A nurse is performing a nursing assessment of a child with croup.
What should the nurse assess to determine the severity of respiratory distress?
The child's height and weight.
The child's vaccination history.
The degree of airway obstruction.
The child's social activities.
The Correct Answer is C
The nurse should assess the degree of airway obstruction to determine the severity of respiratory distress.
Choice A rationale:
Assessing the child's height and weight is important for overall health assessment but does not specifically determine the severity of respiratory distress in croup.
Respiratory distress is primarily evaluated by assessing airway patency, effort of breathing, and oxygenation.
Choice B rationale:
The child's vaccination history is crucial for preventing certain infectious diseases, but it does not directly assess the severity of respiratory distress in croup.
Croup is commonly caused by viral infections such as parainfluenza viruses.
Choice C rationale:
Assessing the degree of airway obstruction is essential in determining the severity of respiratory distress in croup.
Children with croup often present with stridor, a high-pitched sound heard during inspiration, indicating partial airway obstruction.
The severity of stridor, along with signs of increased work of breathing, provides valuable information about the child's respiratory status.
Choice D rationale:
The child's social activities are not directly related to the assessment of respiratory distress in croup.
While social history is important in a comprehensive nursing assessment, it does not provide specific information about the severity of airway obstruction in croup.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","B","C","D"]
Explanation
The correct answers are Choices A, B, C, and D.
Choice A rationale: Croup is typically caused by viral pathogens like parainfluenza, leading to inflammation of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi, resulting in airway narrowing and characteristic respiratory symptoms.
Choice B rationale: Croup most commonly affects children aged 6 months to 3 years due to their narrower airways and immature immune systems, making them more susceptible to upper airway obstruction.
Choice C rationale: Croup symptoms often worsen at night due to circadian variations in airway tone and increased mucus production, contributing to nocturnal stridor and respiratory distress.
Choice D rationale: The hallmark symptom of croup is a barking cough, resembling a seal’s bark, caused by turbulent airflow through an inflamed and narrowed upper airway, especially near the cricoid cartilage.
Choice E rationale: Over-the-counter cough syrups and expectorants are contraindicated in croup; they do not address airway inflammation and may worsen symptoms or delay appropriate treatment like corticosteroids or nebulized epinephrine.
Correct Answer is ["A","D"]
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
There is no vaccine to prevent croup, but practicing good hand hygiene and avoiding contact with sick people can help reduce the child's risk of getting croup.
Croup is mainly caused by viral infections, so minimizing exposure to viruses is essential in prevention.
Choice B rationale:
Giving a daily dose of vitamin C is not a proven method for preventing croup.
While vitamin C is essential for overall health, it does not specifically prevent croup.
Providing accurate and evidence-based information is crucial in parental education.
Choice C rationale:
Keeping the child's bedroom cool and humid may provide comfort during the illness, but it is not a proven method for preventing croup.
This statement does not contribute significantly to preventive measures against croup.
Choice D rationale:
Using a humidifier in the home can help maintain adequate humidity levels, which may reduce the risk of croup, especially during dry seasons.
Proper humidity can prevent irritation of the upper respiratory tract and decrease the likelihood of developing croup.
Including this information in the teaching is appropriate and beneficial for the parent to know.
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