A nurse is caring for an adolescent client who is scheduled for surgery. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prepare the child based on their developmental stage?

Choice A rationale:
Placing a toddler in a side-lying position on the affected side after administering otic medication is not recommended. This position can cause the medication to leak out, reducing its effectiveness, and can also increase the risk of infection. It's important to keep the medication in the ear canal for an adequate amount of time to allow it to work properly.
Choice B rationale:
Allowing the medication to reach room temperature prior to administration is not a critical step for otic medications. While warming certain medications can reduce discomfort, this is not a specific requirement for ear drops. Ensuring the cleanliness of the ear, proper positioning, and correct administration technique are more important.
Choice C rationale:
The correct choice. Sitting the child in an upright position is the recommended approach for administering otic medication. This position helps ensure that the medication remains in the ear canal and is not immediately expelled. It also facilitates better penetration of the medication into the ear canal, increasing its effectiveness.
Choice D rationale:
Gently pulling a child's ear upward is a technique used for administering otic medications to straighten the ear canal and allow better access to the medication. However, this step alone is not sufficient. Proper positioning of the child is equally important to prevent the medication from leaking out.

Choice A rationale:
This statement reflects an accurate understanding of varicella (chickenpox) transmission and infection control. The lesions of varicella contain the virus and are contagious until they have crusted over. Allowing the child to go to the playroom only after the lesions have crusted helps prevent the spread of the virus to other individuals.
Choice B rationale:
This statement is incorrect because waiting for the crusts to fall off the lesions before bathing the child is not necessary. In fact, keeping the lesions clean and maintaining proper hygiene through gentle bathing can help prevent secondary bacterial infections.
Choice C rationale:
This statement is incorrect because bedrest for 3 days is not necessary for a child with varicella. While it's important to minimize contact with others during the contagious phase, physical activity can be gradually resumed as long as the lesions have crusted to prevent transmission.
Choice D rationale:
This statement is incorrect. Once a person has had chickenpox (varicella), they develop immunity to the virus and do not need to wear a mask when visiting someone with active varicella. This is because they are already immune to the virus due to their prior infection.