled cough. 3. The child is sitting up and has coarse breath sounds, coughing, and fussiness. 4. The child is restless and crying, has bilateral wheezes, and is feeding poorly.

. The child is in the tripod position, has diminished breath sounds, and a muffled cough. 2. When children are sitting in the tripod position, they are having difficulty breathing. The child is sitting and leaning forward in order to breathe more easily. Diminished breath sounds are indicative of a worsening condition. A muffled cough indicates that the child has some subglottic edema. This child has several signs and symptoms of a worsening respiratory condition.

19. Which statement by the parent of a child using an albuterol inhaler leads the nurse to believe that further education is needed on how to administer the medication? 1. "I should administer two quick puffs of the albuterol inhaler using a spacer." 2. "I should always use a spacer when administering the albuterol inhaler." 3. "I should be sure that my child is in an upright position when administering the inhaler." 4. "I should always shake the inhaler before administering a dose."

1. "I should administer two quick puffs of the albuterol inhaler using a spacer." 1. The parent should always give one puff at a time and wait 1 minute before administering the second puff.

39. Which statement indicates the parent needs further teaching on how to prevent his other children from contracting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)? 1. "I should make sure that both my children receive Synagis (palivizumab) injections for the remainder of this year." 2. "I should be sure to keep my infected child away from his brother until he has recovered." 3. "I should insist that all people who come in contact with my children thoroughly wash their hands before playing with them." 4. "I should insist that anyone with a respiratory illness avoid contact with my children until well."

1. "I should make sure that both my children receive Synagis (palivizumab) injections for the remainder of this year." 1. Synagis will not help the child who has already contracted the illness. Synagis is an immunization and a method of primary prevention.

3. The parent of a 4-month-old with cystic fibrosis (CF) asks the nurse what time to begin the child's first chest physiotherapy (CPT) each day. Which is the nurse's best response? 1. "Thirty minutes before feeding the child breakfast." 2. "After deep-suctioning the child each morning." 3. "Thirty minutes after feeding the child breakfast." 4. "Only when the child has congestion or coughing."

1. "Thirty minutes before feeding the child breakfast. CPT should be done in the morning prior to feeding to avoid the risk of the child vomiting.

49. Which is the nurse's best response to the parent of a child diagnosed with epiglottitis who asks what the treatment will be? 1. Complete a course of intravenous antibiotics. 2. Surgery to remove the tonsils. 3. 10 days of aerosolized ribavirin. 4. No intervention.

1. Complete a course of intravenous antibiotics. 49. 1. Epiglottitis is bacterial in nature and requires intravenous antibiotics. A 7- to 10-day course of oral antibiotics is usually ordered following the intravenous course of antibiotics.

22. Which breathing exercises should the nurse have an asthmatic 3-year-old child do to increase her expiratory phase? 1. Use an incentive spirometer. 2. Breathe into a paper bag. 3. Blow a pinwheel. 4. Take several deep breaths.

3. Blow a pinwheel. Blowing a pinwheel is an excellent means of increasing a child's expiratory 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.

60. Which information will be most helpful in teaching parents about the primary prevention of foreign body aspiration? 1. Signs and symptoms of foreign body aspiration. 2. Therapeutic management of foreign body aspiration. 3. Most common objects that toddlers aspirate. 4. Risks associated with foreign body aspiration. .

3. Most common objects that toddlers aspirate. 3. Teaching parents the most common objects aspirated by toddlers will help them the most. Parents can avoid having those items in the household or in locations where toddlers may have access to them.

23. The parents of a 6-year-old who has a new diagnosis of asthma ask the nurse what to do to make their home a more allergy-free environment. 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."

4. "Avoid purchasing upholstered furniture." 4. 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.

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

2. "Your child should be kept away from tobacco smoke." 2. Tobacco smoke has been proved to increase the incidence of ear infections. The tobacco smoke damages mucociliary function, prolonging the inflammatory process and impeding drainage through the eustachian tube.

44. Which child is in the greatest need of emergency medical treatment? 1. 3-year-old who has a barky cough, is afebrile, and has mild intercostal retractions. 2. 6-year-old who has high fever, no spontaneous cough, and frog-like croaking. 3. 7-year-old who has abrupt onset of moderate respiratory distress, a mild fever, and a barky cough. 4. 13-year-old who has a high fever, stridor, and purulent secretions.

2. 6-year-old who has high fever, no spontaneous cough, and frog-like croaking. 2. This child has signs and symptoms of epiglottitis and should receive immediate emergency medical treatment. The patient has no spontaneous cough and has a frog-like croaking because of a significant airway obstruction.

5. The parent of a child with cystic fibrosis (CF) is excited about the possibility of the child receiving a double lung transplant. What should the parent understand? 1. The transplant will cure the child of CF and allow the child to lead a long and healthy life. 2. The transplant will not cure the child of CF but will allow the child to have a longer life. 3. The transplant will help to reverse the multisystem damage that has been caused by CF. 4. The transplant will be the child's only chance at surviving long enough to graduate college.

2. The transplant will not cure the child of CF but will allow the child to have a longer life. 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 infections because of the immunosuppressive therapy.

6. A 2-year-old has just been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (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."

"You can expect your child to develop wheezing respirations." 4. Wheezing respirations and a dry, nonproductive cough are common early symptoms in CF.

