Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
What is the primary purpose of prescribing a histamine receptor antagonist for an infant diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux?
A. Prevent reflux.
Preventing reflux is not the primary purpose of prescribing a histamine receptor antagonist. Histamine receptor antagonists work by reducing gastric acid production, which in turn can help alleviate symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). They do not directly prevent the physical reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus.
B. Reduce gastric acid production.
The primary purpose of prescribing a histamine receptor antagonist for an infant diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux is to reduce gastric acid production. Histamine stimulates acid secretion in the stomach, and these medications (e.g., ranitidine, famotidine) block histamine receptors on stomach cells, leading to decreased acid secretion. This helps reduce the acidity of stomach contents that could contribute to esophageal irritation in GERD.
C. Prevent hematemesis.
Preventing hematemesis (vomiting blood) is not a primary action of histamine receptor antagonists. While reducing gastric acid production might indirectly help prevent complications such as bleeding due to irritation and inflammation of the esophagus, it's not the main purpose of these medications.
D. Increase gastric acid production.
Increasing gastric acid production is the opposite of the intended effect of histamine receptor antagonists. These medications are specifically used to decrease gastric acid production and provide relief from conditions where excess acid is causing problems, such as GERD.
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Full Explanation
The correct answer is choice B. Reduce gastric acid production.
Choice A rationale:
Preventing reflux is not the primary purpose of prescribing a histamine receptor antagonist. Histamine receptor antagonists work by reducing gastric acid production, which in turn can help alleviate symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). They do not directly prevent the physical reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus.
Choice B rationale:
The primary purpose of prescribing a histamine receptor antagonist for an infant diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux is to reduce gastric acid production. Histamine stimulates acid secretion in the stomach, and these medications (e.g., ranitidine, famotidine) block histamine receptors on stomach cells, leading to decreased acid secretion. This helps reduce the acidity of stomach contents that could contribute to esophageal irritation in GERD.
Choice C rationale:
Preventing hematemesis (vomiting blood) is not a primary action of histamine receptor antagonists. While reducing gastric acid production might indirectly help prevent complications such as bleeding due to irritation and inflammation of the esophagus, it's not the main purpose of these medications.
Choice D rationale:
Increasing gastric acid production is the opposite of the intended effect of histamine receptor antagonists. These medications are specifically used to decrease gastric acid production and provide relief from conditions where excess acid is causing problems, such as GERD.
Similar Questions
The nurse is conducting discharge teaching about signs and symptoms of heart failure to parents of an infant with a repaired tetralogy of Fallot. Which signs and symptoms should the nurse include? (Select all that apply.)
A. Decreased urinary output.
Decreased urinary output can be a sign of heart failure, especially in infants. In heart failure, the heart's ability to pump effectively can lead to decreased blood flow to the kidneys, resulting in decreased urine production.
B. Sweating (inappropriate).
Sweating (inappropriate) is a symptom of heart failure in infants. Infants with heart failure might sweat excessively, especially while feeding or crying, due to the effort required by the heart to pump blood effectively.
C. Warm flushed extremities.
Warm flushed extremities are not typically associated with heart failure in infants. In heart failure, extremities might actually become cool and pale due to poor circulation.
D. Anorexia.
Anorexia, or a lack of appetite, is a common sign in infants with heart failure. The increased effort required for feeding due to compromised cardiac function can lead to poor feeding and decreased appetite.
E. Weight loss.
Weight loss can occur in infants with heart failure due to inadequate caloric intake, difficulty with feeding, and increased metabolic demands associated with heart failure. However, it's not as specific a sign as decreased urinary output, sweating, and anorexia.
Full Explanation
The correct answers are choices A, B, and D.
Choice A rationale:
Decreased urinary output can be a sign of heart failure, especially in infants. In heart failure, the heart's ability to pump effectively can lead to decreased blood flow to the kidneys, resulting in decreased urine production.
