A four-year-old child is admitted to the hospital secondary to ...

[khang]

A four-year-old child is admitted to the hospital secondary to dehydration. Lab tests indicate a high hemoglobin and hematocrit, and the serum sodium is below normal levels. This fluid loss is indicative of which condition?
 
  1. Hypernatremia
  2. Metabolic acidosis
  3. Hypotonic dehydration
  4. Isotonic dehydration

Question 2

While working at a weekend free clinic, the nurse is assessing a 3-year-old when the mother of the child confides that it has been very difficult providing for her family of four children on her limited budget.
 
  She is not sure that she has enough money to buy both food for the rest of the month and the antibiotic that is needed for the child's ear infection. Which intervention by the nurse would be most beneficial for the child and this family? 1. Giving the mother enough free samples of the antibiotic for the recommended course of treatment
   2. Putting the mother in contact with a local agency that provides food on a regular basis to needy families and helps them access other resources in the community
   3. Talking with the mother about keeping the child's ear clean by using a Q-tip
 
   4. Providing the mother with samples of food and food stamps for the child

[amandalm]

Answer to Question 1

3
Rationale 1: Hypernatremia is a condition where the body fluids are too concentrated and there is an excess of sodium.
Rationale 2: Metabolic acidosis refers to a condition where the pH of the blood is acidic.
Rationale 3: This occurs when fluid loss is characterized by a proportionately greater loss of sodium than water. Serum sodium is below normal levels. Hemoglobin and hematocrit will be high due to the loss of serum water.
Rationale 4: This occurs when fluid loss is not balanced by intake, and the losses of water and sodium are in proportion.
Global

Answer to Question 2

2
Rationale:
While all of these are good interventions, putting the mother in contact with a local agency is most likely to meet the family's basic need for food and possibly connect the mother to a resource that could supply her with the antibiotic for her child. Also, many uncomplicated ear infections can resolve without antibiotic treatment.

[khang]

Gracias!

[kthug]

Excellent