A nurse is creating a plan of care for a fetus who has been diagnosed with clubfoot via ultrasound. Which of the following procedures should the nurse expect to include in the plan of care?
A series of casts will be made for the infant soon after birth.
Monitor the infant and perform physical therapy if needed to help with mobility.
Surgery will be performed in utero to correct the deformity.
An orthotic brace will be made when the infant is 6 months of age.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A reason: Clubfoot, or talipes equinovarus, is treated with serial casting (Ponseti method) soon after birth to gradually correct foot deformities caused by shortened tendons. Weekly casts realign the foot, promoting normal bone and joint development, preventing long-term mobility issues, and avoiding invasive surgery in most cases.
Choice B reason: Monitoring and physical therapy alone are insufficient for clubfoot correction. While therapy supports mobility post-casting, the primary treatment involves serial casting to address tendon contractures. Delaying active intervention risks permanent deformity, as passive monitoring does not correct the structural abnormality.
Choice C reason: In utero surgery for clubfoot is not a standard treatment, as the condition is effectively managed postnatally with casting. Fetal surgery is reserved for severe conditions like spina bifida, not clubfoot, which involves soft tissue contractures correctable after birth, making this inappropriate.
Choice D reason: An orthotic brace at 6 months is part of maintenance after casting, not the primary treatment. Serial casting begins shortly after birth to correct clubfoot, with bracing later to maintain alignment, making this a secondary step, not the initial plan of care.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: The meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine is recommended for adolescents before college to protect against Neisseria meningitidis, which causes meningitis. College students in dormitories face higher risk due to close living conditions, making this vaccine critical for preventing severe, potentially fatal infections.
Choice B reason: Influenza vaccine is recommended annually but not specifically tied to pre-college assessments. While important, it is not prioritized over meningococcal vaccine, which targets a specific, high-risk infection in college-aged individuals, making it less relevant for this context.
Choice C reason: Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is typically for older adults or immunocompromised individuals, not healthy adolescents. It protects against Streptococcus pneumoniae, less relevant for college settings compared to meningococcal disease, which poses a greater risk in communal living environments.
Choice D reason: Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine prevents severe tuberculosis but is not routinely recommended for adolescents in most countries, including those entering college. It is used in high-risk areas, not standard pre-college care, unlike the meningococcal vaccine for this population.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Administering acetaminophen may mask symptoms of shunt malfunction, such as headache, without addressing the underlying issue. Increased intracranial pressure from a blocked shunt can cause rapid neurological deterioration, requiring urgent evaluation to prevent brain damage or death, making this response inadequate.
Choice B reason: Headache, blurry vision, irritability, and lethargy suggest shunt malfunction, potentially causing increased intracranial pressure due to cerebrospinal fluid buildup. Immediate emergency department evaluation is critical to assess shunt function, prevent herniation, and initiate interventions like shunt revision to restore normal cerebrospinal fluid drainage.
Choice C reason: Attributing symptoms to menstrual cycles is inappropriate, as headache, blurry vision, and lethargy indicate possible shunt malfunction. Hormonal changes do not typically cause these neurological symptoms, and delaying care risks severe complications like brain herniation due to increased intracranial pressure.
Choice D reason: Dismissing symptoms because the shunt has functioned for 9 years is dangerous. Shunts can fail at any time due to blockage or infection, causing increased intracranial pressure. Symptoms like headache and blurry vision require urgent evaluation to prevent irreversible neurological damage or death.
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
Report Wrong Answer on the Current Question
Do you disagree with the answer? If yes, what is your expected answer? Explain.
Kindly be descriptive with the issue you are facing.