PEDS FOR SUCCESS: Neuromuscular & Muscular Disorders

A 3-month-old with spina bifida is admitted to the nurse's unit. Which gross motor skills should the nurse assess at this age? 1. Head control. 2. Pincer grasp. 3. Sitting alone. 4. Rolling over.

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A 5-year-old has been diagnosed with pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy. Which nursing intervention would be appropriate? 1. Discuss with the parents the potential need for respiratory support. 2. Explain that this disease is easily treated with medication. 3. Suggest exercises that will limit the use of muscles and prevent fatigue. 4. Assist the parents in finding a nursing facility for future care.

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A child with a repaired myelomeningocele is in the clinic for a regular examination. The child has frequent constipation and has been crying at night because of pain in the legs. After an MRI, the diagnosis of a tethered cord is made. Which should the nurse tell the parent? 1. Tethered cord is a post-surgical complication. 2. Tethered cord occurs during times of slow growth. 3. Release of the tethered cord will be necessary only once. 4. Offering laxatives and acetaminophen daily will help control these problems.

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A school-aged child is admitted to the unit pre-operatively for bladder reconstruc- tion. The child is latex-sensitive. Which intervention should the nurse implement? 1. Post a sign on the door and chart that the child is latex-allergic. 2. Use powder-free latex gloves when giving care. 3. Keep personal items such as stuffed animals in a plastic bag to avoid latex contamination. 4. Use a disposable plastic-covered blood pressure cuff that will stay in the child's room.

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The nurse is doing a follow-up assessment of a 9-month-old. The infant rolls both ways, sits with some support, pushes food out of the mouth, and pushes away when held. The parent asks about the infant's development. The nurse responds by saying which of the following? 1. "Your child is developing normally." 2. "Your child needs to see the primary care provider." 3. "You need to help your child learn to sit unassisted." 4. "Push the food back when your child pushes food out."

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The nurse is performing an admission assessment on a 9-year-old who has just been diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus. Which assessment findings should the nurse expect? 1. Headaches and nausea. 2. Fever, malaise, and weight loss. 3. A papular rash covering the trunk and face. 4. Abdominal pain and dysuria.

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The nurse judges teaching as successful when the parent of a child with myasthenia gravis states which of the following? 1. "My child should play on the school's basketball team." 2. "My child should meditate every day." 3. "My child should be allowed to do what other kids do." 4. "My child should be watched carefully for signs of illness."

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The nurse knows that teaching was successful when a parent states which of the following are early signs of muscular dystrophy? 1. Increased muscle strength. 2. Difficulty climbing stairs. 3. High fevers and tiredness. 4. Respiratory infections and obesity.

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The parent of a child diagnosed with Werdnig-Hoffmann disease notes times of not being able to hear the child breathing. Which should the nurse do first? 1. Check pulse oximetry on the child. 2. Count the child's respirations. 3. Listen to the child's lung sounds. 4. Ask the parent if the child coughs at night.

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The parents of a toddler diagnosed with Werdnig-Hoffmann disease ask the nurse what they can feed their child that would be quality food. Which would be good choices for the nurse to recommend? 1. A hot dog and chips. 2. Chicken and broccoli. 3. A banana and almonds. 4. A milkshake and a hamburger.

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When assessing the neurological status of an 8-month-old, the nurse should check for which of the following? 1. Clarity of speech. 2. Interaction with staff. 3. Vision test. 4. Romberg test.

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Which should be the priority nursing diagnosis for a 12-hour-old newborn with a myelomeningocele at L2? 1. Altered bowel elimination related to neurological deficits. 2. Potential for infection related to the physical defect. 3. Altered nutrition related to neurological deficit. 4. Disturbance in self-concept related to physical disability.

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Which should the nurse do first when caring for an infant who just had a repair of a myelomeningocele? 1. Weigh diapers for 24-hour urine output. 2. Measure head circumference. 3. Offer clear fluids. 4. Assess for infection.

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Which should the nurse tell the parent of an infant with spina bifida? 1. "Bone growth will be more than that of babies who are not sick because your baby will be less active." 2. "Physical and occupational therapy will be helpful to stimulate the senses and improve cognitive skills." 3. "Nutritional needs for your infant will be calculated based on activity level." 4. "Fine motor skills will be delayed because of the disability."

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A child presents with a history of having had an upper respiratory tract infection 2 weeks ago; complains of symmetrical lower extremity weakness, back pain, muscle tenderness; and has absent deep tendon reflexes in the lower extremities. Which is important regarding this condition? 1. The disease process is probably bacterial. 2. The recent upper respiratory infection is not important information. 3. This may be an acute inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy. 4. CN involvement is rare.

