1 :

School-age child admitted, diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at 3 months of age, has experienced failure to thrive, and has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The child presents with wheezing, rhonchi, paroxysmal cough, and dyspnea.

The parent reports large, frothy foul- smelling stools.

The child has deficient levels of vitamin A, D, E, and K.

Barrel-shaped chest

Clubbing of the fingers bilaterally

Respiratory rate 40/min with wheezing and rhonchi noted bilaterally, dyspnea, and paroxysmal cough

Temperature 38.4Β° C (101Β° F)

Heart rate 100/min

Respiratory rate 40/min

Blood pressure 100/57 mm Hg

Sputum culture positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Stool analysis positive for presence of fat and enzymes

Chest x-ray indicates obstructive emphysema

WBC count 20,000/mm3 (5,000 to IO,OOO/mm3)


A nurse is reviewing the child's medical record. Which of the following medications should the nurse expect the provider to prescribe or reconcile from the child's home medication list? Select all that apply


Answer Options

Hint : πŸ§ͺLook for medications that support both airway clearance and nutritional absorption in chronic conditions.

Correct Answers:

  • Water-soluble vitamin
  • Dornase alfa


Rationale :

🫁Dornase alfa is a mucolytic agent specifically prescribed for clients with cystic fibrosis to thin and loosen thick pulmonary secretions, thereby improving airway clearance and reducing the risk of infections.

πŸ’ŠClients with fat-soluble vitamin malabsorption (vitamins A, D, E, K) require water-soluble forms of these vitamins to improve absorption due to pancreatic enzyme deficiency and steatorrhea.

πŸ”¬The presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and elevated WBC count confirms infection, but acetaminophen is only symptomatic and not a CF-specific treatment, while meperidine is not recommended for children due to the risk of toxic metabolite accumulation.

🩻The child’s symptomsβ€”paroxysmal cough, barrel chest, and clubbingβ€”are classic signs of chronic hypoxia in cystic fibrosis, supporting the need for targeted pulmonary and nutritional therapies.

πŸ“ŒCore Message

Children with cystic fibrosis require airway clearance agents like dornase alfa and water-soluble vitamins to manage mucus build-up and fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies due to malabsorption.

2 :

A 15-year old adolescent is admitted for a crisis. The parent reports that the adolescent has a fever and has vomited for 3 days. The adolescent reports having right- sided and low back pain. They also report hands and right knee are painful and swollen. The client reports pain as 8 on a scale of 0 to 10.

Temperature 37.8Β° C (100Β° F)

Heart rate 100/min

Blood pressure 110/72 mm Hg

Respiratory rate 20/min

Oxygen saturation 95% on room air

Awake, alert, and oriented x 3

Yellow sclera of eyes noted bilaterally

Right upper quadrant tender to palpation

Hands painful to touch and swollen bilaterally

Right knee is swollen, warm to palpation, and the client reports pain as 8 on a scale of0 to 10.

Client is tearful and grimacing during the examination.


The nurse is planning care for the adolescent. Select the 5 interventions the nurse should include.


Answer Options

Hint : 🩸Focus on interventions that manage pain, hypoxia, and long-term complications of sickle cell disease.

Correct Answers:

  • Instruct the parent to ensure the pneumococcal vaccine is current.
  • Administer folic acid as prescribed.
  • Monitor oxygen saturation continuously
  • Apply cold compresses to the affected joints.
  • Give oral hydroxyurea.


Rationale :

πŸ’‰Pneumococcal vaccination is essential for clients with sickle cell disease due to their increased risk for encapsulated bacterial infections from functional asplenia.

πŸ’ŠFolic acid is given to support erythropoiesis, as these clients experience chronic hemolysis and need help generating new red blood cells.

πŸ“ˆOxygen saturation monitoring helps detect hypoxia, which can worsen sickling and vaso-occlusion, making it critical during crisis management.

🧊Cold compresses are effective for localized pain relief and reducing inflammation during joint pain episodes, which often accompany sickle cell crises.

πŸ’ŠHydroxyurea is a disease-modifying drug that increases fetal hemoglobin (HbF) production, which reduces sickling episodes and the severity of crises.

πŸ“ŒCore Message

Care for clients in vaso-occlusive crisis includes pain control, oxygenation, infection prevention, and disease-modifying therapy such as hydroxyurea and folic acid supplementation.

3 :

Hint : 🧫Think about what happens when clotting is excessive and widespread β€” what would the blood run out of?

Correct Answers:

  • Decreased platelet count


Rationale :

πŸ§ͺDisseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a coagulopathy marked by widespread clotting and simultaneous bleeding due to platelet and clotting factor consumption.

πŸ“‰As a result, clients typically present with a decreased platelet count, prolonged bleeding time, and abnormal coagulation studies such as increased PT and aPTT.

🩸Hgb and RBC levels are often reduced, not increased, due to ongoing bleeding and hemolysis.

πŸ”¬The body’s inability to control bleeding in DIC leads to microvascular thrombi and hemorrhagic manifestations, making low platelets a key indicator.

πŸ“ŒCore Message

Disseminated intravascular coagulation causes consumption of platelets and clotting factors, leading to a decreased platelet count and abnormal coagulation profiles.

4 :

Hint : πŸ«€One vital sign is clearly below the normal pediatric range β€” it should raise concern.

Correct Answers:

  • An 18-month-old toddler who has a heart rate of 68/min


Rationale :

❀️The normal heart rate for an 18-month-old ranges between 80–130/min, so a heart rate of 68/min is bradycardic and requires immediate evaluation.

