A nurse is providing care for an adolescent who was brought to the emergency department (ED) by their guardians due to pain in the left arm that started the previous evening.

The adolescent has a history of sickle cell disease diagnosed at age 4. They have a prescription for oral morphine sulfate and took one dose the previous evening at 1800 and another this morning at 0900.

The adolescent reports no relief from pain, rating it as 9 on a scale of 0 to 10. For each potential provider’s prescription, specify if the prescription is anticipated, nonessential, or contraindicated for the client.

Choice A rationale
Applying a pressure dressing four hours after discharge is not typically recommended following a cardiac catheterization. The site of the catheter insertion is usually covered with a simple dressing and observed for any signs of bleeding or swelling.
Choice B rationale
While it’s important to monitor for signs of impaired circulation, such as a cool extremity, this is not the primary concern following a cardiac catheterization. The procedure involves inserting a catheter into a blood vessel, not typically affecting the peripheral temperature of the extremities.
Choice C rationale
Administering acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain as needed is a common recommendation following procedures like a balloon angioplasty. Pain can result from the catheter insertion site and these medications can help manage it.
Choice D rationale
Maintaining a clear liquid diet for 24 hours after discharge is not typically necessary following a cardiac catheterization. Once the child is alert, they are usually provided with clear liquids and later something to eat.

Choice A rationale
While an ASO titer test can be used in the diagnosis of rheumatic fever, it does not directly indicate if a child has rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is a complication that can occur after a streptococcal infection, and it involves multiple systems in the body, not just the presence of streptococcal antibodies.
Choice B rationale
An ASO titer test measures the antibodies produced by your body in response to a toxin known as streptolysin O, which is produced by group A Streptococcus (GAS) bacteria. Your body makes the antistreptolysin O antibodies when you have a strep infection caused by GAS bacteria. Therefore, a positive ASO titer test can confirm if your child had a recent streptococcal infection.
Choice C rationale
An ASO titer test does not measure the blood level of an aminoglycoside or any other therapeutic drug. Aminoglycosides are a class of antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections, and their levels in the blood are typically monitored with specific drug level tests, not an ASO titer.
Choice D rationale
An ASO titer test does not confirm if your child has immunity to streptococcal bacteria. The presence of ASO antibodies indicates a recent infection, but it does not provide information about the immune status or protection against future infections.