A nurse is preparing to administer the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to an adolescent. Which of the following should the nurse identify as a contraindication to administering this vaccine?

The correct answer is Choice D.

Choice A rationale: Administering an oral corticosteroid is not the first action the nurse should take. Corticosteroids are used to reduce inflammation and itching caused by poison ivy. However, they are usually prescribed if the symptoms are severe or if the rash covers a large area of the body. It’s important to note that corticosteroids can have side effects, especially when used for a long time, so they should be used under the supervision of a healthcare provider.

Choice B rationale: Applying calamine lotion to the affected area can help soothe the skin and relieve itching caused by poison ivy. However, this is not the first action the nurse should take. The first step is to remove the oil from the skin that causes the allergic reaction. Calamine lotion can be applied after the area has been thoroughly washed.

Choice C rationale: Instructing the parent to give the child an oatmeal bath twice daily can help soothe the skin and relieve itching. However, this is not the first action the nurse should take. Similar to calamine lotion, an oatmeal bath can be beneficial after the area has been thoroughly washed to remove the oil from the skin.

Choice D rationale: The first action the nurse should take when caring for a child exposed to poison ivy is to flush the area with cold, running water. This helps to remove the oil (urushiol) from the skin that causes the allergic reaction. It’s important to do this as soon as possible after exposure to help prevent the spread of the oil to other areas of the body or to other people. After flushing the area, the nurse can then apply calamine lotion or recommend an oatmeal bath to help soothe the skin and relieve itching.

Choice A rationale:
The FLACC (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability) scale is a pain assessment tool commonly used for infants and young children who cannot verbalize their pain. It assesses different behavioral and physiological indicators of pain, such as facial expressions, leg movement, activity level, crying, and response to consoling. Given that the infant is only 18 months old, this scale is appropriate for evaluating their postoperative pain.
Choice B rationale:
The Color tool is not a recognized pain assessment tool. It's essential to use validated and standardized pain assessment scales, and the Color tool does not fit this criterion.
Choice C rationale:
The Poker Chip Tool is not typically used for pain assessment in infants. It's often used with older children to assess pain intensity using a poker chip set that corresponds to different levels of pain. However, for an 18-month-old infant, behavioral assessments like the FLACC scale would be more suitable.
Choice D rationale:
The Numeric scale involves asking the patient to rate their pain on a numerical scale, often from 0 to 10. However, this scale is not appropriate for an 18-month-old infant who is likely unable to comprehend or use numbers to express their pain. The FLACC scale provides a more comprehensive assessment of pain in non-verbal or preverbal children.