Peds Chapter 23
A child recently diagnosed with aplastic anemia is being prepared for discharge. When planning support for the family, which service should the nurse plan to include in the discharge plan? 1. Referrals to support groups and social services 2. Short-term support 3. Genetic counseling 4. Nutrition counseling
Answer: 1 Families require support in dealing with a child who has a life-threatening disease. They should be referred to support groups for counseling, if indicated, and to social services. The support will be long term in nature. Aplastic anemia is not a genetically transmitted disease. Nutrition counseling is not a priority and may or may not be needed with aplastic anemia.
The nurse is providing care to a school-age client diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Which nursing diagnosis is the priority for this client? 1. Risk for Injury 2. Ineffective Breathing Pattern 3. Nausea 4. Fluid-Volume Deficit
Answer: 1 ITP is the most common bleeding disorder in children, so risk for injury (bleeding) is the priority nursing diagnosis. The disease process does not usually cause ineffective breathing patterns, nausea, or fluid-volume deficits.
A child is diagnosed with sickle cell disease. The parents are unsure how their child contracted the disease. Which explanation by the nurse is the most appropriate? 1. "Both the mother and the father have the sickle cell trait." 2. "The mother has the trait, but the father doesn't." 3. "The father has the trait, but the mother doesn't." 4. "The mother has sickle cell disease, but the father doesn't have the disease or the trait."
Answer: 1 Sickle cell disease is an autosomal recessive disorder; both parents must have the trait in order for a child to have the disease.
The nurse is providing care for an adolescent client who is experiencing pain related to a sickle cell crisis. Which medication does the nurse prepare to administer to this client? 1. Morphine sulfate 2. Meperidine 3. Acetaminophen 4. Ibuprofen
Answer: 1 The pain during a sickling crisis is severe, and morphine is needed for pain control around the clock or by patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). Meperidine is not used for pain control for clients with sickle cell pain crisis because it could cause seizures. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen is used for mild pain and would not be effective for the severe pain experienced by a child in sickle cell pain crisis.
The nurse is providing an educational session for parents with children diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. Which statements will the nurse include educate about the normal functions of RBCs? Select all that apply. 1. "RBCs transport oxygen from the lungs to the tissue." 2. "RBCs transport carbon dioxide to the lungs." 3. "RBCs protect the body against bacterial invaders." 4. "RBCs form hemostatic plugs to stop bleeding." 5. "RBCs are responsible for psychosocial development."
Answer: 1, 2 The normal function of RBCs includes transporting oxygen from the lungs to the tissue and transporting carbon dioxide to the lungs. WBCs protect the body against bacterial invaders. Platelets form hemostatic plugs to stop bleeding. RBCs are not directly responsible for psychosocial development.
The nurse is providing care to a school-age client with neutropenia. Which clinical manifestations does the nurse anticipate when assessing this client? Select all that apply. 1. Fever 2. Fatigue 3. Tachycardia 4. Hypertension 5. Tachypnea
Answer: 1, 2, 3, 5 A school-age client who is diagnosed with neutropenia, or a decrease in WBCs, will likely exhibit fever, fatigue, tachycardia, and tachypnea (as a result of congestive heart failure). The nurse would not anticipate that the client will exhibit hypertension as a result of the diagnosis.
The nurse is teaching parents how to prevent a sickle cell crisis in the child with sickle cell disease. Which precipitating factors to a sickle cell crisis will the nurse include in the explanation? Select all that apply. 1. Fever 2. Dehydration 3. Regular exercise 4. Altitude 5. Increased fluid intake
Answer: 1, 2, 4 Fever, dehydration, and altitude are precipitating factors contributing to a sickle cell crisis. Regular exercise and increased fluid intake are recommended activities for a child with sickle cell disease and will not contribute to a sickle cell crisis.
A child who has undergone a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is ready for discharge. Which items will the nurse include in the discharge teaching for this child and family? Select all that apply. 1. Recognize the signs of graft-versus-host disease. 2. Return the child to school within six weeks. 3. Practice good handwashing. 4. Avoid obtaining influenza vaccinations. 5. Avoid live plants and fresh vegetables.
Answer: 1, 3, 5 A child who is preparing for discharge after a HSCT will require specific interventions to decrease the risk of contracting communicable illnesses. Appropriate teaching points include: recognizing the signs of graft-versus-host disease; practicing good handwashing; and avoiding live plants and fresh vegetables. The child will require home schooling for 6 to 12 months. The child and family members should be encouraged to obtain yearly influenza vaccinations
The nurse is administering packed RBCs to a child with sickle cell disease (SCD). The nurse is monitoring for a transfusion reaction and knows it is most likely to occur during which time frame? 1. Six hours after the transfusion is given 2. Within the first 20 minutes of administration of the transfusion 3. At the end of the administration of the transfusion 4. Never; children with SCD do not have reactions.
Answer: 2 Blood reactions can occur as soon as the blood transfusion begins or within the first 20 minutes. The nurse should remain with the child for the first 20 minutes of the transfusion
A child diagnosed with hemophilia plans on participating in a bicycling club. Which recommendation by the nurse is the most appropriate? 1. Consider a swim club instead of the bicycling club. 2. Wear kneepads, elbow pads, and a helmet while bicycling. 3. Participate only in the social activities of the club. 4. Not join the club.
