The nurse is continuing to care for the child.

Exhibits

After reviewing the discharge instructions with the family, which of the following statements by a parent indicate an understanding of the teaching? For each statement by the parent, click to specify if the statement reflects an understanding or indicates a need for reinforcement of the discharge teaching.

Rationale:

A. A client who has decreased interleukin-6 levels: Interleukin-6 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that may be elevated in depression, but its decrease is not an indicator for antidepressant use. It’s not routinely used to determine the need for antidepressant therapy in clinical practice.

B. A client who has decreased urine cortisol levels: Depression is more commonly associated with increased cortisol levels due to stress responses. Low cortisol may be seen in conditions like Addison's disease but does not typically guide antidepressant use.

C. A client who has decreased C-reactive protein levels: CRP is a nonspecific inflammatory marker. While elevated CRP has been observed in some individuals with depression, a decreased CRP level would not indicate the need for antidepressant therapy.

D. A client who has decreased serotonin levels: Low serotonin levels are closely linked to depression pathophysiology. Many antidepressants, such as SSRIs, target serotonin levels to relieve depressive symptoms, making this the most relevant indicator for antidepressant therapy.

Rationale for Correct Choices:

• Compartment Syndrome: Compartment syndrome is a limb-threatening condition that occurs when increased pressure within a muscle compartment impairs circulation and nerve function. The child has a nondisplaced fracture of both the radius and ulna, along with edema, ecchymosis, and fingers that are cool to touch, all of which are early signs of compromised perfusion.
• Tingling Sensation: Tingling (paresthesia) is an early neurological sign of impaired sensory function often seen in the early stages of compartment syndrome. This child verbalizes a mild tingling in the fingers, which indicates nerve compression due to increased pressure within the forearm compartments.

Rationale for Incorrect Choices

• Paresthesia: Tingling is the hallmark symptom of paresthesia, but paresthesia is a symptom, not a disease process. The nurse must determine the underlying cause of the altered sensation, which in this situation is likely compartment syndrome.
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): DVT typically presents with unilateral leg swelling, warmth, pain, and sometimes redness—not forearm injury symptoms. The child has a forearm fracture and bruises on the lower extremities in different healing stages, but there's no localized swelling, erythema, or immobility in the legs to support a DVT diagnosis.
• Pain Level: A pain score of 4 out of 10 is not severe enough to support compartment syndrome or any acute vascular crisis alone. Pain that is out of proportion to the injury and unrelieved by medication would raise concern.
• Mobility: The child is ambulatory and able to move their fingers and limbs, which reduces the likelihood of venous stasis a major risk factor for DVT. In the absence of prolonged immobility or systemic hypercoagulability, there is minimal reason to suspect a thrombotic event based on mobility alone.