A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the parents of a preschool-age child who has a new diagnosis of celiac disease.

Which of the following foods should the nurse recommend?

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.

Answer: (D) Refrigerate the specimen until the time of transport to the laboratory

Rationale:

A) Collect 2 ml of sputum in an emesis basin: While it is important to collect an adequate volume of sputum, using an emesis basin is inappropriate for collecting a specimen for culture and sensitivity. Sputum must be collected in a sterile container to avoid contamination, ensuring the accuracy of the culture results.

B) Instruct the client to rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash prior to specimen collection: Using an antiseptic mouthwash before collecting a sputum specimen is not recommended, as it could contaminate the sample with antiseptic agents, potentially affecting the growth of microorganisms in the culture. The client should rinse with plain water instead.

C) Swab the oropharynx with a sterile swab: Swabbing the oropharynx is more appropriate for collecting a throat culture rather than a sputum specimen. Sputum collection requires the client to expectorate mucus from the lower respiratory tract, not from the oropharynx, to obtain an accurate sample for culture and sensitivity.

D) Refrigerate the specimen until the time of transport to the laboratory: Refrigerating the sputum specimen is crucial to preserve the integrity of the sample and inhibit the growth of contaminants before it is transported to the laboratory. This action helps ensure that the results of the culture and sensitivity test are accurate.