A nurse is admitting a child who has bacterial meningitis. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Initiate antibiotic therapy for the child.

Minimize the child's environmental stimuli.

Place the child in a side-lying position.

Administer pain medication to the child.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

A. Initiate antibiotic therapy for the child.

This is the priority action. Bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency, and prompt administration of antibiotics is crucial to treat the infection and prevent further complications. Therefore, the nurse should initiate antibiotic therapy as soon as possible after obtaining appropriate cultures.

B. Minimize the child's environmental stimuli.

While reducing environmental stimuli can help decrease the child's discomfort and prevent agitation, it is not the priority action when managing bacterial meningitis. Treating the underlying infection takes precedence to prevent serious complications such as neurological damage or septic shock.

C. Place the child in a side-lying position.

Positioning the child on their side may help prevent aspiration if vomiting occurs, but it is not the priority action in the initial management of bacterial meningitis. The child's positioning can be adjusted as needed once antibiotic therapy has been initiated.

D. Administer pain medication to the child.

Pain management is important for the child's comfort, but it is not the priority action when managing bacterial meningitis. The child's pain may be addressed once antibiotic therapy has been initiated and the child's condition has stabilized.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A. "Seal nonwashable items in a plastic bag for 2 days."

This instruction is incorrect. Items that cannot be laundered may be dry-cleaned or sealed in a plastic bag for two weeks

B. "Soak hair brushes in boiling water for 10 minutes."This is correct. According to CDC, combs and brushes should be soaked in hot water (at least 130 degrees fahrenheit) to help avoid re-infestation.

C. "Apply permethrin 1 percent cream rinse every day for 5 days."

This instruction is incorrect. Permethrin 1 percent cream rinse is a medication used to treat head lice infestations, but it is typically applied only once and then rinsed out after a specified period of time (usually 10 minutes). Repeated daily application for five days is not recommended and may lead to unnecessary exposure to the medication.

D. "After washing bed linens, place them in a dryer on a cool setting for 30 minutes."

This instruction is incorrect. To effectively kill lice and nits on bed linens, they should be washed in hot water (at least 130°F or 54°C) and then dried on a hot setting in the dryer. A cool setting may not be sufficient to kill lice and nits.

A. "What is your pain level right now?" B. "Your doctor will be able to answer your questions tomorrow." C. "It sounds like you are worried. Tell me what you have been told." D. "It's natural to worry about death, but you should focus your energy on getting better."

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. "What is your pain level right now?": This response doesn't directly address the child's question about mortality and may deflect the conversation away from the child's concerns. While assessing pain is important, it should not be the immediate response to a question about mortality.

B. "Your doctor will be able to answer your questions tomorrow.": This response delays addressing the child's concerns and may leave the child feeling anxious or unsupported in the meantime. It's important for the nurse to provide immediate support and reassurance when a child expresses fears or worries.

C. "It sounds like you are worried. Tell me what you have been told.": This response acknowledges the child's emotions and invites them to share their thoughts and concerns. It opens up a dialogue between the nurse and the child, allowing the nurse to provide appropriate support and information based on the child's understanding and perspective.

D. "It's natural to worry about death, but you should focus your energy on getting better.": While this response acknowledges the child's worry, it may come across as dismissive or minimizing of the child's concerns about mortality. It's important to validate the child's emotions and offer support rather than redirecting their focus away from their worries.

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A nurse is admitting a child who has bacterial meningitis. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

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