Deck 37: Nursing Care of the Child With an Infectious or Communicable Disorder

Question 1

A 3-year-old boy has been on chemotherapy for cancer. He complains about a sore throat, is experiencing malaise, and has a temperature of 99.8°F orally. His mother calls the child's physician. What is the appropriate information for the nurse to tell his mother at this time?

A) "Continue to watch the child, giving him aspirin and cool fluids for the fever."
B) "Plan to bring the child into the physician's office today."
C) "Monitor the temperature, but not to worry unless it gets above 104°F."
D) "Keep the child warm and as comfortable as possible."

Answer 1

"Plan to bring the child into the physician's office today."

Question 2

A nurse is conducting a health history for a 1-month-old with an infectious disorder. Which segment of the health history would be most helpful for the nurse when determining if the infant developed the infection from the mother?

A) Family history
B) Past medical history
C) Home treatments
D) Present illness history

Answer 2

Past medical history

Question 3

While reviewing various studies about the use of antipyretics possibly prolonging illness, the nurse notes that there are benefits to their use for the child with fever. Which of the following would the nurse identify as the best explanation related to the benefit of antipyretics?

A) They slow the growth of bacteria.
B) They increase neutrophil production.
C) They encourage T-cell proliferation.
D) They help decrease fluid requirements.

Answer 3

They help decrease fluid requirements.

Question 4

The nurse is caring for a neonate who is suspected of having sepsis. Which of the following assessment findings would the nurse interpret as most indicative of sepsis?

A) Rash on face
B) Edematous neck
C) Hypothermia
D) Coughing

Question 5

The nurse is preparing a plan of care for a 5-year-old boy with chickenpox. Which of the following nursing interventions should be questioned?

A) Administer antipyretics as ordered.
B) Keep the child's fingernails short.
C) Monitor fluid intake and output.
D) Provide alcohol baths as needed.

Question 6

The nurse is developing a teaching plan for the mother of a 4-year-old girl with cold and fever. Which of the following would the nurse include in this teaching plan?

A) Keeping the child covered and warm
B) Calling the doctor if the child's fever lasts more than 36 hours
C) Ensuring fluid intake to prevent dehydration
D) Observing for changes in alertness resulting from brain damage

Question 7

After teaching a mother how to remove a tick from her 6-year-old boy's arm, the nurse determines that additional teaching is needed when the mother states which of the following?

A) "I'll protect my fingers with a paper towel."
B) "I'll grasp the tick and pull it away quickly."
C) "I should put the tick in a plastic bag in the freezer."
D) "I need to grasp the tick close to the child's skin."

Question 8

The nurse is performing a physical examination of an 8-year-old girl who was bitten by her kitten. Which of the following assessments would lead the nurse to suspect cat- scratch disease?

A) Swollen lymph nodes
B) Strawberry tongue
C) Infected tonsils
D) Swollen neck

Question 9

A group of nursing students are reviewing the six links in the chain of infection and the nursing implications for each. The students demonstrate understanding of the information when they identify which precaution as helping to break the chain of infection to the susceptible host?

A) Keeping linens dry and clean
B) Maintaining skin integrity
C) Washing hands frequently
D) Coughing into a handkerchief

Question 10

The nurse is performing a physical examination on a 9-year-old boy who has experienced a tick bite on his lower leg and is suspected of having Lyme disease. Which assessment finding would the nurse expect to find?

A) Swelling in the neck
B) Confusion and anxiety
C) Ring-like rash on lower leg
D) Hypersalivation

Question 11

The nurse determines that it is necessary to implement airborne precautions for children with which of the following infections?

A) Measles
B) Streptococcus group A
C) Rubella
D) Scarlet fever

Question 12

A child is diagnosed with scarlet fever. The nurse is reviewing the child's medical record, expecting which medication to be prescribed for this child?

A) Ibuprofen
B) Acyclovir
C) Penicillin V
D) Doxycycline

Question 13

A mother brings her 8-year-old son for evaluation because of a rash on his lower leg. Which finding would support the suspicion that the child has Lyme disease?

A) Playing in the woods about a week ago
B) Rash is papular and vesicular
C) High fever occurring about 4 days before the rash
D) Complaints of extreme pruritus with visible nits

Question 14

Which of the following would be most important to include in the teaching plan for parents of a child with pinworm?

