ATI RN NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN FORM B
2026 PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
DETAILED REVIEW
◉ Risk Factors (Cleft Lip & Palate) Answer: - Other syndromes
- Combo of maternal & environmental factors
- Family history of CL or CP
- Exposure to ETOCH, cigarette smoke, anticonvulsants, retinoids, or
steroids during pregnancy
- Folate deficiency during pregnancy
◉ Diagnostic Findings (Cleft Lip & Palate) Answer: - Cleft lip is visible
separation from upper lip toward nose
- Cleft palate is visible or palpable opening of palate connecting mouth
& nasal cavity
◉ Nursing Care (Cleft Lip & Palate) Answer: - Support & encourage
parents in general care of their child
- Promote parent-infant bonding
- Promote healthy self-esteem throughout child's development
◉ Therapeutic Procedures (Cleft Lip & Palate) Answer: Cleft Lip:
- Repair typically done between 2 - 3 months of age
,- Revisions usually required in severe defects
Cleft Palate:
- Repair typically done between 6 & 12 months of age
- Most require secondary surgery
◉ Therapeutic Procedures (Cleft Lip & Palate) - Preoperative Nursing
Actions Answer: - Inspect lip & palate, using gloved finger to palpate
palate
- Assess ability to suck
- Obtain baseline weight
- Observe interaction between family & infant
- Determine family coping & support
- Refer parents to appropriate support groups
- Consult with social services to provide needed services (e.g., financial,
insurance) for the family & infant)
- Instruct parents about proper feeding & care
- Assess ability to feed
- Initiate strategies for successful feeding
- For isolated cleft lip,
-- Encourage breast feeding
-- Use wide-based nipple for bottle feeding
, -- Squeeze infant's cheeks together during feeding to decrease gap
- For cleft palate or cleft lip & palate,
-- Position infant upright while cradling head during feeding
-- Use specialized bottle with one-way valve & specially cut nipple
-- Burp infant frequently
-- Syringe feeding can be necessary for infant who is unsuccessful with
other methods
◉ Therapeutic Procedures (Cleft Lip & Palate) - Postoperative Nursing
Actions Answer: - Perform standard postoperative care, including
assessment of vital signs, oxygen saturation, & pain management using
age-appropriate tool
- Keep infant pain-free to decrease crying & stress on repair
- Administer analgesics as prescribed
- Assess operative sites for signs of crusting, bleeding, & infection
- Avoid having infant suck on nipple or pacifier
- Avoid spoons, forks, & other objects infant might bring to mouth that
could damage incision site
- Monitor I & O & weigh daily
- Observe family's interaction with infant
- Assess family coping & support
2026 PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
DETAILED REVIEW
◉ Risk Factors (Cleft Lip & Palate) Answer: - Other syndromes
- Combo of maternal & environmental factors
- Family history of CL or CP
- Exposure to ETOCH, cigarette smoke, anticonvulsants, retinoids, or
steroids during pregnancy
- Folate deficiency during pregnancy
◉ Diagnostic Findings (Cleft Lip & Palate) Answer: - Cleft lip is visible
separation from upper lip toward nose
- Cleft palate is visible or palpable opening of palate connecting mouth
& nasal cavity
◉ Nursing Care (Cleft Lip & Palate) Answer: - Support & encourage
parents in general care of their child
- Promote parent-infant bonding
- Promote healthy self-esteem throughout child's development
◉ Therapeutic Procedures (Cleft Lip & Palate) Answer: Cleft Lip:
- Repair typically done between 2 - 3 months of age
,- Revisions usually required in severe defects
Cleft Palate:
- Repair typically done between 6 & 12 months of age
- Most require secondary surgery
◉ Therapeutic Procedures (Cleft Lip & Palate) - Preoperative Nursing
Actions Answer: - Inspect lip & palate, using gloved finger to palpate
palate
- Assess ability to suck
- Obtain baseline weight
- Observe interaction between family & infant
- Determine family coping & support
- Refer parents to appropriate support groups
- Consult with social services to provide needed services (e.g., financial,
insurance) for the family & infant)
- Instruct parents about proper feeding & care
- Assess ability to feed
- Initiate strategies for successful feeding
- For isolated cleft lip,
-- Encourage breast feeding
-- Use wide-based nipple for bottle feeding
, -- Squeeze infant's cheeks together during feeding to decrease gap
- For cleft palate or cleft lip & palate,
-- Position infant upright while cradling head during feeding
-- Use specialized bottle with one-way valve & specially cut nipple
-- Burp infant frequently
-- Syringe feeding can be necessary for infant who is unsuccessful with
other methods
◉ Therapeutic Procedures (Cleft Lip & Palate) - Postoperative Nursing
Actions Answer: - Perform standard postoperative care, including
assessment of vital signs, oxygen saturation, & pain management using
age-appropriate tool
- Keep infant pain-free to decrease crying & stress on repair
- Administer analgesics as prescribed
- Assess operative sites for signs of crusting, bleeding, & infection
- Avoid having infant suck on nipple or pacifier
- Avoid spoons, forks, & other objects infant might bring to mouth that
could damage incision site
- Monitor I & O & weigh daily
- Observe family's interaction with infant
- Assess family coping & support
