The nurse is monitoring a child with hydrocephalus who received a repeat ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt yesterday. Which assessment finding indicates to the nurse that the shunt is functioning normally?
The child has grown in height since the previous shunt placement.
The child is afebrile with normal vital signs postoperatively.
An intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring probe is in place.
The child reports no evidence of continuous headaches.
The Correct Answer is D
The absence of continuous headaches in the child indicates that the VP shunt is functioning normally. A VP shunt is used to treat hydrocephalus by draining excess cerebrospinal fluid from the brain to the abdomen. If the shunt is functioning properly, it should relieve pressure on the brain and reduce symptoms such as headaches. The other options (A, B, and C) do not directly indicate whether the shunt is functioning normally or not.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
When caring for a child in balanced suspension skeletal traction, the most important intervention for the nurse to implement is monitoring peripheral pulses and sensation in the affected leg to detect any compromise in circulation or nerve function. This is crucial because the traction places tension on the bones, which can result in nerve or vascular damage.
Changing positions every 2 hours is important to prevent pressure injuries, but it is not the most critical intervention.
Cleansing pin sites and assessing skin for redness and signs of tissue breakdown are also important, but they are not as urgent as monitoring peripheral pulses and sensation.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Hypoparathyroidism is a disorder in which the parathyroid glands produce insufficient amounts of parathyroid hormone, which regulates calcium and phosphorus levels in the body. In hypoparathyroidism, there is a decreased level of calcium in the blood, which can result in carpal spasm or tetany when pressure is applied to the upper arm.
Therefore, the nurse should review the child's calcium level (D) to determine if it is within the normal range. Low calcium levels can cause muscle spasms, seizures, and cardiac arrhythmias. Hypocalcemia may also result in other symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and muscle cramps.
Potassium (A), chloride (B), and sodium (C) are electrolytes that play important roles in various physiological processes in the body, but they are not directly related to the development of carpal spasm in a child with hypoparathyroidism. While hypokalemia (low potassium) or hyponatremia (low sodium) can cause muscle weakness or cramps, these conditions are not typically associated with carpal spasm in hypoparathyroidism.
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