A school nurse is caring for a child who has asthma and begins to have difficulty breathing. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Administer two puffs of albuterol.
Place the child in the supine position.
Encourage the use of a flutter mucus clearance device.
Instruct the child to perform controlled breathing exercises.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale:
Administer two puffs of albuterol. This is the correct answer because albuterol is a bronchodilator that helps to relieve acute asthma symptoms by opening up the airways. In a child experiencing difficulty breathing due to asthma, prompt administration of albuterol can help alleviate the symptoms and improve breathing.
Choice B rationale:
Place the child in the supine position. Placing the child in the supine position can further compromise their breathing, especially in a situation of asthma exacerbation. This position can restrict the airways and make breathing more difficult, so it is not an appropriate action.
Choice C rationale:
Encourage the use of a flutter mucus clearance device. While mucus clearance devices can be helpful for individuals with chronic respiratory conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, it is not the priority action for a child experiencing acute asthma symptoms. The immediate focus should be on relieving the airway constriction and addressing the breathing difficulty.
Choice D rationale:
Instruct the child to perform controlled breathing exercises. Controlled breathing exercises might be useful for anxiety and panic management, but in an acute asthma episode, the child's primary need is to open up the airways and improve breathing. Albuterol administration takes precedence over breathing exercises in this situation.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A"]
Explanation
It is essential for the nurse to stay with the client in this situation. The client's presentation indicates manic behavior, which can be associated with bipolar disorder. Manic episodes can lead to increased energy levels, decreased need for sleep, agitation, and impulsivity. The client's refusal to sit down, pacing, and becoming agitated when asked questions all indicate potential risk to themselves or others. Staying with the client ensures their safety and the safety of others in the environment. The nurse can provide verbal support, prevent potential harm, and de-escalate the situation if needed.
Placing the client in a room close to the nurses' station might be helpful for monitoring and quick assistance, but it doesn't directly address the client's immediate agitation and need for supervision. The priority in this scenario is to ensure the client's safety, which can be achieved by staying with them.
Offering the client a caffeinated beverage is not appropriate in this situation. Caffeine can exacerbate agitation and restlessness, potentially worsening the client's symptoms. It's important to provide a calm and supportive environment instead.
Weighing the client daily is not relevant to the current situation. The client's agitation and need for supervision take precedence over routine assessments like daily weight measurement.
Offering the client finger foods is also not appropriate in this situation. The client's behavior and presentation suggest a manic episode, and their agitation indicates that they are not in a state to engage in eating. Ensuring safety and providing emotional support are the immediate priorities.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
The FLACC (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability) scale is a pain assessment tool commonly used for infants and young children who cannot verbalize their pain. It assesses different behavioral and physiological indicators of pain, such as facial expressions, leg movement, activity level, crying, and response to consoling. Given that the infant is only 18 months old, this scale is appropriate for evaluating their postoperative pain.
Choice B rationale:
The Color tool is not a recognized pain assessment tool. It's essential to use validated and standardized pain assessment scales, and the Color tool does not fit this criterion.
Choice C rationale:
The Poker Chip Tool is not typically used for pain assessment in infants. It's often used with older children to assess pain intensity using a poker chip set that corresponds to different levels of pain. However, for an 18-month-old infant, behavioral assessments like the FLACC scale would be more suitable.
Choice D rationale:
The Numeric scale involves asking the patient to rate their pain on a numerical scale, often from 0 to 10. However, this scale is not appropriate for an 18-month-old infant who is likely unable to comprehend or use numbers to express their pain. The FLACC scale provides a more comprehensive assessment of pain in non-verbal or preverbal children.
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