61. What does the therapeutic management of cystic fibrosis (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 absorbing nutrients because of the blockage of the pancreatic duct. Pancreatic enzymes cannot reach the duodenum to aid in digestion of food. These children often require up to 150% of the caloric intake of their peers. The nutritional recommendation for CF patients is high-calorie and high-protein. .

43. What would the nurse advise the parent of a child with a barky cough that gets worse at night? 1. Take the child outside into the more humid night air for 15 minutes. 2. Take the child to the ER immediately. 3. Give the child an over-the-counter cough suppressant. 4. Give the child warm liquids to soothe the throat.

1. Take the child outside into the more humid night air for 15 minutes. 1. The night air will help decrease subglottic edema, easing the child's respiratory 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 seen by a health-care provider.

30. A 6-week-old 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 not to have anything by mouth. The parent does not understand why the child cannot eat. Which is the nurse's best response to the parent? 1. "We are giving your child intravenous fluids, so there is no need for anything by mouth." 2. "The shorter and narrower airway of infants increases their chances of aspiration so your child should not have anything to eat now." 3. "When your child eats, he burns too many calories; we want to conserve the child's energy." 4. "Your child has too much nasal congestion; if we feed the child by mouth, the distress will likely increase."

2. "The shorter and narrower airway of infants increases their chances of aspiration so your child should not have anything to eat now." 2. Infants are at higher risk of aspiration because their airways are shorter and narrower than those of adults. An infant with influenza has lots of nasal secretions and coughs up mucus. With all the secretions, the infant is at an even higher risk of aspiration.

13. 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. "Forty-eight hours after the first documented normal temperature." 2. "Twenty-four hours after the first dose of antibiotics." 3. "Forty-eight hours after the first dose of antibiotics." 4. "Twenty-four hours after the first documented normal temperature."

2. "Twenty-four hours after the first dose of antibiotics." 2. Children with strep throat are no longer contagious 24 hours after initiation of antibiotic therapy.

58. 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. Which diagnostic evaluation will be used to determine if the child has aspirated carrots? 1. Chest x-ray. 2. Bronchoscopy. 3. Arterial blood gas (ABG). 4. Sputum culture.

2. Bronchoscopy 2. A bronchoscopy will allow the physician to visualize the airway and will help determine if the child aspirated the carrot.

1. How does the nurse interpret the laboratory analysis of a stool sample containing excessive amounts of azotorrhea and steatorrhea in a child with cystic fibrosis (CF)? The values indicate the child is 1. Not compliant with taking her vitamins. 2. Not compliant with taking her enzymes. 3. Eating too many foods high in fat. 4. Eating too many foods high in fiber.

2. Not compliant with taking her enzymes. If the child were not taking enzymes, the result would be a large amount of undigested food, azotorrhea, and steatorrhea in the stool. Pancreatic ducts in CF patients become clogged with thick mucus that blocks the flow of digestive enzymes from the pancreas to the duodenum. Therefore, patients must take digestive enzymes with all meals and snacks to aid in absorption of nutrients. Often, teens are noncompliant with their medication regimen because they want to be like their peers. Richardson, Beth. Pediatric Success A Q&A Review Applying Critical Thinking to Test Taking (Davis's Q&A Success) (Page 61). F.A. Davis Company. Kindle Edition.

24. A parent asks how to care for a child at home who has the diagnosis of viral tonsillitis. 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."

3. "You can give your child Tylenol every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain." 3. Tylenol is recommended PRN for pain relief.

4. The parent of an infant with cystic fibrosis (CF) asks the nurse how to meet the child's increased nutritional needs. Which is the nurse's best suggestion? 1. "You may need to increase the number of fresh fruits and vegetables you give your child." 2. "You may need to advance your child's diet to whole cow's milk because it is higher in fat than formula." 3. "You may need to change your child to a higher-calorie formula." 4. "You may need to increase your child's carbohydrate intake."

3. "You may need to change your child to a higher-calorie formula." 3. 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 contain medium-chain triglycerides.

41. Which physical findings would be of most concern in an infant with respiratory distress? 1. Tachypnea. 2. Mild retractions. 3. Wheezing. 4. Grunting. .

4. Grunting. 4. Grunting is a sign of impending respiratory failure and is a very concerning physical finding.

57. A child with severe cerebral palsy is admitted to the hospital with aspiration 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

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

8. The parents of a 5-week-old have just been told that their child has cystic fibrosis (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 about the current projected life expectancy. What is the nurse's best response? 1. "The life expectancy for CF patients has improved significantly in recent years." 2. "Your child might not follow the same course that the mother's sister did." 3. "The physician will come to speak to you about treatment options." 4. The nurse answers their questions briefly, listens to their concerns, and is available later after they've processed the information.

The nurse answers their questions briefly, listens to their concerns, and is available later after they've processed the information. 4. 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.

50. A 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 to this parent whose child is diagnosed with epiglottitis and is in severe distress and in need of intubation? 1. "Children this age rarely get epiglottitis; you should not blame yourself." 2. "It is always better to have your child evaluated at the first sign of illness rather than wait until symptoms worsen." 3. "Epiglottitis is slowly progressive, so early intervention may have decreased the extent of your son's symptoms." 4. "Epiglottitis is rapidly progressive; you could not have predicted his symptoms would worsen so quickly."

4. "Epiglottitis is rapidly progressive; you could not have predicted his symptoms would worsen so quickly." 4. Epiglottitis is rapidly progressive and cannot be predicted.