A nurse is caring for a 2-month-old infant who is postoperative following surgical repair of a cleft lip. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Hirschsprung disease is a condition where nerve cells are missing from parts of the intestine, leading to problems with bowel movements. The treatment for Hirschsprung disease often involves surgery to remove the affected portion of the bowel and create a temporary ostomy (stoma). An ostomy is an opening in the abdominal wall through which waste material can pass into an external pouch, bypassing the affected section of the intestine.
The correct statement by the parent that indicates an understanding of the teaching is C. The parent is expressing relief that the ostomy is temporary, meaning it is not a permanent situation. This response indicates that the parent has been informed about the nature of the ostomy and its planned duration, which is an essential aspect of preoperative teaching.
Let's go through the other options and explain why they are not the best choices:
A. "I'm glad my child will have normal bowel movements now." This statement is not accurate because, after the initial surgery with the creation of a temporary ostomy, the child will not have normal bowel movements. The ostomy is created to bypass the affected part of the intestine, and the child's bowel movements will be directed through the ostomy until further surgery is performed to reconnect the intestine.
B. "I want to learn how to use my child's feeding tube as soon as possible." While learning how to use a feeding tube may be relevant for certain medical conditions, it is not specifically related to Hirschsprung disease or the planned initial surgery. Hirschsprung disease primarily affects the bowel and its function, not the child's ability to eat.
D. "I want to learn how to empty my child's urinary catheter bag." Hirschsprung disease does not directly impact the urinary system, so there is no specific reason for the parent to learn how to empty a urinary catheter bag in the context of this condition or the planned surgery.

When caring for a child with acute appendicitis, the nurse should anticipate an elevated white blood cell count (WBC) in the laboratory values. A high WBC count is a common finding in acute appendicitis, as it indicates an inflammatory response and infection in the body. The body's immune system responds to the inflammation caused by the infected appendix, leading to an increase in WBCs to fight off the infection.
The other options are not necessarily specific to acute appendicitis:
A. RBC 4.2 million/mm³: The red blood cell count (RBC) measures the number of red blood cells in the bloodstream. This value may be within the normal range, but it is not the primary marker for diagnosing or monitoring acute appendicitis.
B. Lymphocytes 3,000/mm3: Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell involved in the body's immune response. While changes in lymphocyte levels can occur during inflammation, it is not the primary marker for diagnosing or monitoring acute appendicitis.
C. Neutrophils 3.000/mm³: Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that increases in response to infection and inflammation. However, the absolute neutrophil count is not as relevant as the overall WBC count in determining the presence and severity of acute appendicitis.