Overview of Child Health Nursing
Overview of Child Health Nursing
Overview of Child Health Nursing
Care provider
Educator
Advocate
Pediatric Health Statistics
Infant Mortality
o
Number of deaths per
1000 live births during 1
st
year of life.
o
Infant mortality rate is an indicator of how healthy the nation is.
o
This rate is used to compare national health care to previousyears and to other
countries.
o
There has been a great decrease in the number of deaths overthe past century.
For children older than one year, death rates have always been lessthan those for
infants.
Examples:
o
Congenital heart defects
o
Asthma
o
Cerebral Palsy
o
Cystic Fibrosis
Concerned with helping to decrease these statistics as children missschool and
other activities when ill.
Advanced Practice roles for nurses in Child health nursing
Nurse midwife
Growth and Development
Includes:
o
Height
o
Weight
o
Head circumference
Development : Used to denote an increase in
skill or ability to finction
.
Measured by:
o
Observing child do specific tasks
o
Parents description of childs ability
o
Using standardized testing (Denver II screening test)
Principles of Growth and development
G & D is a continuous process from birth to death
o
Rate of growth varies at different times
CNS, Cardiac develops quickly.
Genetics
Gender
Health
Intelligence
Temperament
Inborn in all of us
Activity level
o
Level of activity differs widely among children
Rhythmicity
o
Have a regular rhythm is physiologic terms
Approach
Adaptability
o
Is the child able to adapt to new situations?
Intensity of reaction
Distractibility
Mood quality
Categories of temperament
Environment
Socioeconomic level
Parent-child relationship
Health
Nutrition
B. residual volume.
C. vital capacity.
D. dead-space volume.
14. A male client with pneumonia develops respiratory failure and has a partial pressure of
arterial oxygen of 55 mm Hg. Hes placed on mechanical ventilation with a fraction of inspired
oxygen (FIO2) of 0.9. The nursing goal should be to reduce the FIO2 to no greater than:
A. 0.21
B. 0.35
C. 0.5
D. 0.7
15. Nurse Mickey is administering a purified protein derivative (PPD) test to a homeless client.
Which of the following statements concerning PPD testing is true?
A. A positive reaction indicates that the client has active tuberculosis (TB).
B. A positive reaction indicates that the client has been exposed to the disease.
C. A negative reaction always excludes the diagnosis of TB.
D. The PPD can be read within 12 hours after the injection.
16. Nurse Murphy administers albuterol (Proventil), as prescribed, to a client with emphysema.
Which finding indicates that the drug is producing a therapeutic effect?
A. Respiratory rate of 22 breaths/minute
B. Dilated and reactive pupils
C. Urine output of 40 ml/hour
D. Heart rate of 100 beats/minute
17. What is the normal pH range for arterial blood?
A. 7 to 7.49
B. 7.35 to 7.45
C. 7.50 to 7.60
D. 7.55 to 7.65
18. Before weaning a male client from a ventilator, which assessment parameter is most
important for the nurse to review?
A. Fluid intake for the last 24 hours
B. Baseline arterial blood gas (ABG) levels
C. Prior outcomes of weaning
D. Electrocardiogram (ECG) results
19. Which of the following would be most appropriate for a male client with an arterial blood gas
(ABG) of pH 7.5, PaCO2 26 mm Hg, O2 saturation 96%, HCO3 24 mEq/L, and PaO2 94 mm
Hg?
A. Administer a prescribed decongestant.
B. Instruct the client to breathe into a paper bag.
C. Offer the client fluids frequently.
D. Administer prescribed supplemental oxygen.
20. A female client is receiving supplemental oxygen. When determining the effectiveness of
oxygen therapy, which arterial blood gas value is most important?
A. pH
B. Bicarbonate (HCO3)
C. Partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2)
D. Partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2)
21. Nurse Julia is caring for a client who has a tracheostomy and temperature of 103 F (39.4
C). Which of the following interventions will most likely lower the clients arterial blood oxygen
saturation?
A. Endotracheal suctioning
B. Encouragement of coughing
B. 2 to 5 mcg/ml
C. 5 to 10 mcg/ml
D. 10 to 20 mcg/ml
26. A male client is to receive I.V. vancomycin (Vancocin). When preparing to administer this
drug, the nurse should keep in mind that:
A. vancomycin should be infused over 60 to 90 minutes in a large volume of fluid.
B. vancomycin may cause irreversible neutropenia.
C. vancomycin should be administered rapidly in a large volume of fluid.
D. vancomycin should be administered over 1 to 2 minutes as an I.V. bolus.
27. Before seeing a newly assigned female client with respiratory alkalosis, the nurse quickly
reviews the clients medical history. Which condition is a predisposing factor for respiratory
alkalosis?
