, NSG 434 Exam 3 – Nursing Care of
Children – Actual Questions & Answers
(GCU) 100% Guarantee Pass
Question 1: A nurse is caring for a child with sickle cell anemia who is experiencing a
vaso-occlusive crisis. Which intervention is the priority?
A. Administering oral antibiotics
B. Providing hydration and pain management
C. Restricting fluid intake
D. Applying cold compresses to painful areas
Answer: B
Rationale: Hydration and pain management are the priority interventions during a
vaso-occlusive crisis. Dehydration increases blood viscosity and promotes sickling. Pain
management with analgesics (e.g., morphine) is essential. Cold compresses should be
avoided as they can cause vasoconstriction and worsen ischemia .
Question 2: The nurse is teaching parents about sickle cell anemia. Which statement
indicates understanding of the genetic transmission?
A. "Sickle cell anemia is an autosomal dominant disorder."
B. "Sickle cell anemia is an autosomal recessive disorder."
C. "Sickle cell anemia is an X-linked disorder."
D. "Sickle cell anemia is caused by a chromosomal abnormality."
Answer: B
Rationale: Sickle cell anemia is an autosomal recessive disorder, meaning both parents
must pass on the defective gene for the child to have the disease. If a child inherits one
defective gene, they have sickle cell trait .
Question 3: What is the leading cause of death in children with sickle cell disease?
,A. Bacterial infection
B. Stroke
C. Acute chest syndrome
D. Sequestration crisis
Answer: A
Rationale: Bacterial infection is the leading cause of death in children with sickle cell
disease. Functional asplenia (loss of splenic function) predisposes these children to
overwhelming infections, particularly with encapsulated organisms such as
Streptococcus pneumoniae .
Question 4: A child with sickle cell anemia is prescribed prophylactic penicillin. The
nurse should teach the parents that this medication should be given:
A. Only during sickle cell crises
B. At the onset of fever
C. Daily until at least 5 years of age
D. Until the child reaches adolescence
Answer: C
Rationale: Prophylactic penicillin is typically administered daily from 2 months to 5
years of age to prevent pneumococcal infections. After age 5, it may be discontinued if
the child has received pneumococcal vaccinations .
Question 5: The nurse is assessing a child with sickle cell anemia who complains of pain
and swelling in the hands and feet. This finding is most consistent with:
A. Vaso-occlusive crisis
B. Dactylitis
C. Sequestration crisis
D. Aplastic crisis
Answer: B
, Rationale: Dactylitis (painful swelling of the hands and feet) is a common early
manifestation of sickle cell disease, often occurring in infants and young children. It
results from infarction of the small bones in the hands and feet .
Question 6: A child with sickle cell anemia develops a fever of 101.5°F (38.6°C). What is
the priority nursing action?
A. Administer acetaminophen and monitor
B. Notify the healthcare provider immediately
C. Encourage oral fluids
D. Apply cool compresses
Answer: B
Rationale: Fever in a child with sickle cell anemia is a medical emergency and requires
immediate evaluation. These children are at high risk for overwhelming sepsis. Blood
cultures and antibiotics should be initiated promptly .
Question 7: The nurse is caring for a child with sickle cell anemia who is receiving a
blood transfusion. What complication should the nurse monitor for?
A. Graft-versus-host disease
B. Iron overload
C. Anaphylaxis
D. Hemolytic reaction
Answer: B
Rationale: Chronic blood transfusions, which may be used to prevent stroke or manage
complications, can lead to iron overload. Iron chelation therapy (e.g., deferasirox) may
be required to prevent organ damage .
Question 8: A child with sickle cell anemia reports a painful erection lasting 4 hours. The
nurse recognizes this as:
Children – Actual Questions & Answers
(GCU) 100% Guarantee Pass
Question 1: A nurse is caring for a child with sickle cell anemia who is experiencing a
vaso-occlusive crisis. Which intervention is the priority?
A. Administering oral antibiotics
B. Providing hydration and pain management
C. Restricting fluid intake
D. Applying cold compresses to painful areas
Answer: B
Rationale: Hydration and pain management are the priority interventions during a
vaso-occlusive crisis. Dehydration increases blood viscosity and promotes sickling. Pain
management with analgesics (e.g., morphine) is essential. Cold compresses should be
avoided as they can cause vasoconstriction and worsen ischemia .
Question 2: The nurse is teaching parents about sickle cell anemia. Which statement
indicates understanding of the genetic transmission?
A. "Sickle cell anemia is an autosomal dominant disorder."
B. "Sickle cell anemia is an autosomal recessive disorder."
C. "Sickle cell anemia is an X-linked disorder."
D. "Sickle cell anemia is caused by a chromosomal abnormality."
Answer: B
Rationale: Sickle cell anemia is an autosomal recessive disorder, meaning both parents
must pass on the defective gene for the child to have the disease. If a child inherits one
defective gene, they have sickle cell trait .
Question 3: What is the leading cause of death in children with sickle cell disease?
,A. Bacterial infection
B. Stroke
C. Acute chest syndrome
D. Sequestration crisis
Answer: A
Rationale: Bacterial infection is the leading cause of death in children with sickle cell
disease. Functional asplenia (loss of splenic function) predisposes these children to
overwhelming infections, particularly with encapsulated organisms such as
Streptococcus pneumoniae .
Question 4: A child with sickle cell anemia is prescribed prophylactic penicillin. The
nurse should teach the parents that this medication should be given:
A. Only during sickle cell crises
B. At the onset of fever
C. Daily until at least 5 years of age
D. Until the child reaches adolescence
Answer: C
Rationale: Prophylactic penicillin is typically administered daily from 2 months to 5
years of age to prevent pneumococcal infections. After age 5, it may be discontinued if
the child has received pneumococcal vaccinations .
Question 5: The nurse is assessing a child with sickle cell anemia who complains of pain
and swelling in the hands and feet. This finding is most consistent with:
A. Vaso-occlusive crisis
B. Dactylitis
C. Sequestration crisis
D. Aplastic crisis
Answer: B
, Rationale: Dactylitis (painful swelling of the hands and feet) is a common early
manifestation of sickle cell disease, often occurring in infants and young children. It
results from infarction of the small bones in the hands and feet .
Question 6: A child with sickle cell anemia develops a fever of 101.5°F (38.6°C). What is
the priority nursing action?
A. Administer acetaminophen and monitor
B. Notify the healthcare provider immediately
C. Encourage oral fluids
D. Apply cool compresses
Answer: B
Rationale: Fever in a child with sickle cell anemia is a medical emergency and requires
immediate evaluation. These children are at high risk for overwhelming sepsis. Blood
cultures and antibiotics should be initiated promptly .
Question 7: The nurse is caring for a child with sickle cell anemia who is receiving a
blood transfusion. What complication should the nurse monitor for?
A. Graft-versus-host disease
B. Iron overload
C. Anaphylaxis
D. Hemolytic reaction
Answer: B
Rationale: Chronic blood transfusions, which may be used to prevent stroke or manage
complications, can lead to iron overload. Iron chelation therapy (e.g., deferasirox) may
be required to prevent organ damage .
Question 8: A child with sickle cell anemia reports a painful erection lasting 4 hours. The
nurse recognizes this as:
