A nurse in an outpatient clinic is caring for a school-age child who has cystic fibrosis. Which of the following findings should the nurse monitor as the best indication of the child's nutritional status?
The child's BMI
The child's pancreatic enzyme dose
The child's diet
The child's stool analysis
The Correct Answer is A
A. The child's BMI: Children with cystic fibrosis often have difficulty absorbing nutrients due to pancreatic insufficiency. Monitoring the child's BMI provides a good overall indicator of nutritional status, as it accounts for both weight and height.
B. The child's pancreatic enzyme dose: While important, the enzyme dose is adjusted to help the child digest food, but it does not directly assess nutritional status.
C. The child's diet: The diet is important, but it doesn't provide a direct, quantifiable measure of nutritional status. It's more of a management tool.
D. The child's stool analysis: Stool analysis can help assess malabsorption, but it does not directly reflect overall nutritional status in terms of growth or weight gain.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. "Your child needs mechanical ventilation." Mechanical ventilation is unnecessary if the child is awake and alert.
B. "We need to observe your child for cerebral swelling." Submersion injuries can lead to complications like cerebral edema or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), even if the child initially appears stable. Observation is essential to identify and address delayed complications.
C. "Your child needs to have an electroencephalogram." Electroencephalograms (EEGs) are not routine unless seizures or brain activity concerns are present.
D. "We need to perform an echocardiogram on your child." Echocardiograms are not standard for submersion injuries unless cardiac dysfunction is suspected.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. "Administer the medication on an empty stomach." Phenytoin can be taken with or without food. Administering with food can reduce stomach upset.
B. "Encourage the child to brush their teeth after each meal." Phenytoin increases the risk of gingival hyperplasia, so regular brushing helps maintain oral hygiene and prevents complications.
C. "Crush the child's medication to mix with applesauce." Extended-release capsules should not be crushed as this alters their intended release mechanism.
D. "Observe the child for diarrhea." Diarrhea is not a common side effect of phenytoin. Monitoring should focus on side effects like gingival overgrowth, nystagmus, or skin rashes.
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