🩺Bradycardia in children can be a late and critical sign of hypoxia or cardiac dysfunction, making it a priority finding to report.

🌑️The other findings, including rectal temperature of 99.1°F, BP of 132/82 in an adolescent, and RR of 30/min in a 3-month-old, fall within normal limits.

πŸ“žPrompt communication with the provider is essential when a vital sign deviates significantly from the expected pediatric range.

πŸ“ŒCore Message

A heart rate of 68/min in a toddler is below the expected range and may indicate cardiac or respiratory compromise, requiring prompt provider notification.

5 :

Hint : πŸ‘•Consider what small household items could lead to aspiration if unnoticed.

Correct Answers:

  • Check clothing for loose buttons.


Rationale :

🀱Toddlers are at high risk for choking, and loose buttons on clothing are a common aspiration hazard.

🚫Balloons are also choking risks, but offering them promotes danger rather than preventing it.

🌑️Setting the water heater at 54Β°C (129.2Β°F) exceeds safety recommendations β€” the recommended temperature is below 49Β°C (120Β°F) to prevent scald injuries.

πŸͺŸWindow screens may give a false sense of security but do not prevent falls, so they are not a safe substitute for window guards or locked windows.

πŸ“ŒCore Message

Choking prevention in toddlers includes removing loose items like buttons that can be aspirated, as toddlers frequently explore by putting objects in their mouth.

6 :

Hint : πŸ‘„Watch for behaviors that might indicate silent or hidden bleeding after throat surgery.

Correct Answers:

  • "Notify the provider if your child is swallowing frequently."


Rationale :

🩸Frequent swallowing following a tonsillectomy is a red flag for bleeding, especially from the operative site at the back of the throat.

πŸ“žEarly detection of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage is critical because bleeding can be subtle yet life-threatening.

🚫Using a straw increases the risk of dislodging clots by creating negative pressure and should be avoided.

🚫Telling the child to clear their throat can also disturb healing tissue and promote bleeding.

πŸ“ŒCore Message

Frequent swallowing after tonsillectomy may signal postoperative bleeding and should be reported immediately to prevent complications.

7 :

Hint : πŸ‘ΆReducing movement and anxiety improves cooperation during short, painless tests.

Correct Answers:

  • "Your child can rest on your lap during the procedure."


Rationale :

πŸͺ‘Allowing a toddler to rest on the parent's lap during an ECG helps reduce anxiety and movement, promoting cooperation and accurate results.

πŸ’“ECGs are painless and non-invasive, requiring only that electrodes be attached to the chest and limbs, not the back.

⏱️The procedure typically takes a few minutes, not 30, so informing the parent it takes longer could increase anxiety unnecessarily.

🚫Alarms are not part of a standard ECG β€” they are part of cardiac monitoring, not a static ECG recording.

πŸ“ŒCore Message

During an ECG, allowing the child to sit on the parent’s lap provides comfort and helps ensure accurate, motion-free results.

8 :

Hint : ⚠️Always confirm where the tube ends before you use it.

Correct Answers:

  • Check the pH of the gastric secretions.


Rationale :

πŸ§ͺVerifying tube placement is always the first priority before initiating any enteral feeding, and checking the pH of gastric aspirate is a recommended method.

🚫Administering feeding without checking placement first poses a risk of aspiration or incorrect delivery, especially if the tube has migrated.

🚿Flushing the tube or setting the rate comes after confirming correct placement.

πŸ”—Safety checks before feeding are essential for preventing complications in enteral nutrition delivery.

πŸ“ŒCore Message

Before delivering an enteral feeding, verify NG tube placement by checking gastric pH to prevent aspiration and ensure safety.

9 :

Hint : 🧸Choose the option that minimizes choking and meets safe soothing needs.

Correct Answers:

  • Provide an infant with a one-piece pacifier for non-nutritive sucking


Rationale :

🍼One-piece pacifiers are recommended because they reduce the risk of choking and aspiration if the pacifier breaks apart.

πŸ‘ΆNon-nutritive sucking is beneficial for self-soothing and can improve feeding readiness and neurodevelopment in infants.

🚫Placing a 5-month-old in a high chair may not be safe unless the child has adequate trunk control, which typically develops closer to 6 months.

πŸ›οΈA soft mattress increases the risk of suffocation; infants should be placed supine on a firm mattress to reduce the risk of SIDS.

πŸš—Never place an infant car seat in front of an airbag, as it can lead to fatal injuries in the event of deployment.

πŸ“ŒCore Message

Use one-piece pacifiers to reduce the risk of choking and support safe, comforting habits in infants.

10 :

Hint : 🚨Airway comes first β€” always prepare for the worst-case respiratory scenario.

Correct Answers:

  • Place intubation equipment at the bedside.


Rationale :

πŸ›‘Epiglottitis is a medical emergency due to the risk of sudden airway obstruction, and the nurse must be prepared for immediate intubation.

πŸ§‘β€βš•οΈHaving intubation equipment readily available is the first priority, even before diagnostic procedures or medication.

🚷Throat inspection or obtaining a neck x-ray could worsen airway obstruction if the child becomes agitated.

🦠Droplet precautions are necessary, but they are not the first action β€” airway management takes precedence in life-threatening situations.

πŸ“ŒCore Message

In suspected epiglottitis, always prioritize airway readiness by ensuring intubation equipment is immediately available.

Total Questions: 10

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