The nurse is caring for a child with mononucleosis.
Which symptoms should the nurse expect the child to exhibit?

Choice A rationale

An increased pulse rate can be a sign of pain in infants. The heart rate increases as the body’s way of coping with the stress of pain.

Choice B rationale

Skin showing peripheral pallor is not typically associated with pain. It can be a sign of other conditions, such as anemia or shock, but it’s not a reliable indicator of pain.

Choice C rationale

Clenched fists can be a sign of pain in infants. It’s a common non-verbal cue that infants use to express discomfort.

Choice D rationale

An increased respiratory rate can also be a sign of pain. Like an increased heart rate, it’s a physiological response to stress.

Choice E rationale

Restlessness can be a sign of discomfort or pain in infants. Infants may squirm, fidget, or have trouble settling down when they’re in pain.

Choice F rationale

An elevated temperature is not typically a direct sign of pain, but it can indicate an underlying condition that might be causing pain, such as an infection.

Choice A rationale

Noting the presence of an auscultatory gap, which is a period of abnormal silence in Korotkoff sounds during blood pressure measurement, is important. However, in this case, the silence followed by a Korotkoff sound is a normal finding and does not indicate an auscultatory gap.

Choice B rationale

After inflating a blood pressure cuff and releasing the valve, the nurse hears silence followed by a Korotkoff sound. This is a normal finding and indicates that the nurse should continue with the blood pressure assessment.

Choice C rationale

Re-inflating the cuff to a higher number is not necessary in this case as the initial silence followed by a Korotkoff sound is a normal finding.

Choice D rationale

Repositioning the stethoscope over the brachial artery may not resolve the issue of hearing silence followed by a Korotkoff sound. It is important to assess the situation further before making adjustments.