A nurse is admitting an infant who has severe dehydration from acute gastroenteritis. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

The correct answer is Choice B.

Choice B rationale

Administering an intravenous antibiotic is the priority action for a child with suspected bacterial meningitis. Early administration of antibiotics is crucial to treat the infection and prevent complications such as brain swelling and seizures.

Choice A rationale

Obtaining blood cultures is important for identifying the causative organism, but it should be done immediately before or concurrently with the administration of antibiotics.

Choice C rationale

Preparing the child for a lumbar puncture is necessary for diagnosing meningitis, but it should not delay the administration of antibiotics.

Choice D rationale

Placing the child in isolation is important to prevent the spread of infection, but it is not the immediate priority over administering antibiotics.

The correct answer is Choice A.

Choice A rationale

Auscultating the rate and characteristics of the child’s heart sounds is the priority assessment. Acute rheumatic fever can lead to carditis, which affects the heart valves and can cause new or changed heart murmurs.

Choice B rationale

Assessing the client’s erythematous rash is important but not the priority. The rash is a common symptom but does not indicate the severity of the condition.

Choice C rationale

Identifying the degree of parental anxiety is important for providing holistic care but is not the immediate priority in assessing the child’s physical condition.

Choice D rationale

Using a pain-rating tool to determine the severity of joint pain is important for managing symptoms but is not the priority assessment upon admission.