Question 1

Which of the following outcomes is the most important for a child who has had a tonsillectomy?

Accepted Answer

No postoperative bleeding is the most important outcome to ensure because it can indicate a serious complication that requires immediate attention.

Question 2

Which of the following instructions is the most important discharge teaching for the caregivers of a child who is postoperative from a tonsillectomy?

Accepted Answer

Between 4 and 10 days postoperatively, the risk of hemorrhage due to the sloughing off of the membrane that formed over the surgical site is a critical concern. Immediate medical attention is required if this occurs, making it the most important discharge teaching for caregivers.

Question 3

Otitis media can occur with or without an effusion. Which of the following best describes an effusion?

Accepted Answer

An effusion refers to the accumulation of fluid in a body cavity, such as the middle ear or pleural cavity. This is a common feature of otitis media, where fluid can accumulate in the middle ear space.

Question 4

Which of the following characterizes the course of acute otitis media?

Accepted Answer

Acute otitis media typically presents with a sudden onset of symptoms such as ear pain, fever, and irritability in children, and usually resolves within a few days to weeks, indicating a short duration.

Question 5

Chronic otitis media is an inflammation of the middle ear that persists beyond which of the following time periods?

Accepted Answer

Chronic otitis media is typically defined as an inflammation of the middle ear that persists for 3 months or longer.

Question 6

The nurse is talking with parents about the prevention of otitis media. Which of the following would the nurse identify as preventive measures?

Accepted Answer

Immunizations can help prevent certain infections that may lead to otitis media, and breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the incidence of otitis media in infants due to the transfer of antibodies from mother to child.

Question 7

The nurse who is teaching parents about reducing risk factors for otitis media in children would mention which of the following as putting children most at risk for otitis media?

Accepted Answer

Secondhand smoke is a significant risk factor for otitis media in children because it can irritate the eustachian tubes, leading to dysfunction and infection.

Question 8

A parent asks the nurse to explain why children under the age of 3 are more vulnerable to otitis media. The nurse explains that this is mainly due to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Young children have anatomical differences in their eustachian tubes compared to older children and adults. Their eustachian tubes are wider, shorter, and straighter, which makes it easier for pathogens to enter the middle ear and cause infections like otitis media. This anatomical feature is a primary reason why children under the age of 3 are more vulnerable to these infections.

Question 9

A child with acute otitis media is put on antibiotics. The caregivers ask when the child will be better. The nurse will explain that, then treated with antibiotics, an acute otitis media will begin to resolve in how many days?

Accepted Answer

Acute otitis media typically begins to improve within 2 to 3 days after starting antibiotics.

Question 10

The treatment of chronic fluid collections in the middle ear that take more than 3 or 4 months to resolve are treated with antibiotics or which of the following procedures?

Accepted Answer

Placement of tubes, also known as tympanostomy tubes or grommets, is a common procedure for treating chronic fluid collections in the middle ear, especially when they persist for more than 3 or 4 months and do not respond adequately to antibiotics. This procedure helps to ventilate the middle ear and prevent fluid accumulation.

Question 11

The nurse inspecting the tympanic membrane of a child with acute otitis media will find a tympanic membrane that is best described as:

Accepted Answer

The tympanic membrane in a child with acute otitis media typically appears red and bulging due to inflammation and fluid buildup behind the eardrum, often with a full or absent light reflex, distinguishing it from the normal appearance of being thin, translucent, and pearly.

Question 12

The nurse is assessing a preverbal child who keeps pulling on his ear. The nurse knows that this behavior is one way that children express:

Accepted Answer

Pulling on the ear in preverbal children is often a sign of ear pain, which could be due to an ear infection or another issue. This behavior is a non-verbal cue indicating discomfort or pain in that area.

Question 13

Which of the following is the primary complication of otitis media?

Accepted Answer

Conductive hearing loss is the primary complication of otitis media because the inflammation and fluid buildup in the middle ear can hinder sound transmission.

Question 14

The nurse assessing a child with a respiratory problem finds stridor, which is best described by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Stridor is a high-pitched sound that is typically produced by an obstruction in the trachea or larynx, indicating a narrowing of the airway which can be a sign of a serious respiratory problem.

Question 15

Which of the following body structures is infected then a child has croup?

Accepted Answer

Croup primarily affects the larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe), and the large bronchi, leading to symptoms like a distinctive barking cough and difficulty breathing.

Question 16

Examination of the throat of a child with acute epiglottis by depressing the tongue is:

Accepted Answer

Depressing the tongue in a child with acute epiglottitis is contraindicated due to the risk of triggering a reflex that could cause complete airway obstruction. This condition requires careful handling to avoid exacerbating the airway compromise.

Question 17

The nurse is assessing a child with croup. Which of the following signs or symptoms would the nurse associate with croup and most expect to find?

Accepted Answer

Croup is characterized by a distinctive bark-like cough, hoarseness, and inspiratory stridor due to swelling around the vocal cords, windpipe, and bronchial tubes.

Question 18

Which of the following statements best describes croup?

Accepted Answer

Croup is primarily a viral infection that affects the larynx, trachea, and bronchi, commonly seen in children, leading to symptoms such as a distinctive barking cough and hoarseness.

Question 19

The nurse is assessing the skin moisture of a child with laryngotracheobronchitis. Which of the following explains why the nurse assessed the skin moisture in this case?

Accepted Answer

Diaphoresis, or excessive sweating, can occur due to increased respiratory effort, which is common in conditions like laryngotracheobronchitis. Assessing skin moisture helps evaluate the child's respiratory status.

Question 20

The nurse working with a child with laryngotracheobronchitis is offering the child tiny medicine cups of fluid and giving stickers and prizes for meeting goals related to intake of fluid. All this effort on the part of the nurse to get the child to drink more fluid is because the fluid is needed to:

Accepted Answer

Loosening secretions is a key treatment strategy for laryngotracheobronchitis (croup), as it helps to alleviate the symptoms by making it easier for the child to breathe and cough up the thick mucus associated with the condition.

Quiz 24: Respiratory Alterations