Patient Data

Exhibits

Click to indicate which education instructions the nurse should include to prevent future cellulitis and promote healing when preparing the client for discharge. Each column must have at least one response selected.

A. "You should not worry about the growth tables. They are only averages for children.": Growth charts are standardized tools used to compare a child’s development with expected norms. Dismissing the concern overlooks an important clinical sign and fails to address the parent’s valid question.

B. "Haven't you been feeding according to recommended daily allowances for children?": This response places blame on the parent and does not acknowledge the child’s medical condition. It may also create unnecessary guilt rather than offering supportive education.

C. "Does your child seem mentally slower than his peers also?": Asking about developmental delay in this way is inappropriate and insensitive. It shifts the focus to cognitive ability rather than addressing the physical growth concern directly tied to the child’s condition.

D. "The smaller size is probably due to the heart disease.": Children with congenital heart defects often experience poor growth because of increased metabolic demands and reduced energy available for growth. This response gives the parent a clear, accurate explanation while validating the concern.

Rationale for correct choices:

• Respirations: Morphine is an opioid analgesic that can depress the respiratory center in the brainstem, leading to slowed breathing and hypoventilation. Monitoring respirations after administration is critical to detect early signs of opioid-induced respiratory depression.

• Ice application to the shoulder: Applying ice reduces swelling, pain, and inflammation by causing vasoconstriction and limiting fluid accumulation at the injury site. For an acute humeral fracture with significant swelling and bruising, cold therapy is the appropriate intervention.

Rationale for incorrect choices:

• Nausea: While morphine can cause nausea and vomiting as side effects, they are not the most life-threatening concerns compared to respiratory depression. Monitoring nausea is appropriate but not the priority when evaluating opioid safety.

• Blood pressure: Morphine can cause hypotension, but this effect is less common and typically secondary to respiratory depression and vasodilation. Continuous monitoring of blood pressure is helpful, but respiratory monitoring takes priority in detecting opioid complications.

• Early active range of motion: Active movement of the injured arm is not recommended immediately after a displaced humeral fracture, as it can worsen displacement and interfere with healing. Immobilization and stabilization are required before introducing range-of-motion exercises.

• Heat application to the shoulder: Heat increases blood flow to tissues, which can worsen swelling and bleeding in the acute phase of injury. Applying heat too soon after a fracture increases the risk of complications rather than reducing them.