A nurse at an urgent care clinic is caring for a child who hit her head on the playground at school 30 minutes ago. Which of the following findings is the nurse's priority?

Choice A rationale:
Allowing an adolescent driver to answer their phone while driving can lead to distraction, increasing the risk of accidents. Engaging in conversations on the phone diverts the driver's attention from the road, which is unsafe. It's crucial for drivers, especially new ones, to focus solely on driving to prevent accidents.
Choice B rationale:
This choice is correct. Not answering the phone while driving is a responsible behavior that indicates an understanding of the dangers of distracted driving. Parents should encourage their children to focus on the road and avoid distractions like phone calls, promoting safe driving practices.
Choice C rationale:
This statement is incorrect. Adolescents should continue wearing helmets when riding their bikes even after age 13. Wearing helmets helps prevent head injuries in case of accidents. While older adolescents might perceive themselves as less prone to accidents, they are still at risk, and helmets are essential for their safety.
Choice D rationale:
This choice is correct. Wearing appropriate protective clothing, like long pants, while driving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) is crucial. Long pants can provide some degree of protection against scrapes, scratches, and minor injuries that can occur while operating an ATV. It's a safety measure that shows an understanding of the importance of protective gear.

Answer: d. Apply suction in 3 to 4-second increments.

Rationale:

• a. Instill 2 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride prior to suctioning:While saline instillations may be used in some cases,it is not universally recommended for infants with tracheostomies and depends on the specific situation and healthcare provider's protocol.The priority in this case is to quickly clear the partial mucus occlusion to prevent respiratory distress.
• b. Select a catheter that fits snugly into the tracheostomy tube:This isincorrect.Selecting a catheter that fits tightly can damage the delicate tracheal mucosa and increase the risk of bleeding.A smaller-diameter catheter that allows for gentle passage is preferred.

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  Tracheostomy tube and different catheter sizes

• c. Use a clean technique when performing suctioning:This is absolutely essential for all suctioning procedures to minimize the risk of infection.However,it is not the specific action that addresses the immediate concern of clearing the partial mucus occlusion.
• d. Apply suction in 3 to 4-second increments:This is thecorrectapproach for suctioning an infant with a tracheostomy.Applying short,intermittent suction bursts minimizes the risk of hypoxia and tissue trauma while effectively removing secretions.

Therefore, the most important action for the nurse to take is to apply suction in short, 3-4 second bursts to effectively clear the mucus occlusion while minimizing risks to the infant.

Additional Points:

• The nurse should use sterile suction equipment and sterile technique throughout the procedure.
• The suction pressure should be set at the lowest effective level,typically 80-120 mmHg.
• The nurse should monitor the infant for signs of respiratory distress,such as increased work of breathing,retractions,and oxygen desaturation,before,during,and after suctioning.
• If the mucus occlusion is not cleared after several attempts,the nurse should seek assistance from ahealthcareprovider.