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A child with GBS has had lots of oral fluids but has not urinated for 8 hours. Which is the nurse's first action? 1. Check the child's serum blood-urea-nitrogen level. 2. Check the child's complete blood count. 3. Catheterize the child in and out. 4. Run water in the bathroom to stimulate urination.

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A child with spastic CP had an intrathecal dose of baclofen in the early afternoon. What is the expected result 31/2 hours post dose that suggests the child would benefit from a baclofen pump? 1. The ability to self-feed. 2. The ability to walk with little assistance. 3. Decreased spasticity. 4. Increased spasticity.

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A newborn with a repaired myelomeningocele is assessed for hydrocephalus. Which would the nurse expect in an infant with hydrocephalus? 1. Low-pitched cry and depressed fontanel. 2. Low-pitched cry and bulging fontanel. 3. Bulging fontanel and downwardly rotated eyes. 4. Depressed fontanel and upwardly rotated eyes.

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The mother of an infant diagnosed with Werdnig-Hoffmann disease asks the nurse what she could have done during her pregnancy to prevent this. The nurse explains that the cause of Werdnig-Hoffmann is which of the following? 1. Unknown. 2. Restricted movement in utero. 3. Inherited as an autosomal-recessive trait. 4. Inherited as an autosomal-dominant trait.

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The nurse is caring for an infant with myelomeningocele who is going to surgery later today for closure of the sac. Which would be a priority nursing diagnosis before surgery? 1. Alteration in parent-infant bonding. 2. Altered growth and development. 3. Risk of infection. 4. Risk for weight loss.

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The nurse is planning care for a child who was recently admitted with GBS. Which is a priority nursing diagnosis? 1. Risk for constipation related to immobility. 2. Chronic sorrow related to presence of chronic disability. 3. Impaired skin integrity related to infectious disease process. 4. Activity intolerance related to ineffective cardiac muscle function.

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The nurse knows that teaching has been successful when the parent of a child with muscle weakness states that the diagnostic test for muscular dystrophy is which of the following? 1. Electromyelogram. 2. Nerve conduction velocity. 3. Muscle biopsy. 4. Creatine kinase level.

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The nurse should tell the parents of a child with Duchenne (pseudohypertrophic) muscular dystrophy that some of the progressive complications include: 1. Dry skin and hair, hirsutism, protruding tongue, and mental retardation. 2. Anorexia, gingival hyperplasia, and dry skin and hair. 3. Contractures, obesity, and pulmonary infections. 4. Trembling, frequent loss of consciousness, and slurred speech.

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The parent of a young child with CP brings the child to the clinic for a checkup. Which parent's statement indicates an understanding of the child's long-term needs? 1. "My child will need all my attention for the next 10 years." 2. "Once in school, my child will catch up and be like the other children." 3. "My child will grow up and need to learn to do things independently." 4. "I'm the one who knows the most about my child and can do the most for my child."

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The parent of an infant with CP asks the nurse if the infant will be mentally retarded. Which is the nurse's best response? 1. "Children with CP have some amount of mental retardation." 2. "Approximately 20% of children with CP have normal intelligence." 3. "Many children with CP have normal intelligence." 4. "Mental retardation is expected if motor and sensory deficits are severe."

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Which should a nurse in the ED be prepared for in a child with a possible spinal cord injury? 1. Severe pain. 2. Elevated temperature. 3. Respiratory depression. 4. Increased intracranial pressure.

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Which should be included in the plan of care for a newborn with a myelomeningo- cele who will have a surgical repair tomorrow? 1. Offer formula every 3 hours. 2. Turn the infant back to front every 2 hours. 3. Place a wet dressing on the sac. 4. Provide pain medication every 4 hours.

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A 15-year-old with spina bifida is seen in the clinic for a well-child checkup. The teen uses leg braces and crutches to ambulate. Which nursing diagnosis takes priority? 1. Potential for infection. 2. Alteration in mobility. 3. Alteration in elimination. 4. Potential body image disturbance.

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An adolescent presents with sudden-onset unilateral facial weakness with drooping of one side of the mouth. The teen is unable to close the eye on the affected side, but has no other symptoms and otherwise feels well. The nurse could summarize the condi- tion by which of the following? 1. The prognosis is poor. 2. This may be a stroke. 3. It is a fifth CN palsy. 4. This is paralysis of the facial nerve.