Answer: 2 Children with hemophilia should be encouraged to participate in noncontact sports activities. Bicycling is an excellent option and is recommended along with swimming. The child should always use kneepads, elbow pads, and a helmet when participating in a physical sport. Participating only in the social aspects of the club would not encourage physical activity. Discouraging a child from joining a club would not foster growth and development.
The nurse is caring for a child with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Which nursing intervention is a priority for this child? 1. Frequent ambulation 2. Maintenance of skin integrity 3. Monitoring of fluid restriction 4. Preparation for x-ray procedures
Answer: 2 Impairment of skin integrity can lead to bleeding in DIC. The child with DIC should be placed on bed rest. Fluids need to be monitored but will not be restricted, and DIC is not diagnosed with x-ray examination but by serum lab studies.
Which action by the parents demonstrates an understanding of the nurse's teaching with regard to prevention of iron-deficient anemia? 1. Feeding their infant with a formula that is not iron fortified 2. Starting iron-fortified infant cereal at 4 to 6 months of age 3. Introducing cow's milk at 6 months of age 4. Limiting vitamin C consumption after 1 year of age
Answer: 2 Starting iron-fortified infant cereal at 4 to 6 months of age is recommended for prevention of iron deficiency in children. Infants who are not breast-fed should get iron-fortified formula. Cow's milk should not be introduced until 12 months of age. Vitamin C should be started at 6 to 9 months of age and continued, because foods rich in vitamin C improve iron absorption.
A school-age child with hemophilia falls on the playground and goes to the nurse's office with superficial bleeding above the knee. Which action by the nurse is the most appropriate? 1. Apply a warm, moist pack to the area. 2. Perform some passive range of motion to the affected leg. 3. Apply pressure to the area for at least 15 minutes. 4. Keep the affected extremity in a dependent position.
Answer: 3 If a hemophiliac child experiences a bleeding episode, superficial bleeding should be controlled by applying pressure to the area for at least 15 minutes. Ice should be applied, not heat. The extremity should be immobilized and elevated, so passive range of motion and keeping the extremity in a dependent position would not be appropriate interventions at this time.
The nurse is caring for a child who is in a sickle cell crisis and has severe pain. Which nursing intervention is the most appropriate for this child? 1. Giving comfort measures, such as back rubs 2. Suggesting diversional activities, such as coloring 3. Administering pain medication 4. Preparing the child for painful procedures
Answer: 3 Severe pain requires administration of pain medication for pain relief. Comfort measures and diversional activities are not effective against severe pain in children. Comfort measures should be given to every child and can be used after pain medication is given. A child in severe pain is not capable of participating in or enjoying diversional activities. Preparing the child for painful procedures is not appropriate when the child is already in pain.
The nurse is caring for the 5-year-old just diagnosed with von Willebrand disease after a tooth extraction with increased bleeding. The family asks the nurse how the signs and symptoms of von Willebrand disease are manifested. What will the nurse tell the family? Select all that apply. 1. Decreased partial thromboplastin time 2. Factor VI deficiency 3. Frequent nosebleeds 4. Bleeding from mucous membranes 5. Frequent bruising
Answer: 3, 4, 5 Characteristic manifestations are prolonged and excessive mucocutaneous bleeding, in children this is exhibited through gingival bleeding, epistaxis, menorrhagia, bruising, and minor wounds or lacerations
The nurse is evaluating the activity tolerance of a 9-month-old with iron deficiency anemia. Which finding indicates that the infant is not tolerating activity? 1. Heart rate of 138 2. Increased alertness 3. Respiratory rate less than 40 with activity 4. Muscle weakness
Answer: 4 Iron deficiency anemia can result in less oxygen reaching the cells and tissues, causing activity intolerance. An indication that a 9-month-old child is not tolerating activity and that iron deficiency anemia is worsening would be the presence of muscle weakness during activity. A heart rate of 138, increased alertness, and a respiratory rate of less than 40 with activity are all signs that iron deficiency anemia is resolving and activity tolerance is improving.
A child who has beta-thalassemia is receiving numerous blood transfusions. The child is also receiving deferoxamine (Desferal) therapy. The parents ask how the deferoxamine will help their child. Which rationale does the nurse use when responding to the parents? 1. It prevents blood transfusion reactions. 2. It stimulates RBC production. 3. It provides vitamin supplementation. 4. It prevents iron overload.
Answer: 4 Iron overload can be a side effect of a hypertransfusion therapy. Deferoxamine (Desferal) is an iron-chelating drug, which binds excess iron so it can be excreted by the kidneys. It does not prevent blood-transfusion reactions, stimulate RBC production, or provide vitamin supplementation.
A child with meningococcemia is being admitted to the pediatric intensive-care unit. Which room assignment is the most appropriate for this child? 1. Semiprivate room 2. Private room, but not in isolation 3. Private room, in protective isolation 4. Private room, in respiratory isolation
Answer: 4 Meningococcemia follows an infection with Neisseria meningitidis. N. meningitidis is transmitted through airborne droplets; thus, the child should be placed in a private room in respiratory isolation. A private room with protective isolation (child is essentially kept in a "bubble") would not be appropriate.
The charge nurse on a pediatric unit is making a room assignment for a school-age child diagnosed with sickle cell disease, who is in splenic sequestration crisis. Which room assignment is most appropriate for this client? 1. Semiprivate room 2. Reverse-isolation room 3. Contact-isolation room 4. Private room
Answer: 4 Splenic sequestration can be life-threatening, and there is profound anemia. The child does not need an isolation room but should not be placed in a room with any child who may have an infectious illness. The private room is appropriate for this child.
