A nurse is teaching the parents of a 6-year-old child who has sickle cell anemia about managing the disease. The nurse should emphasize the importance of which of the following factors to prevent a sickle cell crisis?

A. A client who has epidural analgesia and weakness in the lower extremities: Lower extremity weakness can be a side effect of epidural analgesia. While it requires monitoring, it is typically not immediately life-threatening unless accompanied by other neurological changes.

B. A client who has diabetes mellitus and an HbA1c of 7.2%: An HbA1c of 7.2% indicates slightly above-target blood glucose control. This is a chronic management concern and does not require immediate intervention.

C. A client who has sinus arrhythmia and is receiving cardiac monitoring: Sinus arrhythmia is often a benign, expected finding, particularly in children or young adults. Continuous monitoring is appropriate, but it is not an emergent concern.

D. A client who has a hip fracture and a new onset of tachypnea: New-onset tachypnea in a client with a hip fracture can indicate a serious complication such as pulmonary embolism or fat embolism syndrome. This requires immediate assessment and intervention.

Rationale:

A. Perform an ECG every 12 hr: Frequent ECGs are typically done during the acute phase to monitor for arrhythmias, but by day 3 post-MI, continuous or as-needed monitoring is more appropriate unless new symptoms occur.

B. Obtain a cardiac rehabilitation consultation: Early involvement of cardiac rehab supports gradual activity progression, lifestyle modification, and psychosocial support, improving long-term outcomes after MI.

C. Draw a troponin level every 4 hr: Troponin testing is most useful for diagnosing and trending damage during the first 24 hours; by day 3, levels have usually peaked and are declining.

D. Place the client in a supine position while resting: Supine positioning can increase cardiac workload; a semi-Fowler's position is preferred to reduce venous return and ease breathing.