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The nurse evaluates teaching of parents of a child newly diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) as successful when the parents state that CP is which of the following? 1. Inability to speak and uncontrolled drooling. 2. Involuntary movements of lower extremities only. 3. Involuntary movements of upper extremities only. 4. An increase in muscle tone and deep tendon reflexes.

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The nurse is caring for a school-aged child with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in the elementary school. Which would be an appropriate nursing diagnosis? 1. Anticipatory grieving. 2. Anxiety reduction. 3. Increased pain. 4. Activity intolerance.

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The nurse is developing a plan of care for a child recently diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP). Which should be the nurse's priority goal? 1. Ensure the ingestion of sufficient calories for growth. 2. Decrease intracranial pressure. 3. Teach appropriate parenting strategies for a special-needs child. 4. Ensure that the child reaches full potential.

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The parent of an infant asks the nurse what to watch for to determine if the infant has CP. Which is the nurse's best response? 1. "If the infant cannot sit up without support before 8 months." 2. "If the infant demonstrates tongue thrust before 4 months." 3. "If the infant has poor head control after 2 months." 4. "If the infant has clenched fists after 3 months."

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Which can elicit the Gower sign? Have the patient: 1. Close the eyes and touch the nose with alternating index fingers. 2. Hop on one foot and then the other. 3. Bend from the waist to touch the toes. 4. Walk like a duck and rise from a squatting position.

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Which foods would be best for a child with Duchenne muscular dystrophy? 1. High-carbohydrate, high-protein foods. 2. No special food combinations. 3. Extra protein to help strengthen muscles. 4. Low-calorie foods to prevent weight gain.

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Which should the nurse expect as an intervention in a child in the recovery phase of GBS? 1. Assess for respiratory compromise. 2. Assess for swallowing difficulties. 3. Evaluate neuropsychological functioning. 4. Begin an active physical therapy program.

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Which should the nurse prepare the parents of an infant for following surgical repair and closure of a myelomeningocele shortly after birth? The infant will: 1. Not need any long-term management and should be considered cured. 2. Not be at risk for urinary tract infections or movement problems. 3. Have continual drainage of cerebrospinal fluid, needing frequent dressing changes. 4. Need lifelong management of urinary, orthopedic, and neurological problems.

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Parents bring their 2-month-old into the clinic with concerns that the baby seems "floppy." The parents say the baby seems to be working hard to breathe, eats very slowly, and seems to fatigue quickly. The nurse assesses intercostal retractions, although the baby is otherwise in no distress. They add there was a cousin whose baby had similar symptoms. The nurse would be most concerned with what possible complications? 1. Respiratory compromise. 2. Dehydration. 3. Need for emotional support for the family. 4. Feeding intolerance.

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The mother of a newborn relates that this is her first child, the baby seems to sleep a lot, and does not cry much. Which question would the nurse ask the mother? 1. "How many ounces of formula does your baby take at each feeding?" 2. "How many bowel movements does your baby have in a day?" 3. "How much sleep do you get every night?" 4. "How long does the baby stay awake at each feeding?"

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The parent of a toddler newly diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) asks the nurse what caused it. The nurse should answer with which of the following? 1. Most cases are caused by unknown prenatal factors. 2. It is commonly caused by perinatal factors. 3. The exact cause is not known. 4. The exact cause is known in every instance.

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The parents of a preschooler diagnosed with muscular dystrophy are asking ques- tions about the course of their child's disease. Which should the nurse tell them? 1. "Muscular dystrophies usually result in progressive weakness." 2. "The weakness that your child is having will probably not increase." 3. "Your child will be able to function normally and not need any special accommodations." 4. "The extent of weakness depends on doing daily physical therapy."

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Which developmental milestone should the nurse be concerned about if a 10-month-old could not do it? 1. Crawl. 2. Cruise. 3. Walk. 4. Have a pincer grasp.

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Which is the best advice to offer the parent of a 6-month-old with Werdnig-Hoffman disease on how to treat the infant's constipation? 1. Offer extra water every day. 2. Add corn syrup to two bottles a day. 3. Give the infant a glycerine suppository today. 4. Let the infant go 3 days without a stool before intervening.

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Which priority item should be placed at the bedside of a newborn with myelomeningocele? 1. A bottle of normal saline. 2. A rectal thermometer. 3. Extra blankets. 4. A blood pressure cuff.

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Which should the nurse do for a 6-year-old living in a rural area who is missing school shots and who has sustained a puncture wound? 1. Administer DTaP vaccine 2. Start the child on an antibiotic. 3. Clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide. 4. Send the child to the emergency department.

