A nurse is collecting data from a client who has asthma with exacerbation. The client has diminished breath sounds and is using accessory muscles with respirations. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A. Provide a tour of the perioperative area prior to surgery: Familiarizing an adolescent with the surgical environment helps reduce anxiety, promotes understanding of the procedure, and encourages cooperation. A tour allows the client to see equipment, meet staff, and ask questions, which supports emotional preparation and informed consent.

B. Explain that anesthesia is a special type of sleep: Describing anesthesia as “sleep” can be misleading and may cause fear or misunderstanding about the procedure. Adolescents benefit from honest, age-appropriate explanations about anesthesia, including how it works and safety measures, rather than oversimplified analogies.

C. Wait until after surgery to explain the importance of coughing and deep breathing: Preoperative teaching about postoperative exercises, including coughing and deep breathing, helps prevent complications such as atelectasis and pneumonia. Delaying instruction reduces the client’s readiness and may decrease adherence after surgery.

D. Keep medical equipment out of the client's sight: While minimizing exposure to intimidating equipment can reduce anxiety for younger children, adolescents are generally better able to process information. Hiding equipment can increase fear of the unknown, whereas exposure during a tour helps normalize the environment and improve coping.

A. Potassium: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that increases renal excretion of sodium, chloride, and water, which can lead to significant potassium loss. Monitoring serum potassium levels is essential to prevent hypokalemia, which can cause muscle weakness, arrhythmias, and cardiac complications, especially in infants who are more vulnerable to electrolyte imbalances.

B. WBC count: Furosemide does not typically affect white blood cell production or immune function. Monitoring WBC count is not indicated solely for furosemide therapy unless the infant has another condition that requires hematologic surveillance.

C. Iron: Furosemide does not interfere with iron metabolism or absorption. Iron studies are unrelated to diuretic therapy and are not required unless the infant has known anemia or is receiving iron supplementation for another reason.

D. Amylase: Amylase is a pancreatic enzyme monitored in cases of pancreatic disorders or suspected pancreatitis. Furosemide therapy does not directly affect pancreatic function, so amylase measurement is not indicated as part of routine monitoring for this medication.