8-year-old male admitted with cystic fibrosis reports:

• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing throughout lung fields
• Productive cough with thick sputum

A nurse is creating a plan of care for a newly admitted child. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in the plan?

a. Administer the medication and alert the charge nurse: This choice suggests proceeding with medication administration but also informing the charge nurse. While it's important to communicate with the charge nurse regarding medication administration, in this scenario, there is no indication to hold the medication as the infant's heart rate is within the normal range. Therefore, alerting the charge nurse may not be necessary at this point.

b. Hold the medication and document cardiac assessment: This choice suggests holding the medication and documenting the cardiac assessment. However, since the infant's heart rate is within the normal range for their age, there is no clinical indication to hold the medication. Holding the medication unnecessarily could delay treatment and potentially lead to adverse outcomes if the medication is needed.

c. Administer the medication and document the heart rate.

Since the infant's heart rate of 120 beats per minute falls within the normal range for a 2-month-old, there is no indication to hold the medication. Administering the digoxin as prescribed and documenting the heart rate before administration are appropriate actions. It's important to ensure accurate documentation to track the infant's response to the medication and monitor for any changes in heart rate.

d. Hold the medication and recheck the heart rate in 1 hour: This choice suggests holding the medication and rechecking the heart rate in 1 hour. Again, since the infant's heart rate is within the normal range, there is no clinical indication to hold the medication or delay treatment. Rechecking the heart rate in 1 hour would be unnecessary and could potentially delay necessary medication administration.

Choice A reason:

The statement is correct because chickenpox is highly contagious, and visiting someone with active chickenpox can put the pregnant individual at risk of contracting the infection. The recommendation is to avoid contact with individuals who have chickenpox, especially during pregnancy. The correct approach is to stay away from the infected person until they are no longer contagious (which is usually after all the sores have crusted over and dried up).

Choice B reason:

The statement Is incorrect because taking antibiotics for a viral infection is not appropriate, as antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections, not viruses. Using antibiotics inappropriately can lead to antibiotic resistance and other potential side effects. Viral infections are generally managed with supportive care.

Choice C reason:

The statement is incorrect because handwashing is an essential infection prevention measure, but washing hands for 10 seconds with hot water may not be sufficient to remove germs effectively. The recommended duration for handwashing is at least 20 seconds with soap and water.

Choice D reason:

The statement is incorrect because cleaning a cat's litter box during pregnancy is not recommended due to the potential risk of exposure to the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which is found in cat faeces. Toxoplasmosis can cause serious health issues in the developing foetus. It is best for pregnant individuals to avoid cleaning the litter box and have someone else do it or wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly afterward if no one else can do it.