An 8-year-old girl asks the nurse how the blood pressure apparatus works. The most appropriate nursing action is to.

The correct answer is choice C. Explain in simple terms how it works.

Choice A rationale:

Asking the girl why she wants to know might be appropriate in some contexts, but children are naturally curious and seeking information is a common behavior. Explaining how the blood pressure apparatus works would likely be more beneficial than questioning her motivation.

Choice B rationale:

Determining why she is anxious assumes that the girl is anxious, which might not be the case. Additionally, the question she asked does not necessarily indicate anxiety, but rather a curiosity about the medical equipment.

Choice C rationale:

Explaining in simple terms how the blood pressure apparatus works is the most appropriate nursing action. This approach respects the child's curiosity and provides her with age-appropriate information, fostering a positive and educational interaction.

Choice D rationale:

Telling her that she will see how it works as it is used might not fully satisfy her curiosity or address her immediate question. Children often benefit from clear and concise explanations, especially when it comes to medical equipment.

The correct answer is Choice D: Refer children with sore throats for throat cultures.

Choice A rationale:

Recommending salicylates instead of acetaminophen for minor discomforts is not relevant to the prevention of rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is primarily associated with untreated streptococcal infections, particularly streptococcal pharyngitis (strep throat), which can lead to complications such as rheumatic fever if left untreated. The choice of pain relievers like salicylates or acetaminophen doesn't play a significant role in preventing rheumatic fever.

Choice B rationale:

Encouraging routine cholesterol screenings is not relevant to the prevention of rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is an immune-mediated inflammatory response to certain strains of Streptococcus bacteria, particularly Streptococcus pyogenes. Cholesterol screenings are more related to assessing cardiovascular risk and are not directly linked to preventing rheumatic fever.

Choice C rationale:

Conducting routine blood pressure screenings is not directly related to the prevention of rheumatic fever. Blood pressure screenings are important for identifying hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors, but they do not have a direct impact on preventing rheumatic fever, which is primarily a complication of untreated streptococcal infections.

Choice D rationale:

Refer children with sore throats for throat cultures. This is the correct choice. Rheumatic fever often develops as a result of untreated streptococcal pharyngitis (strep throat). Throat cultures are crucial for diagnosing streptococcal infections and determining the appropriate course of treatment with antibiotics. By identifying and treating streptococcal infections promptly, the risk of developing rheumatic fever can be significantly reduced.