A full-term, 24-hour-old infant in the nursery regurgitates and suddenly turns cyanotic. Which immediate intervention should the practical nurse (PN) implement?
Turn the infant onto the right side.
Suction the oral and nasal passages.
Give oxygen by positive pressure.
Stimulate the infant to cry.
The Correct Answer is B
In this scenario, the sudden regurgitation and cyanosis in a 24-hour-old infant indicate a potential airway obstruction or compromise. The immediate priority is to clear the airway and ensure adequate ventilation.
Suctioning the oral and nasal passages helps remove any potential obstruction or mucus that may be causing the cyanosis. This intervention aims to restore normal airflow and prevent further respiratory distress in the infant.
Let's briefly evaluate the other options:
a) Turn the infant onto the right side.
Positioning the infant onto the right side does not directly address the potential airway obstruction or cyanosis. While positioning may have some benefit in certain situations, such as facilitating drainage, it is not the most appropriate immediate intervention in this case.
c) Give oxygen by positive pressure.
Administering oxygen by positive pressure may be necessary if the infant's oxygen saturation remains low after suctioning and clearing the airway. However, suctioning should be the initial intervention to address any potential airway obstruction or mucus before considering oxygen administration.
d) Stimulate the infant to cry.
Stimulating the infant to cry is not the appropriate intervention in this case. It does not directly address the potential airway obstruction or cyanosis. Crying requires a patent airway, and if the infant is already cyanotic, it suggests an obstruction or inadequate ventilation. Therefore, suctioning and clearing the airway take precedence over stimulating the infant to cry.
In summary, when a full-term, 24-hour-old infant in the nursery regurgitates and suddenly turns cyanotic, the practical nurse should immediately suction the oral and nasal passages to clear any potential airway obstruction or mucus. This intervention aims to restore normal airflow and ensure adequate ventilation for the infant.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: A black tag is not an appropriate priority tag for this client because it indicates that the client is dead or has injuries that are incompatible with life and survival is unlikely even with treatment.
Choice B reason: A red tag is an appropriate priority tag for this client because it indicates that the client has life-threatening injuries that require immediate attention and treatment to survivE.
Choice C reason: A green tag is not an appropriate priority tag for this client because it indicates that the client has minor injuries that do not require immediate attention and treatment and can wait until the more urgent cases are handleD.
Choice D reason: A yellow tag is not an appropriate priority tag for this client because it indicates that the client has serious injuries that require attention and treatment within a short time, but can wait until the more critical cases are handleD.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
- Child abuse is the intentional or neglectful physical, emotional, or sexual harm or injury of a child by a parent, caregiver, or another person who has a relationship of trust or responsibility with the child. Child abuse can have serious and long-lasting consequences for the child's health, development, and well-being.
- The practical nurse (PN) has a legal and ethical duty to identify, report, and prevent child abuse. The PN should be alert for any signs and symptoms of child abuse, such as unexplained or inconsistent injuries, bruises, burns, fractures, or scars; behavioural changes, such as fear, anxiety, aggression, withdrawal, or depression; poor hygiene, nutrition, or growth; lack of supervision, medical care, or education; or sexualized behaviours or knowledge.
- The PN should also conduct a thorough and sensitive assessment of the child and the family situation, using open-ended questions, active listening, and a non-judgmental attitude. The PN should compare the history and physical findings of the child with the expected developmental milestones and normal variations for the child's age and stage. The PN should also document any relevant information in an objective and factual manner.
- When the mother of a school-aged boy tells the PN that he fell out of a tree and hurt his arm and shoulder, the PN should assess the child's injury and compare it with the mother's explanation. The most significant indicator of possible child abuse in this scenario is if the injury description by the mother varies from the child's version. This may suggest that the mother is lying or covering up the true cause of the injury, which may be intentional or accidental harm by herself or someone else. A discrepancy between the mother's and the child's stories may also indicate that the child is afraid or coerced to hide the truth about the abuse.
- Therefore, option D is the correct answer, while options A, B, and C are incorrect.
- Option A is incorrect because the child looking at the floor when answering the nurse's questions may not be a sign of abuse, but rather a sign of shyness, embarrassment, pain, or discomfort.
Option B is incorrect because the mother describing in detail what she did for her injured child may not be a sign of abuse, but rather a sign of concern, care, or guilt.
Option C is incorrect because the abrasions on the child's arms, legs, and chest having healed may not be a sign of abuse, but rather a sign of normal wound healing or previous accidents.
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