A nurse is caring for four children in an emergency department.
Which of the following clients should the nurse assess first?
A child who has mononucleosis and reports severe fatigue.
A child who has Wilms' tumor and an abdominal mass.
A child who has acute epiglottitis and is drooling.
A child who has a urinary tract infection and bright red blood in her urine.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale:
A child who has mononucleosis and reports severe fatigue requires medical attention, but this condition does not pose an immediate life-threatening risk compared to acute epiglottitis. Mononucleosis is a viral infection that can cause fatigue, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes. While the child should be assessed, the priority is given to the child with acute epiglottitis due to the potential for airway obstruction and respiratory distress.
Choice B rationale:
A child who has Wilms' tumor and an abdominal mass also needs urgent medical evaluation. Wilms' tumor is a rare kidney cancer that primarily affects children. While it requires prompt attention, acute epiglottitis poses a more immediate threat to the airway and breathing.
Choice C rationale:
A child with acute epiglottitis and drooling requires immediate assessment and intervention. Acute epiglottitis is a potentially life-threatening infection that can cause severe swelling of the epiglottis, leading to airway obstruction. The child may have difficulty breathing and may present with the classic drooling sign due to the inability to swallow saliva. Prompt medical intervention, including airway management and appropriate antibiotics, is essential in this situation.
Choice D rationale:
A child with a urinary tract infection and bright red blood in her urine requires medical evaluation, but this condition is not as urgent as acute epiglottitis. Hematuria (blood in the urine) can have various causes, including urinary tract infections or kidney stones. While the child should receive medical attention, it does not take precedence over the immediate threat posed by acute epiglottitis, which requires urgent intervention to maintain the airway.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Droplet.
The rationale for each choice is as follows:
- A. Droplet: Correct. Pneumonia is transmitted by respiratory droplets that are generated by coughing, sneezing, or talking. The nurse should wear a surgical mask and eye protection when caring for the client and maintain a distance of at least 3 feet from the client.
- B. Airborne: Incorrect. Airborne precautions are used for diseases that are transmitted by small particles that remain suspended in the air for long periods of time, such as tuberculosis, measles, or chickenpox. The nurse should wear a respirator and place the client in a negative-pressure room.
- C. Contact: Incorrect. Contact precautions are used for diseases that are transmitted by direct or indirect contact with the client or the client's environment, such as Clostridium difficile, scabies, or MRSA. The nurse should wear gloves and a gown and use dedicated equipment for the client.
- D. Protective environment: Incorrect. Protective environment precautions are used for clients who are immunocompromised and at risk of infection from others, such as clients who have had a stem cell transplant or are receiving chemotherapy. The nurse should wear a mask, gloves, and a gown and place the client in a positive-pressure room with HEPA filtration.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Protective environment isolation precautions are used for immunocompromised patients to protect them from infections in the environment. It is not the appropriate precaution for a patient with bacterial meningitis, which is spread through respiratory droplets.
Choice B rationale:
Airborne precautions are used for diseases that are spread through the air and require a negative pressure room. Examples include tuberculosis and chickenpox. Bacterial meningitis is spread through respiratory droplets, not airborne transmission.
Choice C rationale:
Contact precautions are used for diseases that are spread by direct or indirect contact. Examples include MRSA and Clostridium difficile. Bacterial meningitis is primarily spread through respiratory droplets, not direct contact.
Choice D rationale:
Droplet precautions are used for diseases that are spread by respiratory droplets, such as influenza and bacterial meningitis. Patients with bacterial meningitis should be placed in a private room and wear a mask, and healthcare providers should wear a mask and eye protection when within 3 feet of the patient. This precaution helps prevent the spread of respiratory droplets containing the bacteria.
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