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
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.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A: This action is appropriate for a 10-year-old child who will be hospitalized for an extended period of time, as it meets their psychosocial needs according to Erikson's stage of industry versus inferiority. In this stage, which occurs from age 6 to 12 years, children develop a sense of competence and achievement by mastering skills and tasks that are valued by society. Encouraging the client to complete school work can help them maintain their academic progress and self-esteem.
Choice B: This action is not appropriate for a 10-year-old child who will be hospitalized for an extended period of time, as it does not meet their psychosocial needs according to Erikson's stage of industry versus inferiority. In this stage, which occurs from age 6 to 12 years, children need consistency and structure to develop a sense of competence and achievement. Varying the child's schedule each day can cause confusion and stress for them.
Choice C: This action is not appropriate for a 10-year-old child who will be hospitalized for an extended period of time, as it does not meet their psychosocial needs according to Erikson's stage of industry versus inferiority. In this stage, which occurs from age 6 to 12 years, children need opportunities to master skills and tasks that are valued by society. Providing a daily session with a play therapist can help them cope with their emotions and fears, but it does not help them develop their competence and achievement.
Choice D: This action is not appropriate for a 10-year-old child who will be hospitalized for an extended period of time, as it does not meet their psychosocial needs according to Erikson's stage of industry versus inferiority. In this stage, which occurs from age 6 to 12 years, children need social support and peer interaction to develop a sense of competence and achievement. Discouraging visits from the client's friends can cause isolation and depression for them.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A: The OUCHER scale is not suitable for a 2-month-old infant, as it is designed for children aged 3 to 13 years who can point to pictures of faces that match their pain level. A 2-month-old infant cannot communicate verbally or point to pictures.
Choice B: The FACES scale is not suitable for a 2-month-old infant, as it is designed for children aged 3 years and older who can select a face that matches their pain level. A 2-month-old infant cannot communicate verbally or select a face.
Choice C: The PAINAD scale is not suitable for a 2-month-old infant, as it is designed for adults who have advanced dementia and cannot verbalize their pain. A 2-month-old infant does not have dementia and may have different behavioral indicators of pain.
Choice D: The FLACC scale is suitable for a 2-month-old infant, as it is designed for infants and children aged 2 months to 7 years who cannot verbalize their pain. The FLACC scale assesses five behavioral indicators of pain: face, legs, activity, cry, and consolability. Each indicator is scored from 0 to 2 based on the observation of the nurse. The total score ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating more pain.
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