Chapter 01: Perspectives of Pediatric Nursing
1. A nurse is planning a teaching session for parents of preschool children. Which statement
explains why the nurse should include information about morbidity and mortality?
a. Life span statistics are included in the data.
b. It explains effectiveness of treatment.
c. Cost-effective treatment is detailed for the general population.
d. High-risk age groups for certain disorders or hazards are identified.
ANS: D
Analysis of morbidity and mortality data provides the parents with information about which groups of
individuals are at risk for which health problems. Life span statistics is a part of the mortality data.
Treatment modalities and cost are not included in morbidity and mortality data.
2. A clinic nurse is planning a teaching session about childhood obesity prevention for parents
of school-age children. The nurse should include which associated risk of obesity in the teaching
plan?
a. Type I diabetes
b. Respiratory disease
c. Celiac disease
d. Type II diabetes
ANS: D
Childhood obesity has been associated with the rise of type II diabetes in children. Type I diabetes is not
associated with obesity and has a genetic component. Respiratory disease is not associated with obesity, and
celiac disease is the inability to metabolize gluten in foods and is not associated with obesity.
3. Which is the leading cause of death in infants younger than 1 year?
a. Congenital anomalies
b. Sudden infant death syndrome
c. Respiratory distress syndrome
d. Bacterial sepsis of the newborn
ANS: A
Congenital anomalies account for 20.1% of deaths in infants younger than 1 year. Sudden infant death
syndrome accounts for 8.2% of deaths in this age group. Respiratory distress syndrome accounts for 3.4% of
deaths in this age group. Infections specific to the perinatal period account for 2.7% of deaths in this age
group.
4. Which leading cause of death topic should the nurse emphasize to a group of African-American
boys ranging in age from 15 to 19 years?
a. Suicide
b. Cancer
c. Firearm homicide
d. Occupational injuries
ANS: C
Firearm homicide is the second overall cause of death in this age group and the leading cause of death in
African-American males. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death in this population. Cancer, although
a major health problem, is the fourth-leading cause of death in this age group. Occupational injuries do
not contribute to a significant death rate for this age group.
5. Which is the major cause of death for children older than 1 year?
a. Cancer
b. Heart disease
c. Unintentional injuries
d. Congenital anomalies
ANS: C
Unintentional injuries (accidents) are the leading cause of death after age 1 year through adolescence.
Congenital anomalies are the leading cause of death in those younger than 1 year. Cancer ranks either
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second or fourth, depending on the age group, and heart disease ranks fifth in the majority of the age
groups.
6.Which is the leading cause of death from unintentional injuries for females ranging in age from 1 to 14?
a. Mechanical suffocation
b. Drowning
c. Motor vehicle–related fatalities
d. Fire- and burn-related fatalities
ANS: C
Motor vehicle–related fatalities are the leading cause of death for females ranging in age from 1 to 14, either
as passengers or as pedestrians. Mechanical suffocation is fourth or fifth, depending on the age. Drowning is
the second- or third-leading cause of death, depending on the age. Fire- and burn-related fatalities are the
second-leading cause of death.
7. Which factor most impacts the type of injury a child is susceptible to, according to the child’s age?
a. Physical health of the child
b. Developmental level of the child
c. Educational level of the child
d. Number of responsible adults in the home
ANS: B
The child’s developmental stage determines the type of injury that is likely to occur. The child’s physical
health may facilitate the child’s recovery from an injury but does not impact the type of injury. Educational
level is related to developmental level, but it is not as important as the child’s developmental level in
determining the type of injury. The number of responsible adults in the home may affect the number of
unintentional injuries, but the type of injury is related to the child’s developmental stage.
8. Which is now referred to as the “new morbidity”?
a. Limitations in the major activities of daily living
b Unintentional injuries that cause chronic health problems
.
c. Discoveries of new therapies to treat health problems
d Behavioral, social, and educational problems that alter health
.
ANS: D
The new morbidity reflects the behavioral, social, and educational problems that interfere with the child’s
social and academic development. It is currently estimated that the incidence of these issues is from 5% to
30%. Limitations in major activities of daily living and unintentional injuries that result in chronic health
problems are included in morbidity data. Discovery of new therapies would be reflected in changes in
morbidity data over time.
