Question 1

A baby weighting 6 lbs. 2 ounces and 18 inches at birth weighs 18.5 lbs. and is 36 inches in length at age 1 year. What should the nurse say to the mother about this baby's growth and development?

Accepted Answer

A child's weight should triple and length should double by the first birthday. The baby is at acceptable weight and height for the age. The baby is not below or above desired weight. The baby is not failing to thrive.

Question 2

The nurse notes that a young child has slow growth, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems. For which health problem should this child be tested?

Accepted Answer

The presence of lead in a child's body can lead to slow growth or iron-deficiency anemia. Lead toxicity can also lead to learning disabilities, behavior problems, and even mental retardation. Iron deficiency is associated with negative effects on cognitive function. Adequate intakes of calcium and vitamin D are essential for mineralization of bones and teeth. Calcium is needed for mineralization of bones and teeth.

Question 3

The nurse prepares teaching material regarding nutrient needs in adolescence. For which reason should the nurse emphasize that adolescent males need more protein that adolescent females?

Accepted Answer

Increased protein needs supports muscle growth. The daily requirement for protein among adolescent males increases to about 50 grams per day. This increase is needed to support increases in muscle mass. A preoccupation with appearance does not impact the nutritional needs of adolescents. Adolescent females, not males, develop appropriate fat stores needed for the breasts, hips and buttocks.

Question 4

An adolescent female student is concerned about gaining weight. How many calories per day should the nurse explain that the student will need for normal growth and development?

Accepted Answer

The average caloric requirement for adolescent females is about 2,200 kcalories/day with 45 grams of protein. Male adolescents have a higher daily caloric requirement than females of about 2,500-3,000 calories with 50 grams of protein. The adolescent should not restrict intake to 1,500 kcalories per day.

Question 5

The mother of a 1-year-old client has placed the child on a low-fat diet to prevent the development of obesity. What should the nurse explain to this mother?

Accepted Answer

Children under the age of two years require a high-fat diet for proper development of the brain and nervous system. Childhood obesity has been linked with adult coronary disease, but a high-fat diet is essential for development in children age two and younger. Children on a low-fat diet have shown a measurable decrease on mental and psychomotor scores.

Question 6

A parent is concerned that a 3-year-old child only wants to eat peanut butter and jelly at every meal. What should the nurse encourage the parent to do?

Accepted Answer

Insisting that toddlers eat certain foods does not usually lead to compliance. Providing the child with peanut butter and jelly only will limit food choices and decrease the likelihood of trying other foods. Parents should continue to offer a variety of foods but allow the child to consume their single choice. Remaining seated at a table can affect the quality of a toddler's food intake.

Question 7

A client is planning to return to work and wants to switch a 7-month-old baby from breastfeeding to cow's milk. What should the nurse explain to the client about cow's milk?

Accepted Answer

Cow's milk has different proportions of casein and whey and is not recommended for the infant's immature kidneys. High amount of fats are required for the development of the brain and nervous system in infants. Consumption of cow's milk is not recommended for children under one year old. Unmodified cow's milk does not contain the required amounts of vitamins and minerals for infants.

Question 8

A pregnant adolescent ingests a poor diet and rarely takes prenatal vitamins as prescribed. What should the nurse explain as the consequences to the baby of not ingesting an adequate amount of iron while pregnant?

Accepted Answer

When mothers consume sufficient iron during pregnancy the infant is born with iron stores to last for several months. Insufficient stores of iron may result in delays in motor and cognitive development. Iron insufficiency also results in anemia. Fluoride, not iron, is needed for mineralization of bones and teeth.

Question 9

A pregnant client plans to deliver the baby at home. For which reason should the nurse emphasize that the newborn will need an injection of vitamin K after birth?

Accepted Answer

At birth, infants have an insufficient amount of vitamin K stored to protect them from excessive bleeding. Lack of vitamin K in the newborn is due to the sterility of the newborn's intestinal tract. Vitamin K is needed for the production of prothrombin, which is an important component of blood clotting. The infant receives vitamin K from breast milk or infant formula. Vitamin K is not required for bone formation.

Question 10

A new mother is concerned that her 3-month-old infant is receiving an adequate amount of calories per day. Which amount of calories should the nurse instruct the mother that the baby needs for growth and development?

Accepted Answer

Infants up to 6 months require about 108 kcalories/kg/day. Infants up to age 6 months require about 450 kcalories/day to support rapid growth and meet metabolic demands. Higher respiratory and heart rates require more kcalories/kg/day than those required for adults. The amount of energy needed to maintain the core body temperature increases the kcalories/kg/day required for infants.

Question 11

The nurse provides care to clients in a rural health clinic. What should the nurse emphasize to new mothers when providing well baby care?

Accepted Answer

Fluoride is essential for the mineralization of bones and teeth and supplementation may be necessary for children living in rural areas not having a fluorinated water supply. Measuring length and plotting it on a growth chart is a normal part of all well baby clinics. Inquiring about family pets is important regardless of geographic location of the clinic. All mothers are who qualify for WIC should be referred regardless of the area where they live.

Question 12

The school nurse realizes that many children do not eat breakfast before going to school. What should the nurse encourage the teachers to do?

Accepted Answer

Eating breakfast provides important nutrients for growth and is linked with good outcomes at school. Doughnuts are not a nutritional snack and contain high-sugar content. Eating lunch early may satisfy the feeling of hunger but children will not have food at lunchtime. Snacks are usually high in carbohydrates and sugar and do not provide the nutrients needed for growth.

Question 13

The school nurse notices that overweight students are bullied by their peers and often have low self-esteem. Which action should the nurse take?

Accepted Answer

Having students participate in a program at school could promote peer support and allow a safe environment to promote change. Knowing what the students do after school may help to understand reasons for weight gain, but the knowledge alone won't change behaviors. Informing students to increase their activity may not be well perceived and only adds to feelings of low self-esteem. Monitoring food intake of specific students is not an appropriate intervention and may lead to additional bullying by other students.

Question 14

The parents of a child with anemia follow a vegetarian eating plan. Which suggestion should the nurse make to the parents to increase the child's iron intake? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

Beans are a good source of iron and can be suggested for people who do not wish to consume meat. Dried fruits and breakfast cereals are good sources of iron. There are many ways for people to ingest iron from nonmeat sources. It is important to drink citrus juices when ingesting iron to aid in absorption. Citrus juices contain vitamin C. Animal meat is a good source of iron but vegetarians can ingest adequate amounts of iron without eating meat. Milk inhibits iron absorption and should be avoided when attempting to achieve maximal iron absorption.
Beans are a good source of iron and can be suggested for people who do not wish to consume meat. Dried fruits and breakfast cereals are good sources of iron. There are many ways for people to ingest iron from nonmeat sources. It is important to drink citrus juices when ingesting iron to aid in absorption. Citrus juices contain vitamin C. Animal meat is a good source of iron but vegetarians can ingest adequate amounts of iron without eating meat. Milk inhibits iron absorption and should be avoided when attempting to achieve maximal iron absorption.
Beans are a good source of iron and can be suggested for people who do not wish to consume meat. Dried fruits and breakfast cereals are good sources of iron. There are many ways for people to ingest iron from nonmeat sources. It is important to drink citrus juices when ingesting iron to aid in absorption. Citrus juices contain vitamin C. Animal meat is a good source of iron but vegetarians can ingest adequate amounts of iron without eating meat. Milk inhibits iron absorption and should be avoided when attempting to achieve maximal iron absorption.

Quiz 15: Infants, Children, and Adolescents