The nurse is planning care for a child who is suffering from persistent itching due to scabies. Which measure should the nurse implement to minimize this child's risk for complications?

A. Complete blood count: A CBC is essential to evaluate hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, which can indicate the severity of blood loss from abdominal trauma. It also helps monitor for anemia or infection risk in this critical setting.

B. Arterial blood gas: An ABG provides information about oxygenation, ventilation, and acid–base balance, which are crucial for a trauma client on mechanical ventilation. It guides adjustments in ventilator settings and assesses for shock-related metabolic acidosis.

C. Type and screen: Given the evidence of internal bleeding and hypotension, a blood transfusion may be necessary. A type and screen ensures blood products can be matched and made available quickly in case of massive transfusion.

D. Coagulation studies: Trauma and massive transfusion can lead to coagulopathy. PT, INR, and aPTT results help guide interventions such as plasma or platelet administration, ensuring proper clotting function during surgery and recovery.

E. Electrolytes: Monitoring electrolytes is important because fluid resuscitation, blood loss, and shock can cause significant imbalances, such as hypokalemia or metabolic derangements, which can complicate management.

F. Blood culture: Blood cultures are obtained when infection or sepsis is suspected. This client’s presentation is acute trauma-related hemorrhage, not infection, so this test is not immediately useful.

G. Urine osmolality: This test is used to evaluate renal concentrating ability and fluid balance, but it is not a priority in acute trauma. Immediate fluid and blood replacement are the focus.

H. Lipid panel: A lipid panel assesses long-term cardiovascular risk, not acute trauma or hemorrhage. It has no role in the immediate plan of care for this client.

A. Thirst: Recurrent yeast infections in adolescents may indicate underlying hyperglycemia, as excessive glucose in the urine promotes fungal growth. Thirst is a classic symptom of diabetes mellitus and should be assessed.

B. Increased appetite: While diabetes can sometimes cause polyphagia, it is less specific than other signs such as thirst, urinary frequency, and tachycardia. It may not be present in every case and is not a primary screening indicator.

C. Heat intolerance: Heat intolerance is more commonly associated with hyperthyroidism, not recurrent yeast infections. Assessing for this symptom is not directly relevant to evaluating potential diabetes in this adolescent.

D. Tachycardia: Elevated heart rate can occur with dehydration caused by hyperglycemia and osmotic diuresis. Tachycardia may be an important clinical clue in assessing for undiagnosed diabetes.

E. Urinary frequency: Polyuria is a hallmark symptom of hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus. Recurrent yeast infections may prompt assessment for urinary frequency as part of the screening for possible diabetes.