A nurse is caring for an 8-year-old child who has acute rheumatic fever. Which of the following assessments is the nurse's priority immediately after admission?

Using a pain-rating tool to determine the severity of the joint pain

Assessing the client's erythematous rash

Identifying the degree of parental anxiety related to the diagnosis

Auscultating the rate and regularity of the child's heart sounds and notifying the provider immediately of abnormalities

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

Choice A: Using a pain-rating tool to determine the severity of the joint pain is not the priority assessment for an 8-year-old child who has acute rheumatic fever, which is an inﬂammatory condition that can aﬀect various organs, especially the heart, joints, skin, and brain. Joint pain is one of the major criteria for diagnosing acute rheumatic fever and can affect one or more large joints, such as knees, ankles, elbows, or wrists. Joint pain can be managed with analgesics or anti-inﬂammatory drugs.

Choice B: Assessing the client's erythematous rash is not the priority assessment for an 8-year-old child who has acute rheumatic fever, which is an inﬂammatory condition that can aﬀect various organs, especially the heart, joints, skin, and brain. The erythematous rash is one of the minor criteria for diagnosing acute rheumatic fever and can appear as pink or red patches on the trunk or limbs. The erythematous rash can fade or change location over time and does not require any specific treatment.

Choice C: Identifying the degree of parental anxiety related to the diagnosis is not the priority assessment for an 8-year-old child who has acute rheumatic fever, which is an inﬂammatory condition that can aﬀect various organs, especially the heart, joints, skin, and brain. Parental anxiety related to the diagnosis can affect their coping skills and ability to care for their child. Parental anxiety can be addressed by providing education, support, and referral to appropriate resources.

Choice D: Auscultating the rate and regularity of the child's heart sounds and notifying the provider immediately of abnormalities is the priority assessment for an 8-year-old child who has acute rheumatic fever, as it can indicate cardiac involvement, which is the most serious complication of acute rheumatic fever. Cardiac involvement can cause damage to the heart valves, myocardium, or pericardium and lead to heart failure or death. Abnormalities in heart sounds may include murmurs, rubs, gallops, or arrhythmias.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: This is a therapeutic response that acknowledges the parent's feelings and provides reassurance that the behavior is normal and temporary. The other responses are either dismissive, judgmental, or self-disclosing, which are not helpful for the parent.
Choice B reason: This is a judgmental response that implies that the parent is overreacting or has unrealistic expectations for their child.
Choice C reason: This is a dismissive response that minimizes the parent's concern and does not offer any support
or information.
Choice D reason: This is a self-disclosing response that shifts the focus from the parent to the nurse and does not
address the issue at hand.

A. At the end B. Before auscultating the chest and abdomen C. At the beginning D. Before examining the head and neck

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: This choice is correct because examining the child's tympanic membrane at the end of the physical examination is the best strategy to avoid upsetting or frightening the child. The tympanic membrane is the thin membrane that separates the outer ear from the middle ear, and it can be examined by using an otoscope, which is a device that has a light and a magnifying lens. Examining the tympanic membrane may be uncomfortable or painful for the child, especially if they have an ear infection or inﬂammation. Therefore, performing this procedure at the end of the examination can help to minimize the child's distress and resistance.

Choice B reason: This choice is incorrect because examining the child's tympanic membrane before auscultating the chest and abdomen is not a good strategy to avoid upsetting or frightening the child. Auscultating the chest and abdomen is a procedure that involves listening to the sounds of the heart, lungs, and bowel by using a stethoscope, which is a device that has a chest piece and earpieces. Auscultating the chest and abdomen may be soothing or relaxing for the child, as it does not cause any discomfort or pain. Therefore, performing this procedure before examining the tympanic membrane can help to calm and distract the child.

Choice C reason: This choice is incorrect because examining the child's tympanic membrane at the beginning of the physical examination is not a good strategy to avoid upsetting or frightening the child. Examining the tympanic membrane at the beginning of the examination may cause anxiety or fear in the child, which can affect their cooperation and trust for the rest of the examination. Therefore, performing this procedure at the beginning of the examination can increase the child's distress and resistance.

Choice D reason: This choice is incorrect because examining the child's tympanic membrane before examining the
head and neck is not a good strategy to avoid upsetting or frightening the child. Examining the head and neck is a procedure that involves inspecting and palpating the scalp, hair, face, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, throat, lymph nodes, and thyroid gland. Examining the head and neck may be easy or pleasant for the child, as it does not cause any discomfort or pain. Therefore, performing this procedure before examining the tympanic membrane can help to establish rapport and confidence with the child.

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A nurse is caring for an 8-year-old child who has acute rheumatic fever. Which of the following assessments is the nurse's priority immediately after admission?

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