Pediatrics

A child has been diagnosed with a midline brain tumor. In addition to showing signs of increased intracranial pressure (ICP), she has been voiding large amounts of very dilute urine. Which medication does the nurse expect to administer? 1. Mannitol. 2. Vasopressin. 3. Lasix. 4. Dopamine.

2. Vasopressin. The child is experiencing diabetes insipidus, a common occurrence in children with midline brain tumors. Vasopressin is a hormone that is used to help the body retain water.

A child with cerebral palsy (CP) has been fitted for braces and is beginning physical therapy to assist with ambulation. The parents ask why he needs the braces when he was crawling without any assistive devices. Select the nurse's best response. 1. "The CP has progressed, and he now needs more assistance to ambulate." 2. "As your child grows, different muscle groups may need more assistance." 3. "Most children with CP need braces to help with ambulation." 4. "We have found that when children with CP use braces, they are less likely to fall."

2. "As your child grows, different muscle groups may need more assistance." CP can manifest in different ways as the child grows. It does not progress, but its clinical manifestations may change

The nurse is aware that cloudy cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) most likely indicates: 1. Viral meningitis. 2. Bacterial meningitis. 3. No infection, as CSF is usually cloudy. 4. Sepsis.

2. Bacterial meningitis.

A child fell off his bike and sustained a closed-head injury. The child is currently awake and alert, but his mother states that he "passed out" for approximately 2 minutes. The mother appears highly anxious and is very tearful. The child was not wearing a helmet. Which is a priority for the triage nurse to say at this time? 1. "Was anyone else injured in the accident?" 2. "Tell me more about the accident." 3. "Did he vomit, have a seizure, or display any other behavior that was unusual when he woke up?" 4. "Why was he not wearing a helmet?"

3. "Did he vomit, have a seizure, or display any other behavior that was unusual when he woke up?" Asking specific questions will give the nurse the information needed to determine the level of care for the child.

A child in the PICU with a head injury is comatose and unresponsive. The parent asks if he needs pain medication. Select the nurse's best response. 1. "Pain medication is not necessary as he is unresponsive and cannot feel pain." 2. "Pain medication may interfere with his ability to respond and may mask any signs of improvement." 3. "Pain medication is necessary to make him comfortable." 4. "Pain medication is necessary for comfort, but we use it cautiously as it increases the demand for oxygen."

3. "Pain medication is necessary to make him comfortable." Pain medication promotes comfort and ultimately decreases ICP.

The nurse is caring for a 2-month-old infant who is at risk for cerebral palsy (CP) due to extreme low birth weight and prematurity. His parents ask why a speech therapist is involved in his care. Select the nurse's best response. 1. "Your child is likely to have speech problems because of his early birth. Involving the speech therapist now will ensure vocalization at a developmentally appropriate age." 2. "The speech therapist will help with tongue and jaw movements to assist with babbling." 3. "The speech therapist will help with tongue and jaw movements to assist with feeding." 4. "Many members of the health-care team are involved in your child's care so that we will know if there are any unmet needs."

3. "The speech therapist will help with tongue and jaw movements to assist with feeding." It is important to involve speech therapy to strengthen tongue and jaw movements to assist with feeding. The infant who is at risk for CP may have weakened and uncoordinated tongue and jaw movements.

A child with Reye syndrome is described in the nurse's notes as follows: 1200—comatose with sluggish pupils; when stimulated, demonstrates decerebrate posturing. 1400—unchanged except that now demonstrates decorticate posturing when stimulated. The nurse concludes that the child's condition is: 1. Worsening and progressing to a more advanced stage of Reye syndrome. 2. Worsening, and the child may likely experience cardiac and respiratory failure. 3. Improving and progressing to a less advanced stage of Reye syndrome. 4. Improving as the child's posturing reflexes are similar.

3. Improving and progressing to a less advanced stage of Reye syndrome. Progressing from decerebrate to decorticate posturing usually indicates an improvement in the child's condition.

Select the best room assignment for a newly admitted child with bacterial meningitis. 1. Semiprivate room with a roommate who also has bacterial meningitis. 2. Semiprivate room with a roommate who has bacterial meningitis but has received intravenous antibiotics for more than 24 hours. 3. Private room that is dark and quiet with minimal stimulation. 4. Private room that is bright and colorful and has developmentally appropriate activities available.

3. Private room that is dark and quiet with minimal stimulation. A quiet private room with minimal stimulation is ideal as the child with meningitis should be in a quiet environment to avoid cerebral irritation.

A child with a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt complains of headache and blurry vision and now experiences irritability and sleeping more than usual. The parents ask the nurse what they should do. Select the nurse's best response. 1. "Give her some acetaminophen, and see if her symptoms improve. If they do not improve, bring her to the pediatrician's office." 2. "It is common for girls to have these symptoms, especially prior to beginning their menstrual cycle. Give her a few days, and see if she improves." 3. "You are probably worried that she is having a problem with her shunt. This is very unlikely as it has been working well for 9 years." 4. "You should immediately take her to the emergency room as these may be symptoms of a shunt malfunction."

4. "You should immediately take her to the emergency room as these may be symptoms of a shunt malfunction." These are symptoms of a shunt malfunction and should be evaluated immediately.

A child is being admitted with the diagnosis of meningitis. Select the procedure the nurse should do first: 1. Administration of intravenous antibiotics. 2. Administration of maintenance intravenous fluids. 3. Placement of a Foley catheter. 4. Send the spinal fluid and blood samples to the laboratory for cultures.

4. Send the spinal fluid and blood samples to the laboratory for cultures. Cultures of spinal fluid and blood should be obtained, followed by administration of intravenous antibiotics.

A child diagnosed with meningitis is having a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Which should the nurse do first? 1. Administer blow-by oxygen and call for additional help. 2. Reassure the parents that seizures are common in children with meningitis. 3. Call a code and ask the parents to leave the room. 4. Assess the child's temperature and blood pressure.

Administer blow-by oxygen and call for additional help. The child experiencing a seizure usually requires more oxygen as the seizure increases the body's metabolic rate and demand for oxygen. The seizure may also affect the child's airway, causing the child to be hypoxic. It is always appropriate to give the child blow-by oxygen immediately. The nurse should remain with the child and call for additional help