A nurse is teaching the parents of a school-age child who has sickle cell anemia about managing the disease at home.
Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
Report sudden, persistent headaches.
Apply cold compresses to painful areas.
Restrict fluid intake during times of stress.
Avoid meningococcal immunizations.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale:
The nurse should instruct the parents to report sudden, persistent headaches in a child with sickle cell anemia because it could be a sign of a cerebrovascular accident (stroke) Sickle cell anemia predisposes individuals to vaso-occlusive crises, which can lead to stroke due to impaired blood flow. Early detection and intervention are crucial in preventing complications.
Choice B rationale:
Applying cold compresses to painful areas may help in managing pain during vaso-occlusive crises, but it is not as critical as identifying signs of more severe complications such as stroke. This instruction does not address the urgency of reporting sudden, persistent headaches.
Choice C rationale:
Restricting fluid intake during times of stress is not appropriate for a child with sickle cell anemia. In fact, maintaining adequate hydration is important to prevent vaso-occlusive crises. Dehydration can exacerbate sickling of red blood cells, leading to more pain and complications.
Choice D rationale:
Avoiding meningococcal immunizations is not appropriate for a child with sickle cell anemia. In fact, children with sickle cell disease are at an increased risk of infections, including meningitis. Immunizations, including those for meningococcus, are essential to prevent life-threatening infections in these individuals.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Incorrect. Acute glomerulonephritis can cause fluid retention and hypertension, rather than hypotension.
B. Incorrect. Weight gain might occur due to fluid retention rather than weight loss.
C. Incorrect. Decreased urine output, not polyuria, is a common finding in acute glomerulonephritis.
D. Correct. Hematuria (blood in the urine) is a classic sign of acute glomerulonephritis, reflecting inflammation and damage to the glomeruli in the kidneys.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Based on the client's sudden right-sided numbness, weakness of the arm and leg, and distinct right-sided facial droop, the nurse should suspect a possible stroke and prioritize immediate interventions. After reporting the findings to the healthcare provider and receiving prescriptions, the nurse should implement the following intervention:
Notify the stroke team to assist with acute assessment and management. A stroke is a medical emergency that requires urgent intervention and specialized care. The stroke team is trained to quickly assess and manage stroke patients, including performing necessary diagnostic tests and initiating appropriate treatment. In this case, a STAT computerized tomography (CT) scan of the head has been ordered, indicating the need to evaluate the client's brain for possible ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.
While keeping the bed in the lowest position and initiating seizure and fall precautions may be important considerations for stroke patients, notifying the stroke team takes precedence as they are specifically trained to manage acute stroke cases.
Administering aspirin to prevent further clot formation and platelet clumping is not appropriate without further assessment and confirmation of the type of stroke.
Additionally, testing for a swallowing reflex and performing communication deficit assessments can be important components of the overall stroke management plan, but they should be carried out by the stroke team or as directed by the healthcare provider.
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