A nurse is assessing an 8-month-old infant for cerebral palsy. Which of the following findings is a manifestation of the condition?

A. Elevate the head of the bed 15 to 30 degrees with head maintained a midline position.

Correct Explanation: This intervention is appropriate for a child with an acute head injury.

Explanation: Elevating the head of the bed helps reduce intracranial pressure by facilitating venous drainage from the head. However, it's important to keep the head in a midline position to prevent neck flexion, which can obstruct venous flow. Elevating the head 15 to 30 degrees is a standard approach for managing intracranial pressure in patients with head injuries.

B. Maintain an active stimulating environment.

Incorrect Explanation: Maintaining an active stimulating environment is not suitable for a child with an acute head injury.

Explanation: A child with an acute head injury should be in a quiet and calm environment. Overstimulation can worsen the condition by increasing intracranial pressure. It's important to minimize stimuli to allow the brain to heal.

C. Perform active chest percussion and suctioning every 1 to 2 hours.

Incorrect Explanation: Chest percussion and suctioning are not relevant interventions for an acute head injury.

Explanation: Active chest percussion and suctioning are typically used to manage respiratory conditions. While maintaining good respiratory function is important for overall patient care, it's not a primary intervention for an unconscious child with a head injury.

D. Instruct child on performing active range of motion.

Incorrect Explanation: Instructing the child on performing active range of motion is not appropriate for an unconscious child with a head injury.

Explanation: An unconscious child cannot actively perform range of motion exercises. Additionally, it's not a priority intervention in the acute phase of head injury management.

A. Replacement therapy may require daily subcutaneous injections.

Explanation: Growth hormone deficiency (hypopituitarism) often requires treatment with growth hormone therapy. One common method of administering growth hormone is through daily subcutaneous injections. Subcutaneous injections involve injecting the medication under the skin into the fatty tissue. This is a routine part of growth hormone therapy, and nursing considerations would include educating the child and their family about proper injection techniques, site rotation, and adherence to the treatment schedule.

Explanation for the other choices:

B. Lifelong replacement therapy will be required:

This statement is generally true. Growth hormone deficiency often requires long-term treatment, which may extend throughout childhood and adolescence. However, in some cases, the need for growth hormone therapy might change based on the individual's response to treatment and growth patterns.

C. Treatment is most successful if started during adolescence:

The optimal timing for starting growth hormone therapy can vary depending on the specific circumstances and the underlying cause of growth hormone deficiency. While treatment during adolescence can be effective, growth hormone therapy can also be successful if started earlier in childhood or later in adolescence. The key is identifying and treating the deficiency as soon as possible to promote healthy growth.

D. Treatment is considered successful if children attain full stature by adulthood:

While growth hormone therapy aims to support growth, achieving "full stature" might not always be possible. The goal of treatment is to help the child reach a more typical height based on their genetic potential and individual response to therapy. The success of treatment is determined by improvements in growth velocity and height, rather than necessarily achieving "full stature," which can vary greatly among individuals.