A nurse is providing discharge instructions to the parent of a 10-year-old child following a cardiac catheterization. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
Offer the child clear liquids for the first 24 hr.
Give the child acetaminophen for discomfort.
Assist the child in taking a tub bath for the first 3 days.
Keep the child home for 1 week.
The Correct Answer is B
Following a cardiac catheterization, the nurse should provide the parent with appropriate discharge instructions to ensure the child's proper recovery. The correct instruction to include is option B: "Give the child acetaminophen for discomfort."
Explanation:
Option A: Offering the child clear liquids for the first 24 hours is not a typical instruction following a cardiac catheterization. After the procedure, the child may be allowed to resume a regular diet, as tolerated, based on the healthcare provider's orders.
Option B: This is the correct instruction. After cardiac catheterization, the child may experience some discomfort at the insertion site or the area where the catheter was threaded through the blood vessels. Acetaminophen can be used to manage mild pain or discomfort.
Option C: Taking a tub bath for the first 3 days is not typically mentioned in discharge instructions after a cardiac catheterization. The nurse might advise the parent to avoid submerging the catheter insertion site in water for a specific period and instead use sponge baths until permitted by the healthcare provider.
Option D: Keeping the child home for 1 week is not a standard recommendation for a cardiac catheterization. The recovery period after a cardiac catheterization is usually shorter, and the child can often resume normal activities within a day or two, depending on the specific circumstances of the procedure and the child's condition.
The nurse should thoroughly review the specific discharge instructions provided by the healthcare provider and ensure the parent understands the care required at home, including any restrictions on activities or signs of potential complications that require immediate attention.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Correct answer: B
A. Increased pain: Increased pain is a common and expected finding after a tonsillectomy. The surgical removal of tonsils creates wounds in the throat, which can cause discomfort and pain during the healing process. However, increased pain alone is not a specific manifestation of hemorrhage. Hemorrhage would be indicated by other signs, such as drooling, frequent swallowing, or vomiting blood.
B. Frequent swallowing: This can indicate that the child is swallowing blood, which is a common sign of bleeding at the surgical site. Children might not always show obvious signs of bleeding in the mouth, so frequent swallowing can be a subtle but critical indicator of hemorrhage.
C. Poor fluid intake: Poor fluid intake is a common concern after a tonsillectomy due to postoperative pain and discomfort in the throat. The child may be reluctant to drink or eat initially because of their sore throat. However, poor fluid intake alone is not an indicative sign of hemorrhage. Hemorrhage would present with other symptoms, such as drooling, frequent swallowing, or vomiting blood.
D. Drooling:While drooling can occur due to discomfort, pain, or difficulty swallowing, it is not as specific or immediate a sign of hemorrhage as frequent swallowing.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The nurse should expect to find irritability in an infant who is dehydrated. Dehydration in infants can lead to changes in behavior and irritability due to the imbalance in fluid and electrolytes. Other common signs of dehydration in infants may include:
Poor skin turgor (skin tenting)
Sunken fontanelles (soft spots on the baby's head)
Dry mucous membranes (dry mouth and tongue)
Decreased urine output or concentrated urine
Rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
Increased respiratory rate
Sunken eyes
Decreased tears when crying
B. Tetany is a condition characterized by involuntary muscle contractions and is more commonly associated with hypocalcemia (low calcium levels) rather than dehydration.
C. A slow, bounding pulse is not typically associated with dehydration. Dehydration often leads to a rapid heart rate (tachycardia) as the body attempts to compensate for the loss of fluid.
D. Decreased temperature is not a typical finding in dehydration. Dehydration can lead to fever in some cases due to an underlying infection, but it does not cause a decrease in body temperature on its own.
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