A nurse is caring for a 3-year-old child who has viral meningitis. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

Condition Most Likely Experiencing: Bronchiolitis

The infant's symptoms—fever, cough, nasal congestion, wheezing, nasal flaring, intercostal retractions, and difficulty feeding—are characteristic of bronchiolitis, commonly caused by RSV in infants.

Actions to Take:

• Administer Oxygen via nasal cannula: The infant's low oxygen saturation (88% on room air) and respiratory distress (nasal flaring, retractions) indicate the need for supplemental oxygen to ensure adequate oxygenation and reduce respiratory distress.
• Suction nares with a bulb aspirator: Suctioning the infant’s nasal passages helps clear mucus and improve breathing. Infants with RSV often have significant nasal congestion that can impair feeding and breathing, so clearing the airways is crucial for respiratory management.

Parameters to Monitor:

• Oxygen saturation via continuous pulse oximetry: Monitoring oxygen saturation provides critical information on the infant’s respiratory status and helps assess the effectiveness of oxygen therapy.
• Respiratory effort and breath sounds: The infant is showing signs of increased respiratory effort (e.g., nasal flaring, intercostal retractions) and abnormal breath sounds (e.g., wheezes). Monitoring these parameters helps assess the severity of respiratory distress and guides further interventions.

A. "I will set the temperature of the hot water heater to 140 degrees." The hot water heater should be set to 120°F (49°C) or lower to prevent scald injuries. A setting of 140°F significantly increases the risk of burns.
B. "I will turn pot handles towards the front of the stove when cooking." Pot handles should be turned toward the back of the stove to prevent a child from grabbing or knocking them over.
C. "I don't need to apply sunscreen to my child if he is outside after 3 p.m." Sunscreen is essential any time a child is outdoors during daylight, regardless of the time, to protect against harmful UV rays.
D. "I will plug protective guards into my electrical outlets." Installing protective guards helps prevent electrical burns by stopping toddlers from inserting objects into outlets.