Choice B rationale:
Sweating (inappropriate) is a symptom of heart failure in infants. Infants with heart failure might sweat excessively, especially while feeding or crying, due to the effort required by the heart to pump blood effectively.
Choice C rationale:
Warm flushed extremities are not typically associated with heart failure in infants. In heart failure, extremities might actually become cool and pale due to poor circulation.
Choice D rationale:
Anorexia, or a lack of appetite, is a common sign in infants with heart failure. The increased effort required for feeding due to compromised cardiac function can lead to poor feeding and decreased appetite.
Choice E rationale:
Weight loss can occur in infants with heart failure due to inadequate caloric intake, difficulty with feeding, and increased metabolic demands associated with heart failure. However, it's not as specific a sign as decreased urinary output, sweating, and anorexia.
A young child is brought to the emergency department with severe dehydration secondary to acute diarrhea and vomiting. Therapeutic management of this child will begin with which intervention?
A. Clear liquids, 1 to 2 ounces at a time.
Clear liquids, 1 to 2 ounces at a time, might not be sufficient to adequately rehydrate a child with severe dehydration. Clear liquids lack the necessary electrolytes and glucose content to effectively combat dehydration and replace lost fluids.
B. Administration of antidiarrheal medication.
Administration of antidiarrheal medication is not the initial step in managing severe dehydration caused by acute diarrhea and vomiting. Antidiarrheal medications can slow down the gastrointestinal motility, which may exacerbate the problem by delaying the elimination of the causative agent and prolonging the dehydration.
C. Oral rehydration solution (ORS).
Oral rehydration solution (ORS) is the recommended initial intervention for managing severe dehydration caused by acute diarrhea and vomiting. ORS contains the appropriate balance of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride) and glucose to replace lost fluids and electrolytes, thereby helping to rehydrate the child effectively. It is absorbed even when digestion is impaired due to the illness.
D. Intravenous fluids.
Intravenous fluids might be necessary if the child's condition is very severe and oral intake cannot be maintained. However, it's not the first-line intervention. Oral rehydration is preferred whenever feasible because it is less invasive and can be administered even in mild to moderate dehydration cases.
Full Explanation
The correct answer is choice C: Oral rehydration solution (ORS).
Choice A rationale:
Clear liquids, 1 to 2 ounces at a time, might not be sufficient to adequately rehydrate a child with severe dehydration. Clear liquids lack the necessary electrolytes and glucose content to effectively combat dehydration and replace lost fluids.
Choice B rationale:
Administration of antidiarrheal medication is not the initial step in managing severe dehydration caused by acute diarrhea and vomiting. Antidiarrheal medications can slow down the gastrointestinal motility, which may exacerbate the problem by delaying the elimination of the causative agent and prolonging the dehydration.
Choice C rationale:
Oral rehydration solution (ORS) is the recommended initial intervention for managing severe dehydration caused by acute diarrhea and vomiting. ORS contains the appropriate balance of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride) and glucose to replace lost fluids and electrolytes, thereby helping to rehydrate the child effectively. It is absorbed even when digestion is impaired due to the illness.
Choice D rationale:
Intravenous fluids might be necessary if the child's condition is very severe and oral intake cannot be maintained. However, it's not the first-line intervention. Oral rehydration is preferred whenever feasible because it is less invasive and can be administered even in mild to moderate dehydration cases.
The recommended children's dosage of Keflex is 25 to 50 mg/kg/day in divided doses. The maximum daily safe dosage for a child weighing 42 lb is: Round to the nearest tenth.
(Number Only, do not enter mg, kg, or day with your answer)
Full Explanation
Step 1 is converting the child's weight from pounds to kilograms. (42 lb ÷ 2.2) = 19.09090909 kg
Step 2 is calculating the maximum daily dosage using the upper limit of the dosage range (50 mg/kg/day). 19.09090909 kg × 50 mg/kg/day = 954.5454545 mg/day
Step 3 is rounding the result to the nearest tenth. The answer is 954.5