Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
A nurse is assessing a toddler who has acute nephrotic syndrome. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Yellow nasal discharge.
Yellow nasal discharge in a toddler with acute nephrotic syndrome signifies a potential upper respiratory tract infection, which is critically important. Children with nephrotic syndrome are highly susceptible to infections due to significant urinary loss of immunoglobulins, leading to an immunocompromised state. Furthermore, corticosteroid treatments, often prescribed for nephrotic syndrome, suppress the immune system. An infection can precipitate a relapse of the syndrome, lead to severe complications like peritonitis or sepsis, and requires prompt evaluation and potentially antibiotic therapy to prevent life-threatening outcomes.
B. Poor appetite.
Poor appetite is a non-specific symptom in toddlers with nephrotic syndrome and does not typically indicate an immediate, life-threatening complication. It can be attributed to generalized malaise, abdominal discomfort due to ascites, or even side effects of medications such as corticosteroids. While important to monitor for nutritional status and overall well-being, it does not carry the same urgency as signs of infection, which can rapidly lead to severe health deterioration in an immunocompromised child.
C. Facial edema.
Facial edema is a cardinal clinical manifestation of acute nephrotic syndrome, resulting from profound hypoalbuminemia. Reduced plasma oncotic pressure causes fluid to shift from the intravascular space into the interstitial space, leading to generalized edema, often prominently in the face. This finding is expected and indicates the disease process itself, rather than an acute, unexpected complication requiring immediate reporting, unless there is a sudden, significant worsening or associated respiratory compromise.
D. Irritability.
Irritability in a toddler can be a manifestation of general discomfort, illness, or even a side effect of corticosteroid therapy, which can cause mood disturbances and behavioral changes. While it warrants assessment to identify the underlying cause, irritability is a non-specific symptom and does not directly indicate an urgent, life-threatening complication of nephrotic syndrome requiring immediate medical intervention, unlike the signs of an acute infection in an immunocompromised child.
E. None
None
F. None
None
This question is an excerpt from Nurse Dive's nursing test bank - ATI Custom SP23 N23 N240 Proctored Exam 3 Ch 11 24 32 43 44. Take the full exam now
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale: Yellow nasal discharge in a toddler with acute nephrotic syndrome signifies a potential upper respiratory tract infection, which is critically important. Children with nephrotic syndrome are highly susceptible to infections due to significant urinary loss of immunoglobulins, leading to an immunocompromised state. Furthermore, corticosteroid treatments, often prescribed for nephrotic syndrome, suppress the immune system. An infection can precipitate a relapse of the syndrome, lead to severe complications like peritonitis or sepsis, and requires prompt evaluation and potentially antibiotic therapy to prevent life-threatening outcomes.
Choice B rationale: Poor appetite is a non-specific symptom in toddlers with nephrotic syndrome and does not typically indicate an immediate, life-threatening complication. It can be attributed to generalized malaise, abdominal discomfort due to ascites, or even side effects of medications such as corticosteroids. While important to monitor for nutritional status and overall well-being, it does not carry the same urgency as signs of infection, which can rapidly lead to severe health deterioration in an immunocompromised child.
Choice C rationale: Facial edema is a cardinal clinical manifestation of acute nephrotic syndrome, resulting from profound hypoalbuminemia. Reduced plasma oncotic pressure causes fluid to shift from the intravascular space into the interstitial space, leading to generalized edema, often prominently in the face. This finding is expected and indicates the disease process itself, rather than an acute, unexpected complication requiring immediate reporting, unless there is a sudden, significant worsening or associated respiratory compromise.
Choice D rationale: Irritability in a toddler can be a manifestation of general discomfort, illness, or even a side effect of corticosteroid therapy, which can cause mood disturbances and behavioral changes. While it warrants assessment to identify the underlying cause, irritability is a non-specific symptom and does not directly indicate an urgent, life-threatening complication of nephrotic syndrome requiring immediate medical intervention, unlike the signs of an acute infection in an immunocompromised child.
Similar Questions
A nurse is caring for a child who has been physically abused by a family member. Which of the following statements should the nurse say to the child?
A. "Your family is bad for doing this to you.".
Choice A is not an answer because it can create more confusion and fear in the child.
B. "Let's discuss what happened with your family.".
Choice B is not an answer because discussing the abuse with the family may not be safe or appropriate.
C. "It is not your fault that this happened.".
This statement helps the child understand that they are not to blame for the abuse and can help reduce feelings of guilt or shame.
D. "I promise I won't tell anyone about this.".
Choice D is not an answer because it is important for the nurse to report the abuse to the appropriate authorities to ensure the child’s safety.
Full Explanation
This statement helps the child understand that they are not to blame for the abuse and can help reduce feelings of guilt or shame.
Choice A is not an answer because it can create more confusion and fear in the child.
Choice B is not an answer because discussing the abuse with the family may not be safe or appropriate.
Choice D is not an answer because it is important for the nurse to report the abuse to the appropriate authorities to ensure the child’s safety.
A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a parent and their school-age child who has juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Encourage the child to take a 45-minute nap daily.
Choice A is not an answer because there is no information available that suggests taking a 45-minute nap daily would be beneficial for a child with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
B. Administer prednisone on an alternate-day schedule.
Prednisone is a type of steroid medicine that helps decrease severe inflammation and is usually given for a short time while other medicines are started that can take longer to be effective.
C. Allow the child to stay at home on days when their joints are painful.
Choice C is not an answer because it may not be necessary for the child to stay at home on days when their joints are painful.
D. Apply cool compresses for 20 minutes every hour.
Choice D is not an answer because applying cool compresses for 20 minutes every hour may not be the most effective way to manage pain and inflammation.
Full Explanation
Prednisone is a type of steroid medicine that helps decrease severe inflammation and is usually given for a short time while other medicines are started that can take longer to be effective.
Choice A is not an answer because there is no information available that suggests taking a 45-minute nap daily would be beneficial for a child with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Choice C is not an answer because it may not be necessary for the child to stay at home on days when their joints are painful.
Choice D is not an answer because applying cool compresses for 20 minutes every hour may not be the most effective way to manage pain and inflammation.
A nurse is planning care for a client who ingested a large amount of acetylsalicylic acid.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Administer N-acetylcysteine.
Choice A is not an answer because N-acetylcysteine is used to treat acetaminophen overdose, not acetylsalicylic acid overdose.
B. Initiate chelation therapy with deferoxamine.
Choice B is not an answer because chelation therapy with deferoxamine is used to treat iron poisoning, not acetylsalicylic acid overdose.
C. Perform gastric lavage with activated charcoal.
Activated charcoal should be given as soon as possible to help absorb the acetylsalicylic acid in the gastrointestinal tract.
D. Induce vomiting with syrup of ipecac.
Choice D is not an answer because inducing vomiting with syrup of ipecac is no longer recommended for the treatment of poisoning due to the potential for harm and lack of evidence of benefit.
Full Explanation
Activated charcoal should be given as soon as possible to help absorb the acetylsalicylic acid in the gastrointestinal tract.
Choice A is not an answer because N-acetylcysteine is used to treat acetaminophen overdose, not acetylsalicylic acid overdose.
Choice B is not an answer because chelation therapy with deferoxamine is used to treat iron poisoning, not acetylsalicylic acid overdose.
Choice D is not an answer because inducing vomiting with syrup of ipecac is no longer recommended for the treatment of poisoning due to the potential for harm and lack of evidence of benefit.