A) "Seal the child's clothing in a plastic bag for at least 10 days."
B) "Be sure your child wears shoes at all times."
C) "Make sure the child washes his hands after using the bathroom."
D) "After applying this special cream, leave it on for about 8 to 10 hours."

Question 15

After teaching the parents of a child with varicella zoster, the nurse determines that the parents have understood the teaching when they state that their child can return to school at which time?

A) After day 5 of the rash
B) When the rash is completely healed
C) Once the rash appears
D) After the lesions have crusted

Question 16

A woman gives birth to a healthy newborn. As part of the newborn's care, the nurse instills erythromycin ophthalmic ointment as a preventive measure for which sexually transmitted infection (STI)?

A) Genital herpes
B) Hepatitis B
C) Syphilis
D) Gonorrhea

Question 17

A pregnant woman diagnosed with syphilis comes to the clinic for a visit. The nurse discusses the risk of transmitting the infection to her newborn, explaining that this infection is transmitted to the newborn through which of the following?

A) Amniotic fluid
B) Placenta
C) Birth canal
D) Breast milk

Question 18

A nursing instructor is teaching a group of students about the action of antipyretic agents in children. The instructor determines that the teaching has been successful when the students identify which of the following as the primary action?

A) Cause vasodilation to promote heat loss
B) Decrease the temperature set point
C) Block release of histamine
D) Promote prostaglandin production

Question 19

A nurse is instructing a parent on how to obtain a stool culture for ova and parasites from a child with diarrhea. Which of the following would the nurse include in the teaching plan?

A) "Give the child bismuth and then collect the next specimen."
B) "Obtain the specimen from the toilet after the child has a bowel movement."
C) "Keep thespecimen from coming into contact with any urine."
D) "Bring the specimen to the laboratory on the third day."

Question 20

The nurse is preparing to obtain a blood specimen via capillary heel puncture. Which of the following would be most appropriate for the nurse to do?

A) Apply a cool compress for several minutes before collection
B) Elevate the extremity used after puncturing it
C) Squeeze the area to facilitate specimen collection
D) Wipe away the first drop of blood with dry gauze

Question 21

The nurse is assessing the tympanic temperature of several children. The nurse documents that the child with which temperature reading has a fever?

A) 99.5°F
B) 99.2°F
C) 100.0°F
D) 100.8°F

Question 22

A school-aged child with an infectious disease is placed on transmission-based precautions. Which nursing diagnosis would most likely be a priority?

A) Impaired skin integrity related to trauma secondary to pruritus and scratching
B) Fluid volume deficit related to increased metabolic demands and insensible losses
C) Social isolation related to infectivity and inability to go to the playroom
D) Deficient knowledge related to how infection is transmitted

Question 23

A group of nursing students are reviewing information about childhood infectious diseases. The students demonstrate understanding of this information when they identify which of the following as a common childhood exanthema?

A) Mumps
B) Rabies
C) Rubella
D) West Nile virus

Question 24

The parents of a 5-year-old have just found out that their child has head lice. Which statement by the parents would support the nursing diagnosis of deficient knowledge?

A) "I can't believe it. We're not unclean, poor people."
B) "We'll have to get that special shampoo."
C) "Everybody in the house will need to be checked."
D) "That explains his complaints of itching on his neck."

Question 25

While obtaining a health history from a male adolescent during a well check-up, the nurse assesses his sexual behavior and risk for sexually transmitted infections. Based on the information, the nurse plans to teach the adolescent about using a condom. Which of the following would the nurse include in the teaching plan?

A) "You can reuse a condom if it's within 3 hours."
B) "Store your condoms in your wallet so they are ready for use."
C) "Put the condom on before engaging in any genital contact."
D) "Use Vaseline with a latex condom for extra lubrication."

Question 26

A nurse suspects that an adolescent may have community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CAMRSA). Which of the following would the nurse expect to assess? Select all answers that apply.

A) Participation in contact sport
B) Recent cut on the lower leg
C) History of a recent sort throat
D) Raised fluctuant lesions
E) Erythematous rash over the trunk and face

Question 27

A child is diagnosed with a helminthic infection. Which of the following would the nurse expect to be prescribed? Select all answers that apply.

A) Erythromycin
B) Albendazole
C) Pyrantel pamoate
D) Acyclovir
E) Metronidazole
F) Permethrin

Question 28

The nurse is providing instructions to parents of a 2-year-old child with a fever. The child weighs 33 pounds. Based on the recommended dose for ibuprofen, how much would the nurse instruct the parents to give as the lowest amount per dose?