A nurse is planning care for a 10-month-old infant who is 8 hours postoperative following cleft palate repair. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the infant's plan of care?
Apply and release elbow restraints every hour
Keep the infant supine
Feed the infant with a spoon for 48 hours
Suction the mouth with an oral suction tube
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A reason: Applying and releasing elbow restraints every hour prevents the infant from touching or injuring the surgical site, while allowing some movement and circulation. This is a standard nursing intervention for infants who have undergone cleft palate repair.
Choice B reason: Keeping the infant supine is not recommended, as it increases the risk of aspiration and bleeding. The infant should be placed in a side-lying or upright position to facilitate drainage and prevent pressure on the suture line.
Choice C reason: Feeding the infant with a spoon for 48 hours is not necessary, as it may cause discomfort and trauma to the palate. The infant can be fed with a special nipple or a syringe with a rubber tip that delivers small amounts of formula or breast milk to the side of the mouth.
Choice D reason: Suctioning the mouth with an oral suction tube is contraindicated, as it may damage the palate and cause bleeding or infection. The nurse should use a bulb syringe to gently suction the nose and mouth if needed.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Absent bowel sounds are not a finding that indicates perforation of the appendix. Absent bowel sounds could be a sign of ileus, obstruction, or peritonitis, but they are not specific to appendicitis.
Choice B reason: Low-grade fever is not a finding that indicates perforation of the appendix. Low-grade fever could be a sign of infection, inflammation, or dehydration, but it is not specific to appendicitis.
Choice C reason: Sudden decrease in abdominal pain is a finding that indicates perforation of the appendix. Sudden decrease in abdominal pain means that the pressure inside the appendix has been released, causing the appendix to rupture and spill its contents into the peritoneal cavity. This can lead to severe complications such as sepsis, abscess, or shock.
Choice D reason: Flaccid abdomen is not a finding that indicates perforation of the appendix. Flaccid abdomen could be a sign of muscle relaxation, sedation, or paralysis, but it is not specific to appendicitis.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: This statement is incorrect, as giving an oral rehydration solution to an infant who is projectile vomiting may worsen the dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. The nurse should advise the parent to stop feeding the infant and seek medical attention.
Choice B reason: This statement is incorrect, as burping the baby more frequently during feedings may not prevent the projectile vomiting, which is caused by a mechanical obstruction of the stomach, not by air swallowing. The nurse should assess the parent for signs of pyloric stenosis, such as a palpable olive-shaped mass in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen.
Choice C reason: This statement is correct, as bringing the baby in to the clinic today is the best course of action for an infant who is projectile vomiting, which is a sign of a serious condition such as pyloric stenosis, a narrowing of the opening between the stomach and the small intestine. The nurse should inform the parent that the infant needs immediate evaluation and treatment to prevent complications such as dehydration, malnutrition, and metabolic alkalosis.
Choice D reason: This statement is incorrect, as trying switching to a different formula may not help the infant who is projectile vomiting, which is not related to the type of formula, but to a structural problem in the gastrointestinal tract. The nurse should not suggest changing the formula without consulting the provider.
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