The parent of a child born with a myelomeningocele asks the nurse, "What did I do to deserve this?" Which response is most helpful?

"You didn't do anything wrong."

"Is there any particular reason why you think this is your fault?"

"This must be a very difficult time for you."

"With surgery, your baby should have a full recovery."

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

The correct answer is Choice C: “This must be a very difficult time for you.”

Choice A rationale: Telling the parent “You didn’t do anything wrong” might seem comforting, but it doesn’t address the parent’s feelings of guilt or responsibility. It’s important to remember that myelomeningocele is a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord do not develop completely 1. It’s often not known why this happens, but it can be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors 2. Therefore, it’s not something the parent did or didn’t do.

Choice B rationale: Asking “Is there any particular reason why you think this is your fault?” could potentially lead to a constructive conversation. However, it might also make the parent feel defensive or as if they need to justify their feelings. It’s crucial to approach this situation with empathy and understanding, acknowledging the parent’s feelings without making them feel judged.

Choice C rationale: Saying “This must be a very difficult time for you” is the most helpful response because it acknowledges the parent’s feelings and offers empathy. It doesn’t place blame or make assumptions. Instead, it opens up a space for the parent to express their feelings and concerns.

Choice D rationale: While it’s true that surgery can help manage the condition 1, saying “With surgery, your baby should have a full recovery” might be misleading. Myelomeningocele is the most severe form of spina bifida and can cause moderate to severe disabilities, such as muscle weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, and/or paralysis 2. Each case is unique, and while some children may have less severe symptoms, others may require lifelong management. It’s important to provide accurate and realistic information.

Remember, it’s essential to approach these conversations with empathy and understanding. Parents dealing with a diagnosis of myelomeningocele are likely experiencing a range of emotions, and they need support and accurate information.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

NPO status is crucial before a surgical procedure, especially when anesthesia will be administered. It helps prevent complications related to aspiration of gastric contents during the procedure. Failure to adhere to the NPO status can lead to serious respiratory problems, such as aspiration pneumonia.

It is important for the nurse to confirm the NPO status with the client to ensure that they have followed the appropriate fasting guidelines. This should be done to ensure the client's safety during the surgery.

While determining when the client last had pain medication, offering assistance to the restroom, and reviewing postoperative instructions are important aspects of preoperative care, confirming NPO status is the most critical nursing action in this particular scenario.

A. Wear protective goggles while performing the procedure. B. Apply a water soluble lubricant to the catheter. C. Instill 3 mL of normal saline before suctioning. D. Instruct the client to cough as the suction tip is removed.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Wearing protective goggles is important during suctioning to protect the nurse's eyes from potential splashes or aerosolized secretions. Suctioning can generate forceful coughing, gagging, or sneezing in the client, which may cause secretions or mucus to be expelled forcefully and potentially come into contact with the nurse's eyes. Wearing goggles helps prevent eye exposure and reduces the risk of infection transmission.

Applying a water-soluble lubricant to the catheter may be necessary to facilitate the insertion of the suction catheter into the tracheostomy tube, but it is not the most crucial action to include when performing suctioning.

Instilling normal saline before suctioning is not recommended as it can cause potential harm to the client's airway. Instilling saline can lead to bronchospasm, mucosal damage, and other complications. Suctioning should only be performed when necessary to remove secretions and maintain a patent airway.

Instructing the client to cough as the suction tip is removed is not necessary or recommended. Coughing during the suctioning process can be uncontrolled and may increase the risk of trauma to the airway. The nurse should instead provide supportive care and reassurance to the client throughout the procedure.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

The parent of a child born with a myelomeningocele asks the nurse, "What did I do to deserve this?" Which response is most helpful?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse is assigned to provide care for a client who is scheduled for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy in two hours, at 0900. What nursing action is most important?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

When performing suctioning for a client with a tracheostomy, which action should the nurse include?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

The nurse is caring for a client newly diagnosed with emphysema. The nurse should prioritize which potential complication?

A client with foul-smelling drainage from an incision on the upper left arm is admitted with a suspected methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Which nursing intervention(s) should the nurse include in the plan of care? (Select all that apply.)

The nurse notices that a male client is particularly delusional one afternoon. He begins to pace the floor and appears to be losing control of himself. Which intervention is best for the nurse to implement?

Patient Data History and Physical Nurses' Notes Laboratory Results Flow Sheet Exhibits here Review H and P, nurse's note, laboratory result, and flow sheet. What information should the nurse collect as part of the focused assessment for dehydration in this child? Select all that apply.

In planning care for a client with early stage Alzheimer's disease, the nurse establishes the nursing problem of risk for injury related to impaired judgment. Which intervention is most important for the nurse to include in this client's plan of care?

A client develops urticaria on the trunk and neck shortly after a secondary infusion of piperacillin is initiated. In which, order should the nurse implement these interventions? (Arrange the actions in order of priority, with the highest priority first, and least priority last or at the bottom.)

A 3-year-old boy was successfully toilet trained prior to his admission to the hospital for injuries sustained from a fall. His parents are very concerned that the child has regressed in his toileting behaviors. Which information should the nurse provide to the parents?