A nurse is collecting data from an 18-month-old toddler at a well-child visit.

Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?

Answer: C. Weigh the client each morning after voiding

Rationale:

A. Encourage the client to gain 2.3 kg (5 lb) per week:
A weight gain goal of 0.5 to 1 kg (1 to 2 lb) per week is considered safe and realistic. Gaining 2.3 kg (5 lb) weekly is too aggressive and may cause physical and psychological stress for the client.

B. Monitor the client for 15 min after meals:
Clients with anorexia nervosa are at risk for purging behaviors. Monitoring for only 15 minutes is insufficient. A 60-minute post-meal observation period is more appropriate to deter vomiting or excessive exercise.

C. Weigh the client each morning after voiding:
Daily weights, taken at the same time each morning after voiding and before eating, provide consistent and accurate data to monitor progress and detect manipulation or fluid shifts.

D. Reinforce teaching about healthy eating during meals:
Reinforcing education during meals can increase the client’s anxiety and resistance to eating. Teaching is best done separately from mealtimes to avoid associating eating with stress.

Explanation:

The nurse should respond by recommending that the parent avoids administering aspirin to the child. The use of aspirin in children, especially those under the age of 18, is associated with the risk of developing Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious condition that affects the liver and brain. It is important to educate parents about the potential risks of using aspirin in children, particularly when they have a fever. Instead, the nurse should advise the parent to use appropriate dosages of acetaminophen or ibuprofen based on the child's weight and follow the label directions for administration.

Option a suggests following the label directions based on the child's weight, which may not specifically address the use of aspirin in children and the risk of Reye's syndrome. Option c, stating that the child will require an antibiotic if she develops a fever, is incorrect because antibiotics are not indicated for all fevers and should only be prescribed if there is an underlying bacterial infection. Option d, suggesting that the child can have two baby aspirins every 4 hours, is incorrect and contradicts the recommendation to avoid administering aspirin to the child.