9. A nurse on a pediatric unit is practicing family-centered care. Which is most descriptive of the
care the nurse is delivering?
a. Taking over total care of the child to reduce stress on the family
b. Encouraging family dependence on health care systems
c. Recognizing that the family is the constant in a child’s life
d. Excluding families from the decision-making process
ANS: C
The three key components of family-centered care are respect, collaboration, and support. Family-centered
care recognizes the family as the constant in the child’s life. Taking over total care does not include the
family in the process and may increase stress instead of reducing stress. The family should be enabled and
empowered to work with the health care system. The family is expected to be part of the decision-making
process.
10. The nurse is preparing an in-service education to staff about atraumatic care for pediatric patients.
Which intervention should the nurse include?
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a. Prepare the child for separation from parents during hospitalization by reviewing a video.
b. Prepare the child before any unfamiliar treatment or procedure by demonstrating on a stuffed animal.
c. Help the child accept the loss of control associated with hospitalization.
d. Help the child accept pain that is connected with a treatment or procedure.
ANS: B
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Preparing the child for any unfamiliar treatments, controlling pain, allowing privacy, providing play
activities for expression of fear and aggression, providing choices, and respecting cultural differences are
components of atraumatic care. In the provision of atraumatic care, the separation of child from parents
during hospitalization is minimized. The nurse should promote a sense of control for the child. Preventing
and minimizing bodily injury and pain are major components of atraumatic care.
11. Which is most suggestive that a nurse has a nontherapeutic relationship with a patient and family?
a. Staff is concerned about the nurse’s actions with the patient and family.
b Staff assignments allow the nurse to care for same patient and family over an extended time.
.
c. Nurse is able to withdraw emotionally when emotional overload occurs but still remains committed.
d Nurse uses teaching skills to instruct patient and family rather than doing everything for them.
.
ANS: A
An clue to a nontherapeutic staff-patient relationship is concern of other staff members. Allowing the nurse
to care for the same patient over time would be therapeutic for the patient and family. Nurses who are able
to somewhat withdraw emotionally can protect themselves while providing therapeutic care. Nurses using
teaching skills to instruct patient and family will assist in transitioning the child and family to self-care.
12. Which is most descriptive of clinical reasoning?
a. A simple developmental process
b. Purposeful and goal-directed
c. Based on deliberate and irrational thought
d. Assists individuals in guessing what is most appropriate
ANS: B Clinical reasoning is a complex, developmental process based on rational and deliberate thought.
Clinical reasoning is not a developmental process. Clinical reasoning is based on rational and deliberate
thought. Clinical reasoning is not a guessing process.
13. A nurse makes the decision to apply a topical anesthetic to a child’s skin before drawing
blood. Which ethical principle is the nurse demonstrating?
a. Autonomy
b. Beneficence
c. Justice
d. Truthfulness
ANS: B Beneficence is the obligation to promote the patient’s well-being. Applying a topical anesthetic
before drawing blood promotes reducing the discomfort of the venipuncture. Autonomy is the patient’s
right to be self-governing. Justice is the concept of fairness. Truthfulness is the concept of honesty.
14. Which action by the nurse demonstrates use of evidence-based practice (EBP)?
a. Gathering equipment for a procedure
b. Documenting changes in a patient’s status
c. Questioning the use of daily central line dressing changes
d. Clarifying a physician’s prescription for morphine
ANS: C The nurse who questions the daily central line dressing change is ascertaining whether clinical
interventions result in positive outcomes for patients. This demonstrates EBP, which implies questioning
why something is effective and whether a better approach exists. Gathering equipment for a procedure
and documenting changes in a patient’s status are practices that follow established guidelines. Clarifying a
physician’s prescription for morphine constitutes safe nursing care.
15. A nurse is admitting a toddler to the hospital. The toddler is with both parents and is currently
sitting comfortably on a parent’s lap. The parents state they will need to leave for a brief period. Which
type of nursing diagnosis should the nurse formulate for this child?