A nurse is reviewing the laboratory values of an eight-month-old infant who is newly diagnosed with leukemia. Their most recent platelet count is 120,000/mm3 (200,000 to 475,000/mm3). Which of the following provider prescriptions should the nurse anticipate?

A. Place the child in a left lateral position: Placing the child in a left lateral position is not the priority action for a preschooler with epiglottitis. Epiglottitis is a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis, which can rapidly progress to airway obstruction. The priority is to maintain a patent airway and ensure adequate oxygenation.

B. Obtain a specimen from the child's throat for a culture: While obtaining a throat culture may be necessary to identify the causative organism and guide antibiotic therapy, it is not the immediate priority in the management of epiglottitis. Airway management and stabilization take precedence.

C. Inspect the child's throat with a padded tongue depressor: Direct visualization of the throat with a padded tongue depressor is contraindicated in a child with suspected epiglottitis. This action can trigger a gag reflex and potentially cause airway obstruction or exacerbate respiratory distress. Epiglottitis is a medical emergency, and any manipulation of the airway should be performed cautiously by experienced healthcare providers in a controlled setting.

D. Initiate droplet precautions for the child: Droplet precautions are appropriate for a child with suspected or confirmed epiglottitis due to the risk of transmission of the causative organism, usually Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), through respiratory droplets. However, the immediate priority is to secure the airway and provide respiratory support. Once the child's airway is stabilized, appropriate infection control measures, including droplet precautions, should be implemented to prevent the spread of infection to others.

A. Oucher pain rating scale: The Oucher pain rating scale uses pictures of children's faces to represent varying degrees of pain intensity. This scale is specifically designed for young children and can be effective in assessing pain in preschool-aged children who may not yet be able to accurately use verbal descriptors to express their pain.

B. Word-Graphic rating scale: This type of scale presents both words and pictures to represent different levels of pain intensity. While it may be suitable for older children who can understand and use words to describe their pain, it may be less effective for a 4-year-old child who is still developing language skills.

C. Numeric rating scale: Numeric rating scales typically ask the child to rate their pain on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 representing no pain and 10 representing the worst pain imaginable. While this scale may be appropriate for older children, it may be challenging for a 4-year-old to understand and use numbers to describe their pain.

D. Visual analog scale: Visual analog scales typically consist of a line with endpoints labeled "no pain" and "worst pain imaginable," with the child asked to mark or point to the spot on the line that represents their pain level. While this scale may be suitable for older children and adults, it may be too abstract for a 4-year-old child to understand and use effectively.