A. Myasthenia gravis
B. Type 1 diabetes mellitus
C. Extreme anxiety
D. Narcotic overdose
28. At 11 p.m., a male client is admitted to the emergency department. He has a respiratory rate
of 44 breaths/minute. Hes anxious, and wheezes are audible. The client is immediately given
oxygen by face mask and methylprednisolone (Depo-medrol) I.V. At 11:30 p.m., the clients
arterial blood oxygen saturation is 86% and hes still wheezing. The nurse should plan to
administer:
A. alprazolam (Xanax).
B. propranolol (Inderal)
C. morphine.
D. albuterol (Proventil).
29. Pulmonary disease (COPD), which nursing action best promotes adequate gas exchange?
A. Encouraging the client to drink three glasses of fluid daily
1. Answer A. If a chest drainage system is disconnected, the nurse may place the end of the
chest tube in a container of sterile saline or water to prevent air from entering the chest
tube, thereby preventing negative respiratory pressure. The nurse should apply an
occlusive dressing if the chest tube is pulled out not if the system is disconnected. The
nurse shouldnt clamp the chest tube because clamping increases the risk of tension
pneumothorax. The nurse should tape the chest tube securely to prevent it from being
disconnected, rather than taping it after it has been disconnected.
2. Answer B. Pneumonia is the most common complication of influenza. It may be either
primary influenza viral pneumonia or pneumonia secondary to a bacterial infection. Other
complications of influenza include myositis, exacerbation of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, and Reyes syndrome. Myocarditis, pericarditis, transverse myelitis,
and encephalitis are rare complications of influenza. Although septicemia may arise when
any infection becomes overwhelming, it rarely results from influenza. Meningitis and
pulmonary edema arent associated with influenza.
3. Answer B. Initially, the nurse should plug the opening in the tracheostomy tube for 5 to
20 minutes, and then gradually lengthen this interval according to the clients respiratory
status. A client who doesnt require continuous mechanical ventilation already is
breathing without assistance, at least for short periods; therefore, plugging the opening of
the tube for only 15 to 60 seconds wouldnt be long enough to reveal the clients true
tolerance to the procedure. Plugging the opening for more than 20 minutes would
increase the risk of acute respiratory distress because the client requires an adjustment
period to start breathing normally.
4. Answer A. As the respiratory center in the brain becomes depressed, hypoxia occurs,
producing wheezing, bradycardia, and a decreased respiratory rate. Delirium is a state of
12. Answer C. Controlled coughing helps maintain a patent airway by helping to mobilize
and remove secretions. A moderate fluid intake (usually 2 L or more daily) and moderate
activity help liquefy and mobilize secretions. Bed rest and sedatives may limit the clients
ability to maintain a patent airway, causing a high risk of infection from pooled
secretions.
13. Answer A. Tidal volume is the amount of air inspired and expired with each breath.
Residual volume is the amount of air remaining in the lungs after forcibly exhaling. Vital
capacity is the maximum amount of air that can be moved out of the lungs after maximal
inspiration and expiration. Dead-space volume is the amount of air remaining in the
upper airways that never reaches the alveoli. In pathologic conditions, dead space may
also exist in the lower airways.
14. Answer C. An FO2 greater than 0.5 for as little as 16 to 24 hours can be toxic and can
lead to decreased gas diffusion and surfactant activity. The ideal oxygen source is room
air F IO 2 0.18 to 0.21.
15. Answer B. A positive reaction means the client has been exposed to TB; it isnt
conclusive of the presence of active disease. A positive reaction consists of palpable
swelling and induration of 5 to 15 mm. It can be read 48 to 72 hours after the injection. In
clients with positive reactions, further studies are usually done to rule out active disease.
In immunosuppressed clients, a negative reaction doesnt exclude the presence of active
disease.
16. Answer A. In a client with emphysema, albuterol is used as a bronchodilator. A
respiratory rate of 22 breaths/minute indicates that the drug has achieved its therapeutic
effect because fewer respirations are required to achieve oxygenation. Albuterol has no
effect on pupil reaction or urine output. It may cause a change in the heart rate, but this is
an adverse, not therapeutic, effect.
17. Answer B. A pH less than 7.35 is indicative of acidosis; a pH above 7.45 indicates
alkalosis.
18. Answer B. Before weaning a client from mechanical ventilation, its most important to
have baseline ABG levels. During the weaning process, ABG levels will be checked to
assess how the client is tolerating the procedure. Other assessment parameters are less
critical. Measuring fluid volume intake and output is always important when a client is
being mechanically ventilated. Prior attempts at weaning and ECG results are
documented on the clients record, and the nurse can refer to them before the weaning
process begins.
19. Answer B. The ABG results reveal respiratory alkalosis. The best intervention to raise
the PaCO2 level would be to have the client breathe into a paper bag. All of the other
options such as administering a decongestant, offering fluids frequently, and
administering supplemental oxygen wouldnt raise the lowered PaCO2 level.
