Deck 23: The Child With a Sensory or Neurological Condition

Question 1

The assessment finding that should be reported immediately if observed in a child with meningitis is:

A) Irregular respirations
B) Tachycardia
C) Slight drop in blood pressure
D) Elevated temperature

Answer 1

Irregular respirations

Question 2

The best way for the nurse to communicate with a 10-year-old child who has a hearing impairment would be to:

A) Use gestures and signs as much as possible.
B) Let the child's parents communicate for her.
C) Face the child and speak clearly in short sentences.
D) Recognize that the child's ability to communicate will be on a 6-year-old level.

Answer 2

Face the child and speak clearly in short sentences.

Question 3

The school nurse would suspect amblyopia when the child:

A) Has a reddened sclera in one eye
B) Covers one eye to read the board
C) Complains of a headache
D) Has copious tears while watching TV

Answer 3

Covers one eye to read the board

Question 4

The nurse observes a child's position is supine with his arms and legs rigidly extended and the hands pronated. The nurse recognizes this posture as:

A) Correct anatomical position
B) Decorticate
C) Decerebrate
D) Opisthotonos

Question 5

The nurse explains that febrile seizures:

A) Occur when the body temperature exceeds 103°F
B) Can be prevented by anticonvulsant medication
C) Usually lead to the development of epilepsy
D) Occur when the temperature rises quickly

Question 6

The nurse explains that a common treatment for amblyopia is:

A) Patching the good eye to force the brain to use the affected eye
B) Patching the affected eye to allow the refractory muscles to rest
C) Using glasses that will slightly blur the image for the good eye
D) Using corticosteroids to treat inflammation of the optic nerve

Question 7

A parent reports that her child experiences episodes where he appears to be staring into space. This behavior is characteristic of which type of seizure?

A) Absence
B) Akinetic
C) Myoclonic
D) Complex partial

Question 8

A child had a generalized tonic-clonic seizure that lasted 90 seconds. After a generalized tonic-clonic seizure, the nurse would expect that the child might be:

A) Restless
B) Sleepy
C) Nauseated
D) Anxious

Question 9

The nurse is planning to teach parents about prevention of Reye's syndrome. What information would the nurse include in this teaching?

A) Use aspirin instead of acetaminophen for children with viral illness.
B) Advise parents to have their children immunized against Reye's syndrome.
C) Avoid giving salicylate-containing medications to a child who has viral symptoms.
D) Get the child tested for Reye's syndrome if the child exhibits fever, vomiting, and lethargy.

Question 10

The situation in which the nurse would be suspicious about a hearing impairment is:

A) A 3-month-old infant with a positive Moro reflex
B) A 15-month-old toddler who is babbling
C) An 18-month-old toddler who is speaking one-syllable words
D) A 24-month-old toddler who communicates by pointing

Question 11

The nurse would include in a teaching plan pertinent to the long-term administration of Dilantin that:

A) The medication should be given with food to reduce gastrointestinal distress.
B) Behavioral changes are a possible side effect.
C) Gums should be massaged regularly to prevent hyperplasia.
D) Blood pressure should be closely monitored.

Question 12

An adolescent has just had a generalized seizure lasting 1 minute. Following the seizure, the nurse should:

A) Help the patient to sit upright
B) Turn on the side
C) Offer ice chips
D) Assist to ambulate

Question 13

The nurse planning postoperative teaching for a child who has had a tympanostomy with insertion of tubes would include:

A) Keep the infant flat after feeding.
B) Give over-the-counter anticongestants.
C) Avoid getting water in the ears.
D) Clean the ear canal with cotton-tipped applicators.

Question 14

A parent comments that her infant has had several ear infections in the past few months. The nurse understands that infants are more susceptible to otitis media because:

A) Infants are in a supine or prone position most of the time.
B) Sucking on a nipple creates middle ear pressure.
C) They have increased susceptibility to upper respiratory tract infections.
D) The eustachian tube is short, straight, and wide.

Question 15

When a child is experiencing a generalized tonic-clonic seizure, an appropriate nursing action would be to:

A) Guide the child to the floor if the child is standing, and then go for help.
B) Move objects out of the child's immediate area.
C) Stick a padded tongue blade between the child's teeth.
D) Manually restrain the child.

Question 16

The nurse caring for a 5-month-old with viral influenza suspects the development of Reye's syndrome when the child:

A) Has respirations drop from 18 to 14 breaths/min
B) Goes to sleep after feeding
C) Suddenly vomits
D) Develops a macular rash

Question 17

The nurse determines a mother understands instructions about administering an oral antibiotic for otitis media when the mother verbalizes that she will:

A) Continue using the medication until symptoms are relieved.
B) Share the medicine with siblings if their symptoms are the same.
C) Give the medication with a glass of milk.
D) Administer prescribed doses until all the medication is used.

Question 18

The school nurse recognizes the cardinal sign of a hyphema when she assesses:

A) Opacity of the lens
B) A yellow-white reflex on the pupil
C) A dark-red spot in front of the iris
D) Inflamed mucous membranes of the eyelids

Question 19

The nurse observes that the legs of a child with cerebral palsy cross involuntarily, and the child exhibits jerky movements with his arms as he tries to eat. The nurse recognizes that he has which type of cerebral palsy?

A) Athetoid
B) Ataxic
C) Spastic
D) Mixed

Question 20

The nurse giving instructions for acute conjunctivitis would teach parents to:

A) Apply cool compresses to the affected eye several times a day.
B) Instill topical steroid eye drops for 1 week.
C) Clear away drainage from the inner to the outer aspect of the eye.
D) Keep the eye patched until the inflammation resolves.

Question 21

A child is admitted to the hospital because she had a seizure. Her parents report that for the past few weeks she has had headaches that are worse in the morning with vomiting. The nurse would suspect:

A) Meningitis
B) Reye's syndrome
C) Brain tumor
D) Encephalitis

Question 22

The nurse cautions parents that hearing impairment can affect the child's: Select all that apply.

A) Speech clarity
B) Language development
C) Emotional stability
D) Personality development
E) Academic achievement
F) None of the above

Question 23

The nurse caring for a child with infectious meningitis, would include in the care: Select all that apply.

A) Isolation precautions
B) Provision of dimly lit room
C) Observation for increasing intracranial pressure
D) Preparation for spinal tap
E) Seizure precautions
F) None of the above

Question 24

The pediatric nurse is alerted to the probability of an ear infection in a 6-month-old child when the baby: Select all that apply.

A) Is hypersensitive to noise
B) Is irritable
C) Has a reddened ear canal
D) Rolls head from side to side
E) Spikes a temperature of 103°F

Question 25

A child is brought to the emergency department after he fell and hit his head on the ground. The nursing assessment that suggests the child has a concussion is:

A) Sleepy but easily arousable
B) Complaining of a stiff neck
C) Cannot remember what happened to him
D) Pupils react sluggishly to light

Question 26

The nurse, preparing air travel instructions to prevent barotraumas in infants, would include: Select all that apply.

A) Using ear plugs during takeoff
B) Holding baby upright during flight
C) Omitting the meal just before takeoff
D) Letting the baby nurse during descent
E) Applying ear drops before takeoff