A pediatric home care nurse schedules a visit to the home of a 4-week-old newborn who had a low thyroxine (T4) and a high thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) at birth, and was diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism or cretinism. Which instruction is most important for the nurse to provide the parents of this child?
Offer a low sodium formula between breast feedings.
Stimulate the infant during feedings to ensure adequate intake.
Administer supplemental thyroid hormone daily.
Monitor the infant's daily intake and weekly weight.
The Correct Answer is C
A. Offer a low sodium formula between breast feedings. Congenital hypothyroidism is not managed with dietary sodium restrictions. The priority is thyroid hormone replacement, not sodium intake adjustments.
B. Stimulate the infant during feedings to ensure adequate intake. Infants with congenital hypothyroidism may have poor feeding due to lethargy, but stimulation during feedings is not the primary intervention. The most critical aspect of care is thyroid hormone replacement to support normal growth and brain development.
C. Administer supplemental thyroid hormone daily. Lifelong thyroid hormone replacement with levothyroxine is essential to prevent intellectual disability and growth delays. Early and consistent treatment ensures normal neurological and physical development. Missing doses or delaying treatment can result in irreversible cognitive impairment.
D. Monitor the infant's daily intake and weekly weight. While monitoring growth and nutrition is important, it is secondary to ensuring proper thyroid hormone therapy, which directly affects metabolism, weight gain, and developmental outcomes.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Staphylococcus aureus abscess around a hair follicle. A furuncle, or boil, is a deep infection of a hair follicle caused by Staphylococcus aureus. It presents as a painful, pus-filled nodule due to bacterial invasion and inflammation. Poor hygiene, friction, or immune suppression can increase susceptibility.
B. Insect or spider bite that becomes infected. While insect bites can introduce bacteria into the skin, they do not directly cause furuncles. Secondary infection may occur, but furuncles specifically arise from infected hair follicles, not bites.
C. Sexual contact with an infected partner. Furuncles are not sexually transmitted infections. While skin-to-skin contact can spread Staphylococcus aureus, furuncles are not a direct result of sexual activity.
D. Inadequate blood supply to the area. Poor circulation can impair wound healing and increase infection risk, but furuncles result from bacterial infection of a hair follicle rather than ischemia.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Peripheral neurovascular dysfunction. While some chemotherapy agents can cause neuropathy, the immediate risk of a vesicant (a drug that can cause severe tissue damage if it leaks) is extravasation, leading to skin and tissue damage, rather than direct neurovascular impairment.
B. Impaired skin integrity. Vesicants can cause severe tissue necrosis if they extravasate (leak into surrounding tissues). Leaving an IV in place for 72 hours increases the risk of infiltration or extravasation, which can lead to serious complications, including blistering, necrosis, and deep tissue injury. Proper IV site rotation and monitoring are essential to prevent skin and tissue damage.
C. Fluid volume excess. Fluid volume excess is not a direct risk related to vesicant chemotherapy. While some IV fluids can contribute to fluid overload, the primary concern with vesicants is extravasation and tissue damage.
D. Acute pain and anxiety. While pain and anxiety can occur if extravasation happens, the greatest clinical risk is the physical damage caused by tissue necrosis. Pain is a symptom of extravasation, but preventing skin and tissue injury is the priority.
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