Inquire through: | Professional | Confidential Support
CHAPTER 16:Nursing Care of the Child With
an Alteration in Intracranial Regulation/
Neurologic Disorder Verified and Updated
Questions and Answers (100% Correct
Answers)
1. When providing care to a newborn infant who was born at 29 weeks' gestation, the
nurse integrates knowledge of potential complications, being alert for signs and
symptoms of what condition?
A) Neonatal conjunctivitis
B) Facial deformities
C) Intracranial hemorrhage
D) Incomplete myelinization—
Answer: Ans: C
Feedback: Premature infants have more fragile capillaries in the periventricular area
than term infants, which puts them at greater risk for intracranial hemorrhage.
Neonatal conjunctivitis can occur in any newborn during birth and is caused by
viruses, bacteria, or chemicals. Facial deformities are typical of babies of alcoholic
mothers. Incomplete myelinization is present in all newborns.
2. The nurse knows that children have larger heads in relation to the body and a
higher center of gravity. When developing a teaching plan for parents, the nurse
includes information about an increased risk for which problem?
A) Febrile seizures
B) Head trauma
C) Caput succedaneum
D) Posterior plagiocephaly—
Answer: Ans: B
, Inquire through: | Professional | Confidential Support
Feedback: The larger head size in relation to the body, coupled with a higher center
of gravity, causes children to hit their head more readily when involved in motor
vehicle accidents, bicycle accidents, and falls. Febrile seizures are not related to
anatomy or physiology. Caput succedaneum is an edematous area on the scalp
caused by pressure of the uterus or vagina during head-first delivery. Posterior
plagiocephaly is caused by early closure of the lamboid suture.
3. The nurse is caring for a child hospitalized with Reye syndrome who is in the
acute stage of the illness. The nurse would assess the child most carefully for what
finding?
A) Indications of increased intracranial pressure
B) An increase in the blood glucose level
C) A decrease in the liver enzymes
D) A presence of protein in the urine—
Answer: Ans: A
Feedback: Reye syndrome is characterized by brain swelling, liver failure, and death
in hours if treatment is not initiated. Therefore, increased intracranial pressure could
occur. Liver enzyme levels typically increase. Blood glucose levels and protein in the
urine are not characteristic of this illness.
4. The physician has ordered rectal diazepam for a 2-year-old boy with status
epilepticus. Which instruction is essential for the nurse to teach the parents?
A) Monitor their child's level of sedation.
B) Watch for fever indicating infection.
C) Gradually reduce the dosage as seizures stop.
D) Monitor for an allergic reaction to the medication.—
Answer: Ans: A
Feedback: Diazepam is useful for home management of prolonged seizures and
requires that the parents be educated on its proper administration. Monitoring the
child's level of sedation is key when giving diazepam because it slows the central
nervous system. Parents need to monitor the overall health of the child, including
temperature when needed, but that has nothing to do with the diazepam. When the
use of an anticonvulsant is stopped, gradual reduction of the dosage is necessary to
CHAPTER 16:Nursing Care of the Child With
an Alteration in Intracranial Regulation/
Neurologic Disorder Verified and Updated
Questions and Answers (100% Correct
Answers)
1. When providing care to a newborn infant who was born at 29 weeks' gestation, the
nurse integrates knowledge of potential complications, being alert for signs and
symptoms of what condition?
A) Neonatal conjunctivitis
B) Facial deformities
C) Intracranial hemorrhage
D) Incomplete myelinization—
Answer: Ans: C
Feedback: Premature infants have more fragile capillaries in the periventricular area
than term infants, which puts them at greater risk for intracranial hemorrhage.
Neonatal conjunctivitis can occur in any newborn during birth and is caused by
viruses, bacteria, or chemicals. Facial deformities are typical of babies of alcoholic
mothers. Incomplete myelinization is present in all newborns.
2. The nurse knows that children have larger heads in relation to the body and a
higher center of gravity. When developing a teaching plan for parents, the nurse
includes information about an increased risk for which problem?
A) Febrile seizures
B) Head trauma
C) Caput succedaneum
D) Posterior plagiocephaly—
Answer: Ans: B
, Inquire through: | Professional | Confidential Support
Feedback: The larger head size in relation to the body, coupled with a higher center
of gravity, causes children to hit their head more readily when involved in motor
vehicle accidents, bicycle accidents, and falls. Febrile seizures are not related to
anatomy or physiology. Caput succedaneum is an edematous area on the scalp
caused by pressure of the uterus or vagina during head-first delivery. Posterior
plagiocephaly is caused by early closure of the lamboid suture.
3. The nurse is caring for a child hospitalized with Reye syndrome who is in the
acute stage of the illness. The nurse would assess the child most carefully for what
finding?
A) Indications of increased intracranial pressure
B) An increase in the blood glucose level
C) A decrease in the liver enzymes
D) A presence of protein in the urine—
Answer: Ans: A
Feedback: Reye syndrome is characterized by brain swelling, liver failure, and death
in hours if treatment is not initiated. Therefore, increased intracranial pressure could
occur. Liver enzyme levels typically increase. Blood glucose levels and protein in the
urine are not characteristic of this illness.
4. The physician has ordered rectal diazepam for a 2-year-old boy with status
epilepticus. Which instruction is essential for the nurse to teach the parents?
A) Monitor their child's level of sedation.
B) Watch for fever indicating infection.
C) Gradually reduce the dosage as seizures stop.
D) Monitor for an allergic reaction to the medication.—
Answer: Ans: A
Feedback: Diazepam is useful for home management of prolonged seizures and
requires that the parents be educated on its proper administration. Monitoring the
child's level of sedation is key when giving diazepam because it slows the central
nervous system. Parents need to monitor the overall health of the child, including
temperature when needed, but that has nothing to do with the diazepam. When the
use of an anticonvulsant is stopped, gradual reduction of the dosage is necessary to
