A nurse is caring for four children in an emergency department.
Which of the following clients should the nurse assess first?
A child who has mononucleosis and reports severe fatigue.
A child who has Wilms' tumor and an abdominal mass.
A child who has acute epiglottitis and is drooling.
A child who has a urinary tract infection and bright red blood in her urine.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale:
A child who has mononucleosis and reports severe fatigue requires medical attention, but this condition does not pose an immediate life-threatening risk compared to acute epiglottitis. Mononucleosis is a viral infection that can cause fatigue, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes. While the child should be assessed, the priority is given to the child with acute epiglottitis due to the potential for airway obstruction and respiratory distress.
Choice B rationale:
A child who has Wilms' tumor and an abdominal mass also needs urgent medical evaluation. Wilms' tumor is a rare kidney cancer that primarily affects children. While it requires prompt attention, acute epiglottitis poses a more immediate threat to the airway and breathing.
Choice C rationale:
A child with acute epiglottitis and drooling requires immediate assessment and intervention. Acute epiglottitis is a potentially life-threatening infection that can cause severe swelling of the epiglottis, leading to airway obstruction. The child may have difficulty breathing and may present with the classic drooling sign due to the inability to swallow saliva. Prompt medical intervention, including airway management and appropriate antibiotics, is essential in this situation.
Choice D rationale:
A child with a urinary tract infection and bright red blood in her urine requires medical evaluation, but this condition is not as urgent as acute epiglottitis. Hematuria (blood in the urine) can have various causes, including urinary tract infections or kidney stones. While the child should receive medical attention, it does not take precedence over the immediate threat posed by acute epiglottitis, which requires urgent intervention to maintain the airway.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
The provider does not choose a client's healthcare surrogate. Advance directives, including the appointment of a healthcare surrogate, allow individuals to make their own decisions about their medical treatment if they become unable to communicate their wishes. Clients have the right to designate their healthcare surrogate based on their preferences and values. This statement is incorrect as it misrepresents the purpose of advance directives.
Choice B rationale:
A healthcare surrogate does not need to be a family member. The choice of a healthcare surrogate is a personal decision made by the individual. It can be a family member, friend, or any other person whom the individual trusts to make medical decisions on their behalf. There is no requirement that the surrogate must be a family member.
Choice C rationale:
The provider cannot go against the client's wishes regarding advance directives. Advance directives are legally binding documents that outline the individual's preferences for medical treatment, including decisions to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining interventions. Healthcare providers are ethically and legally obligated to respect and follow the directives outlined by the client. Going against the client's wishes would be a violation of their autonomy and legal rights.
Choice D rationale:
The client can resume control of healthcare decisions after a temporary loss of competency if specified in the advance directives. Advance directives often include provisions stating that the individual's decision-making capacity should be
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
- A. Oliguria. This is incorrect because oliguria, or decreased urine output, is a sign of fluid volume deficit, not fluid volume overload.
- B. Bradycardia. This is incorrect because bradycardia, or slow heart rate, is not a typical sign of fluid volume overload, unless the client has a cardiac condition that affects the heart's response to fluid overload.
- C. Dyspnea. This is correct because dyspnea, or difficulty breathing, is a common sign of fluid volume overload, as excess fluid accumulates in the lungs and impairs gas exchange.
- D. Poor skin turgor. This is incorrect because poor skin turgor, or decreased elasticity of the skin, is a sign of dehydration, not fluid volume overload.

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