A breastfeeding infant, screened for congenital hypothyroidism, is found to have low levels of thyroxine (T4) and high levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Which is the best explanation for this finding?

The TSH is high because of the low production of T4 by the thyroid.

The thyroxine level is low because the TSH level is high.

The thyroid gland does not produce normal levels of thyroxine for several weeks after birth.

High thyroxine levels normally occur in breastfeeding infants.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

In a normal infant, T4 levels increase after birth due to stimulation by TSH from the pituitary gland. In this case, the T4 level is low and the TSH level is high, indicating that the thyroid gland is not producing enough T4 in response to TSH stimulation. This suggests that the infant may have congenital hypothyroidism, which requires prompt treatment to prevent developmental delays and other complications.

The low T4 level is not a direct cause of the high TSH level; rather, the high TSH level is a compensatory mechanism to increase T4 production. It is not normal for a breastfeeding infant to have high thyroxine levels. While the thyroid gland may take a few weeks to reach normal function after birth, the persistent low T4 and high TSH levels in this infant suggest a more serious issue.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

In a 5-week-old infant presenting with a history of projectile vomiting after feedings, the nurse should expect to assess an olive-size mass in the epigastric area. This finding is consistent with pyloric stenosis, a condition in which the muscle at the bottom of the stomach that controls the ﬂow of food into the small intestine becomes thickened and narrowed.

Rebound tenderness in the left lower abdominal quadrant, stool that consists of mucus and blood, and frequent burping accompanied by poor feeding are not typically associated with pyloric stenosis.

A. Give in the arm, one to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.0 cm) below the acromion process. B. Use a needle length of 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) to avoid deep tissue damage. C. Administer the injection into the middle of the lateral aspect of the thigh. D. Divide the gluteal area into quarters and give IM into the upper outer quadrant.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Administer the injection into the middle of the lateral aspect of the thigh is the correct choice. This is the recommended site for intramuscular injection in toddlers who have been walking for at least one month, as it is a large muscle with minimal nerves and blood vessels. Choices A, B, and D are not appropriate techniques for administering an intramuscular injection to a toddler with pneumonia.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

A breastfeeding infant, screened for congenital hypothyroidism, is found to have low levels of thyroxine (T4) and high levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Which is the best explanation for this finding?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse is caring for a 5-week-old infant presenting with a history of projectile vomiting after feedings. Which additional finding should the nurse expect to assess?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

The nurse is giving an intramuscular injection of an antibiotic to a 16-month-old toddler with pneumonia. The toddler does not have any known allergies and has been walking without assistance for one month. Which technique should the nurse select for administration?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

The nurse is providing teaching to a school-age child with left femoral osteomyelitis and the child's parent prior to discharge. Which instruction should the nurse provide related to the initial phase of treatment?

A 3-year-old boy in a daycare facility scratches his head frequently, and the nurse confirms the presence of head lice. The nurse washes the child's hair with permethrin shampoo and calls his parents. Which instruction should the nurse provide to the parents about treatment for head lice?

A mother brings her 2-month-old to the well-baby clinic. She states that when she kisses her baby, the infant's skin tastes salty. The nurse should prepare the mother for what standard diagnostic test to screen for cystic fibrosis (CF)?

The nurse is assessing an infant with aortic stenosis and identifies bilateral fine crackles in both lung fields. Which additional finding should the nurse expect to obtain?

The nurse is assessing a child with acute glomerulonephritis who presents with increased fatigue, facial puffiness, decreased appetite. The child's urine sample is dark yellow in color. Which additional finding should the nurse report to the healthcare provider?

While obtaining the vital signs of a 10-year-old child who had a tonsillectomy this morning, the nurse observes the child swallowing every 2 to 3 minutes. Which assessment should the nurse implement?

The nurse is caring for a toddler with autism spectrum disorder and failure to thrive. Which intervention should the nurse implement?

When developing a teaching plan for an adolescent male who was recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes mellitus, the nurse should instruct the client to eat a source of sugar if which symptom occurs?