The nurse is preparing teaching materials for a family whose child is prescribed somatropin for a growth hormone deficiency. What should the nurse instruct the parents about the administration of this medication?
A home health nurse will be coming to administer the injection once a week.
Urine should be monitored for protein.
This medication must be given by injection.
This medication must be given in the morning before school.
The Correct Answer is C
A. Growth hormone therapy is typically administered daily, not weekly. Parents or caregivers are usually trained to give the injections at home, which encourages adherence and consistent growth hormone levels. Reliance on a home health nurse for weekly administration would be inadequate and inconsistent with standard therapy.
B. Routine urine monitoring is not a standard requirement for somatropin therapy. Monitoring is more focused on growth parameters (height, weight), blood glucose, thyroid function, and potential side effects like edema or joint pain. Proteinuria is not a common concern unless other renal complications exist.
C. Somatropin is a peptide hormone, which is degraded in the gastrointestinal tract if taken orally. Therefore, it must be administered via subcutaneous or sometimes intramuscular injection to ensure proper absorption and therapeutic effect. Parents should be taught proper injection technique, site rotation, needle disposal, and storage of the medication (usually refrigerated).
D. While growth hormone is naturally secreted in a pulsatile manner, and some clinicians may schedule injections in the evening to mimic normal secretion, there is no strict requirement for morning administration before school. Timing is flexible as long as injections are consistent daily, and some children may benefit from evening dosing.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. A BMI at or above the 90th percentile is generally considered overweight, not obese. Using the 90th percentile as a cutoff would overestimate the number of children classified as obese, potentially leading to unnecessary interventions. The 90th percentile does not align with established CDC guidelines for obesity screening in children.
B. According to CDC growth charts, a child is considered obese if their BMI is equal to or greater than the 95th percentile for age and sex. This classification is evidence-based and correlates with increased risk for cardiometabolic complications (type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia) and psychosocial issues such as low self-esteem and bullying. It serves as a key threshold for initiating clinical assessment and targeted interventions, including nutrition counseling, increased physical activity, and behavioral support.
C. A BMI at the 70th percentile is within the normal weight range for children of the same age and sex. Children in this percentile are not considered overweight or obese and typically do not require weight-related interventions beyond routine healthy lifestyle guidance. Labeling a child with a BMI at the 70th percentile as obese would be inaccurate and could contribute to unnecessary anxiety or inappropriate treatment.
D. A BMI between the 85th and 94th percentile is classified as overweight, not obese. This distinction is important because children who are overweight may benefit from preventive lifestyle interventions, whereas children at or above the 95th percentile may require more intensive assessment and management. Misclassifying overweight children as obese could lead to inappropriate labeling or interventions.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. The child is exhibiting signs of possible compartment syndrome, a medical emergency. Key indicators include unrelieved pain despite analgesics, inability to move fingers, and persistent crying, which may signal nerve or vascular compromise. Immediate assessment and intervention are necessary to prevent permanent nerve or tissue damage. The nurse should instruct the mother to seek emergency care immediately rather than waiting.
B. While ice can help reduce swelling in minor injuries, it is not sufficient for managing potential compartment syndrome. Delaying emergency evaluation could worsen tissue damage and lead to permanent functional loss.
C. Fatigue management does not address the acute, serious risk of neurovascular compromise in this situation. This advice would not resolve the underlying problem.
D. Waiting is unsafe because persistent pain and inability to move the fingers are red flags for compartment syndrome
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