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Which should the nurse include when teaching sexuality education to an adolescent with a spinal cord injury? 1. "You can enjoy a healthy sex life and most likely conceive children." 2. "You will never be able to conceive if you have no genital sensation." 3. "Development of secondary sex characteristics is delayed." 4. "A few females have regular menstrual periods after injury."

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Which symptoms will a child suffering from complete spinal cord injury experience? 1. Loss of motor and sensory function below the level of the injury. 2. Loss of interest in normal activities. 3. Extreme pain below the level of the injury. 4. Loss of some function, with sparing of function below the level of the injury.

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Which will help a school-aged child with muscular dystrophy stay active longer? 1. Normal activities, such as swimming. 2. Using a treadmill every day. 3. Several periods of rest every day. 4. Using a wheelchair upon getting tired.

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Why does spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality sometimes occur in children? 1. Children can suffer momentary severe subluxation and trauma to the spinal cord. 2. The immature spinal column in children does not allow for quality films. 3. The hemorrhaging that occurs with injury obscures radiographic abnormalities. 4. Radiographic abnormalities are not evident because of incomplete ossification of the vertebrae.

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The nurse is planning care for a child with a T12 spinal cord injury. Which lifelong complications should the child and family know about? Select all that apply. 1. Skin integrity. 2. Incontinence. 3. Loss of large and small motor activity. 4. Loss of voice. 5. Flaccid paralysis.

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A child has a provisional diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. Which should the nurse expect in this child? Select all that apply. 1. Double vision. 2. Ptosis. 3. Fatigue. 4. Ascending paralysis. 5. Sensory disturbance.

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The mother of a child with Duchenne muscular dystrophy asks the nurse who in the family should have genetic screening. Who should the nurse say must be tested? Select all that apply. 1. Mother 2. Sister. 3. Brother. 4. Aunts and all female cousins. 5. Uncles and all male cousins.

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A child is admitted to the pediatric unit with spastic CP. Which would the nurse expect a child with spastic CP to demonstrate? Select all that apply. 1. Increased deep tendon reflexes. 2. Decreased muscle tone. 3. Scoliosis. 4. Contractures. 5. Scissoring. 6. Good control of posture. 7. Good fine motor skills.

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A 3-year-old child with CP is admitted for dehydration following an episode of diar- rhea. The nurse's assessment follows: awake, pale, thin child lying in bed, multiple contractures, drooling, coughing spells noted when parent feeds. T 97.8°F (36.5°C), P 75, R 25, weight 7.2 kg, no diarrheal stool for 48 hours. Which nursing diagnosis is most important? 1. Potential for skin breakdown: lying in one position. 2. Alteration in nutrition: less than body requirements. 3. Potential for impaired social support: mother sole caretaker. 4. Alteration in elimination: diarrhea.

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After spinal cord surgery, an adolescent suddenly complains of a severe headache. Which should be the nurse's first action? 1. Check the blood pressure. 2. Check for a full bladder. 3. Ask if pain is present somewhere else. 4. Ask if other symptoms are present.

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An adolescent with a T4 spinal cord injury suddenly becomes dangerously hyperten- sive and bradycardic. Which intervention is appropriate? 1. Call the neurosurgeon immediately, as this sounds like sudden intracranial hypertension. 2. Check to be certain that the patient's bladder is not distended. 3. Administer Hyperstat to treat the blood pressure. 4. Administer atropine for bradycardia.

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Over the last week, an infant with a repaired myelomeningocele has had a high- pitched cry and been irritable. Length, weight, and head circumference have been at the 50th percentile. Today length is at the 50th percentile, weight is at the 70th per- centile, and head circumference is at the 90th percentile. The nurse should do which of the following? 1. Tell the parent this is normal for an infant with a repaired myelomeningocele. 2. Tell the parent this might mean the baby has increased intracranial pressure. 3. Suspect the baby's intracranial pressure is low because of a leak. 4. Refer the baby to the neurologist for follow-up care.

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The nurse evaluates the teaching as successful when a parent states that which of the following can cause autonomic dysreflexia? 1. Exposure to cold temperatures. 2. Distended bowel or bladder. 3. Bradycardia. 4. Headache.

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Causes of autonomic dysreflexia include which of the following? Select all that apply. 1. Decrease in blood pressure. 2. Abdominal distention. 3. Bladder distention. 4. Diarrhea. 5. Tight clothing. 6. Hypothermia.

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Which should the nurse expect in a 2-week-old with a brachial plexus injury? Select all that apply. 1. History of a normal vaginal delivery. 2. Small infant. 3. Absent Moro reflex on one side. 4. No sensory loss. 5. Associated clavicle fracture.

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