The nurse is continuing to care for the adolescent.

Admission Assessment

1400:

Adolescent brought to emergency department by parents following a fall while skateboarding. Adolescent reports pain in their right leg as 10 on a scale of 0 to 10 and is unable to bear weight.

Adolescent is awake, alert, and oriented x 3. Lungs clear, respirations even and regular. S1 and S2 with regular rate and rhythm. Abdomen soft and nontender with active bowel sounds in all four quadrants. Right lower extremity with open wound and displaced bone. Right lower extremity pulse +1, extremity cool to touch, edema present, capillary refill 4 seconds.

Which of the following prescriptions should the nurse anticipate from the provider?

A. Incorrect. Maintaining a flexible daily schedule for the child may increase their anxiety and confusion, as they may have difficulty adapting to changes in routine and expectations. The nurse should advise the parents to establish a consistent and structured schedule for the child, with clear rules and boundaries.

B. Correct. Using a reward system to modify the child's behavior is an effective strategy to reinforce positive behaviors and reduce negative ones. The nurse should help the parents identify specific and measurable goals for the child, and provide them with praise, tokens, or privileges when they achieve them.

C. Incorrect. Providing a variety of family members to care for the child may overwhelm them and impair their social skills development, as they may have difficulty forming attachments and communicating with different people. The nurse should encourage the parents to select one or two primary caregivers for the child, who can provide them with consistent and supportive interactions.

D. Incorrect. Administering alprazolam as needed to reduce the child's anxiety is not recommended, as it may cause adverse effects such as sedation, dependence, or withdrawal symptoms. The nurse should educate the parents about nonpharmacological interventions for anxiety, such as relaxation techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy, or social skills training.

a. Administer the medication and alert the charge nurse: This choice suggests proceeding with medication administration but also informing the charge nurse. While it's important to communicate with the charge nurse regarding medication administration, in this scenario, there is no indication to hold the medication as the infant's heart rate is within the normal range. Therefore, alerting the charge nurse may not be necessary at this point.

b. Hold the medication and document cardiac assessment: This choice suggests holding the medication and documenting the cardiac assessment. However, since the infant's heart rate is within the normal range for their age, there is no clinical indication to hold the medication. Holding the medication unnecessarily could delay treatment and potentially lead to adverse outcomes if the medication is needed.

c. Administer the medication and document the heart rate.

Since the infant's heart rate of 120 beats per minute falls within the normal range for a 2-month-old, there is no indication to hold the medication. Administering the digoxin as prescribed and documenting the heart rate before administration are appropriate actions. It's important to ensure accurate documentation to track the infant's response to the medication and monitor for any changes in heart rate.

d. Hold the medication and recheck the heart rate in 1 hour: This choice suggests holding the medication and rechecking the heart rate in 1 hour. Again, since the infant's heart rate is within the normal range, there is no clinical indication to hold the medication or delay treatment. Rechecking the heart rate in 1 hour would be unnecessary and could potentially delay necessary medication administration.