A nurse is assisting in the care of a child who is receiving IV cefuroxime when the child begins to have difficulty breathing. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Choice A reason:

Obtaining vital signs is essential in assessing the child's overall condition, but it is not the first action the nurse should take in this situation. The priority is to address the immediate concern of difficulty breathing.

Choice B reason:

Stopping the IV infusion is the most critical action the nurse should take first. Difficulty breathing can be a sign of a severe allergic reaction, and if it is related to the IV cefuroxime, stopping the infusion will prevent further administration of the medication and possibly worsening the reaction.

Choice C reason:

Administering epinephrine IM is not the first-line action in this scenario. Epinephrine is used in severe anaphylactic reactions, but it should not be given without a proper evaluation of the situation and a clear indication for its use.

Choice D reason:

Monitoring intake and output is an important nursing intervention, but it is not the priority when the child is experiencing difficulty breathing. Addressing the respiratory distress should be the initial focus to ensure the child's safety and well-being.

Choice A reason: Following the rupture of membranes, delivery is imminent and administration of glucocorticoids may not take effect to benefit the baby.

Choice B reason:

Monitoring the client's temperature (Choice B) is important as the client is at risk of chorioamnionitis which may increase the risk of severe early neonatal sepsis. Changes in temperature as they may warrant anibiotic therapy and immediate delivery.

Choice C reason:

Giving calcium gluconate (Choice C) is not indicated in this situation. Calcium gluconate is typically administered in cases of magnesium sulfate toxicity or to treat hypocalcemia, neither of which is mentioned in the scenario. Therefore, it is not the appropriate action for the nurse to take at this time.

Choice D reason:

Preparing the client for an amniocentesis (Choice D) is not the correct action in this situation. An amniocentesis is a procedure in which a small amount of amniotic fluid is withdrawn for various diagnostic reasons, such as genetic testing or assessing fetal lung maturity. However, in this scenario, the priority is to administer glucocorticoids to promote fetal lung maturity, and an amniocentesis does not address this immediate concern.