A nurse in an acute care facility is caring for a toddler.
For each assessment finding below, click to specify if the assessment finding is consistent with Crohn's disease, appendicitis, or intussusception. Each finding may support more than 1 disease process.
Pain rating
Vomiting
Stool
Temperature
Abdominal findings
The Correct Answer is {"A":{"answers":"C"},"B":{"answers":"B,C"},"C":{"answers":"A,C"},"D":{"answers":"B"},"E":{"answers":"C"}}
- Pain rating: Severe, intermittent abdominal pain where the child draws their knees to the chest and then returns to normal behavior is a classic symptom of intussusception. Neither Crohn’s disease nor appendicitis typically presents with this pattern, appendicitis pain is usually constant and worsening, while Crohn’s pain is chronic and non-episodic.
- Vomiting: Vomiting in intussusception is common and often non-bilious in early stages, aligning with the child's light-colored emesis. Vomiting also occurs in appendicitis, especially in the early stages. However, it is not a prominent or early symptom of Crohn’s disease unless obstruction is present.
- Stool: The presence of blood and mucus in the stool ("currant jelly stool") is strongly associated with intussusception and may also occur in Crohn’s disease during flares due to colonic inflammation. Appendicitis does not typically cause bloody or mucoid stools, making this finding inconsistent with that diagnosis.
- Temperature: A temperature of 37.4°C is within normal limits, appendicitis however may present with low grade fever. The absence of fever at this time limits its diagnostic value in this case.
- Abdominal findings: A distended abdomen with hypoactive bowel sounds and a palpable sausage-shaped mass in the right upper quadrant is highly indicative of intussusception. These findings are not characteristic of appendicitis, which usually involves RLQ pain, or Crohn’s, which rarely presents with a discrete palpable mass.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Beneficence. This principle refers to acting in the best interest of the client by promoting their well-being and providing comfort. Sitting with a grieving client to offer emotional support is an act of kindness and compassion, aligning with beneficence.
B. Autonomy. Autonomy involves respecting the client’s right to make decisions about their own care. While important, it is not the primary ethical principle demonstrated in this situation.
C. Fidelity. Fidelity refers to keeping promises and maintaining trust in the nurse-client relationship. While the nurse is being supportive, the act described does not specifically demonstrate the principle of fidelity.
D. Veracity. Veracity involves telling the truth and being honest with clients. It is not the relevant principle in this context, as the focus is on emotional support rather than the communication of factual information.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Weak femoral pulses. Coarctation of the aorta is a congenital narrowing of the aorta, which leads to reduced blood flow to the lower extremities, resulting in weak or absent femoral pulses—a hallmark finding of this condition.
B. Increased intracranial pressure. This is not directly associated with coarctation of the aorta. While severe hypertension can lead to neurologic symptoms, increased ICP is not a typical or early finding.
C. Upper extremity hypotension. The condition causes hypertension in the upper extremities and hypotension in the lower extremities due to the location of the narrowing. Upper extremity hypotension would be an unexpected finding.
D. Frequent nosebleeds. While nosebleeds may occur in older children or adults with uncontrolled hypertension, they are not an expected finding in infants with coarctation of the aorta.
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