20. Answer C. The most significant and direct indicator of the effectiveness of oxygen
therapy is the PaO2 value. Based on the PaO2 value, the nurse may adjust the type of
oxygen delivery (cannula, venturi mask, or mechanical ventilator), flow rate, and oxygen
percentage. The other options reflect the clients ventilation status, not oxygenation.
21. Answer A. Endotracheal suctioning removes secretions as well as gases from the airway
and lowers the arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) level. Coughing and incentive
spirometry improves oxygenation and should raise or maintain oxygen saturation.
Because of superficial vasoconstriction, using a cooling blanket can lower peripheral
oxygen saturation readings, but SaO2 levels wouldnt be affected.
22. Answer A. The nurse should measure and document the amount of chest tube drainage
regularly to detect abnormal drainage patterns, such as may occur with a hemorrhage (if
excessive) or a blockage (if decreased). Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber
indicates a leak in the closed chest drainage system, which must be corrected. The nurse
should keep the collection chamber below chest level to allow fluids to drain into it. The
nurse should not strip chest tubes because doing so may traumatize the tissue or dislodge
the tube.
23. Answer B. Conditions that increase oxygen demands include obesity, smoking, exposure
to temperature extremes, and stress. A client with chronic bronchitis should drink at least
2,000 ml of fluid daily to thin mucus secretions; restricting fluid intake may be harmful.
The nurse should encourage the client to eat a high-protein snack at bedtime because
protein digestion produces an amino acid with sedating effects that may ease the
insomnia associated with chronic bronchitis. Eating more than three large meals a day
may cause fullness, making breathing uncomfortable and difficult; however, it doesnt
increase oxygen demands. To help maintain adequate nutritional intake, the client with
chronic bronchitis should eat small, frequent meals (up to six a day).
24. Answer B. Skin color doesnt affect the mucous membranes. The lips, nail beds, and
earlobes are less reliable indicators of cyanosis because theyre affected by skin color.
25. Answer D. The therapeutic serum theophylline concentration ranges from 10 to 20
mcg/ml. Values below 10 mcg/ml arent therapeutic.
26. Answer A. To avoid a hypotensive reaction from rapid I.V. administration, the nurse
should infuse vancomycin slowly, over 60 to 90 minutes, in a large volume of fluid.
Although neutropenia may occur in approximately 5% to 10% of clients receiving
vancomycin, this adverse effect reverses rapidly when the drug is discontinued.
27. Answer C. Extreme anxiety may lead to respiratory alkalosis by causing
hyperventilation, which results in excessive carbon dioxide (CO2) loss. Other conditions
that may set the stage for respiratory alkalosis include fever, heart failure, and injury to
the brains respiratory center, overventilation with a mechanical ventilator, pulmonary
embolism, and early salicylate intoxication. Type 1 diabetes mellitus may lead to diabetic
ketoacidosis; the deep, rapid respirations occurring in this disorder (Kussmauls
respirations) dont cause excessive CO2 loss. Myasthenia gravis and narcotic overdose
suppress the respiratory drive, causing CO2 retention, not CO2 loss; this may lead to
respiratory acidosis, not alkalosis.
28. Answer D. The client is hypoxemic because of bronchoconstriction as evidenced by
wheezes and a subnormal arterial oxygen saturation level. The clients greatest need is
bronchodilation, which can be accomplished by administering bronchodilators. Albuterol
is a beta2 adrenergic agonist, which causes dilation of the bronchioles. Its given by
nebulization or metered-dose inhalation and may be given as often as every 30 to 60
minutes until relief is accomplished. Alprazolam is an anxiolytic and central nervous
system depressant, which could suppress the clients breathing. Propranolol is
contraindicated in a client whos wheezing because its a beta2 adrenergic antagonist.
Morphine is a respiratory center depressant and is contraindicated in this situation.
29. Answer C. The client with COPD retains carbon dioxide, which inhibits stimulation of
breathing by the medullary center in the brain. As a result, low oxygen levels in the blood
stimulate respiration, and administering unspecified, unmonitored amounts of oxygen
may depress ventilation. To promote adequate gas exchange, the nurse should use a
Venturi mask to deliver a specified, controlled amount of oxygen consistently and
accurately. Drinking three glasses of fluid daily wouldnt affect gas exchange or be
sufficient to liquefy secretions, which are common in COPD. Clients with COPD and
respiratory distress should be placed in high Fowlers position and shouldnt receive
sedatives or other drugs that may further depress the respiratory center.
30. Answer A. Pursed-lip breathing helps prevent early airway collapse. Learning this
technique helps the client control respiration during periods of excitement, anxiety,
exercise, and respiratory distress. To increase inspiratory muscle strength and endurance,
the client may need to learn inspiratory resistive breathing. To decrease accessory muscle
use and thus reduce the work of breathing, the client may need to learn diaphragmatic
(abdominal) breathing. In pursed-lip breathing, the client mimics a normal inspiratoryexpiratory (I:E) ratio of 1:2. (A client with emphysema may have an I:E ratio as high as
1:4.)