A nurse is caring for an adolescent.
Admission Assessment
1400:

• Adolescent brought to emergency department by parents following a fall while skateboarding.
• Adolescent reports pain in their right leg as 10 on a scale of 0 to 10 and is unable to bear weight.
• Adolescent is awake, alert, and oriented x 3. Lungs clear, respirations even and regular. S1 and S2 with regular rate and rhythm.
• Abdomen soft and nontender with active bowel sounds in all four quadrants.
• Right lower extremity with open wound and displaced bone.
• Right lower extremity pulse +1, extremity cool to touch, edema present, capillary refill 4 seconds.

Select the 4 findings that require follow-up.

A. Incorrect. Maintaining a flexible daily schedule for the child may increase their anxiety and confusion, as they may have difficulty adapting to changes in routine and expectations. The nurse should advise the parents to establish a consistent and structured schedule for the child, with clear rules and boundaries.

B. Correct. Using a reward system to modify the child's behavior is an effective strategy to reinforce positive behaviors and reduce negative ones. The nurse should help the parents identify specific and measurable goals for the child, and provide them with praise, tokens, or privileges when they achieve them.

C. Incorrect. Providing a variety of family members to care for the child may overwhelm them and impair their social skills development, as they may have difficulty forming attachments and communicating with different people. The nurse should encourage the parents to select one or two primary caregivers for the child, who can provide them with consistent and supportive interactions.

D. Incorrect. Administering alprazolam as needed to reduce the child's anxiety is not recommended, as it may cause adverse effects such as sedation, dependence, or withdrawal symptoms. The nurse should educate the parents about nonpharmacological interventions for anxiety, such as relaxation techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy, or social skills training.

Rationale:

A: Obtain the latex free cart is incorrect. There is no evidence that the client has a latex allergy or that latex exposure triggered the malignant hyperthermia reaction.

B: Paralytic ileus is incorrect. Paralytic ileus is not the primary condition that the client is experiencing, but a possible secondary complication of malignant hyperthermia.

C: Nausea and vomiting is incorrect. Nausea and vomiting are common postoperative symptoms that may or may not be related to malignant hyperthermia.

D:Malignant hyperthermia (MH) itself does not inherently include hypercapnia as a defining characteristic. However, during an episode of malignant hyperthermia, metabolic acidosis can occur due to the increased production of lactic acid and carbon dioxide as byproducts of the hypermetabolic state. This acidosis can potentially lead to respiratory compensation mechanisms, such as increased respiratory rate and depth, to attempt to eliminate excess carbon dioxide from the body. In some cases, if the compensatory respiratory efforts are insufficient to adequately remove carbon dioxide, hypercapnia can develop as a secondary complication of malignant hyperthermia.

E: nasogastric (NG) tube is incorrect. An NG tube may be indicated for paralytic ileus or bowel obstruction, but not for malignant hyperthermia.

- F: Malignant hyperthermia is correct. The client's vital signs indicate a possible malignant hypertermia reaction, which is a rare but life-threatening complication of general anesthesia that causes a rapid rise in body temperature, muscle rigidity, tachycardia, tachypnea, and hypoxia.

- G: Administer ondansetron is incorrect. Ondansetron is an antiemetic medication that can help with nausea and vomiting, but it does not address the underlying cause of malignant hyperthermia.

- H: Administer dantrolene is correct. Dantrolene is the antidote for malignant hyperthermia and should be given as soon as possible to stop the metabolic crisis and lower the body temperature.

- I: Latex allergy is incorrect. Latex allergy is a hypersensitivity reaction to latex products that can cause urticaria, angioedema, bronchospasm, or anaphylaxis. There is no evidence that the client has a latex allergy or that latex exposure triggered the malignant hyperthermia reaction.

- J: Urticaria is incorrect. Urticaria is a skin rash that can be caused by allergic reactions, infections, or other factors. There is no evidence that the client has urticaria or that it is related to malignant hyperthermia.

- K: Muscle rigidity is correct. Muscle rigidity is one of the signs of malignant hyperthermia and should be monitored closely by the nurse.

- L: Bowel sounds is correct. Bowel sounds should be assessed regularly by the nurse to detect any signs of paralytic ileus, which is a potential complication of malignant hyperthermia that causes intestinal obstruction and abdominal distension.