A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who has pneumonia.

For each potential nursing action, click to specify if the potential action is anticipated or contraindicated for the client.

A) "A child who has leukemia and an absolute neutrophil count of 200/mm³ (2,500 to 8,000/mm³)."
This child is at significant risk for infection due to a severely low neutrophil count, indicating severe neutropenia. Discharge planning for this child would be inappropriate at this time since they need intensive monitoring and care to manage their immunocompromised status and prevent infections.

B) "A child who has a new diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus and is receiving IV insulin."
This child is appropriate for discharge planning. A new diagnosis of type 1 diabetes requires thorough teaching for the family and child about blood glucose monitoring, insulin administration, dietary adjustments, and emergency management. While the child is receiving IV insulin in the hospital, once stabilized, they can be discharged with proper education and support to manage their condition at home.

C) "An adolescent who has cystic fibrosis and is receiving their yearly tune-up."
A cystic fibrosis "tune-up" refers to a period of treatment, often including IV antibiotics and respiratory therapy, to help manage the chronic condition. Since this is part of ongoing care and not an acute issue, discharge planning is not immediately appropriate until the "tune-up" is complete, and the adolescent has stabilized.

D) "An infant who has respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and a respiratory rate of 70/min."
This infant is at risk for respiratory distress and requires close monitoring. A respiratory rate of 70/min in an infant is elevated, and the child may need additional respiratory support. Discharge planning should not be initiated until the infant's condition improves and they are stable enough to handle care at home.

A) Wear sterile gloves to remove the dressing: For a wet-to-dry dressing change, clean gloves are typically used when removing the dressing, as the procedure does not require a sterile technique unless the wound is being directly cleaned or treated with sterile instruments. Wearing sterile gloves for removal is unnecessary and could increase the risk of contamination when handling non-sterile dressing material.

B) Remove the tape by pulling from the center of the dressing: Tape should be removed by pulling it gently from the edges rather than from the center. Pulling from the center may cause unnecessary trauma to the surrounding skin or disrupt the wound's healing process. Gently pulling from the edges helps reduce the risk of skin irritation and minimizes discomfort for the patient.

C) Moisten dressing before removal: The dressing should be moistened before application, not before removal. Wetting the dressing before removing it may actually cause further trauma to the wound, and it might be difficult to remove the wet-to-dry dressing cleanly. The dressing should be removed first, and then a new dressing should be moistened if needed.

D) Clean the wound from the center to the outer edges: When cleaning a wound, the nurse should always clean from the center of the wound to the outer edges in a circular motion. This helps prevent the spread of bacteria from the outer contaminated areas into the clean tissue. By cleaning from the center outward, the nurse reduces the risk of introducing new bacteria into the wound site.