What is the best nursing action when a child with type 1 diabetes mellitus is sweating, trembling, and pale?

A change in status that should alert the nurse to increased intracranial pressure (ICP) in a child with a head injury is confusion and altered mental status. As intracranial pressure increases, it can affect brain function and lead to neurological changes, including confusion, disorientation, irritability, decreased level of consciousness, or other alterations in mental status. These changes indicate that the brain is being compressed and compromised, and immediate intervention is required.

Option B, increased diastolic pressure with narrowing pulse pressure in (option B) is incorrect because it, can be a sign of increased ICP, but it is not specific to head injuries and can be influenced by other factors such as pain, anxiety, or systemic conditions. It is important to consider the overall hemodynamic status of the child and assess for additional signs and symptoms of increased ICP.

irregular, rapid heart rate in (option C), can be a sign of increased ICP, but it is not specific to head injuries and can be influenced by other factors such as pain, anxiety, or other medical conditions. Assessment of heart rate should be considered along with other signs and symptoms of increased ICP.

rapid, shallow breathing, in (option D) can be a sign of increased ICP, but it is not specific to head injuries and can be influenced by other factors such as pain, anxiety, or respiratory conditions. Respiratory assessment should be considered along with other signs and symptoms of increased ICP.

In the given scenario, the 6-year-old patient in skeletal traction is experiencing
pain, edema, and fever. These symptoms raise concerns about the possibility of an infection
at the site of traction. In such cases, the nurse should assess for warmth at the site of pain.
Increased warmth can indicate inflammation, which may be associated with infection. This
assessment finding would require further investigation and intervention, such as notifying the
healthcare provider and obtaining appropriate cultures or imaging studies.
Neurologic status in (Option A) is incorrect because assessing neurologic status, is important
but not the priority in this scenario. Neurologic status assessment is typically performed to
evaluate any neurovascular compromise resulting from the traction, but the presence of pain,
edema, and fever suggests a potential infection that requires immediate attention.
Range of motion of all extremities in (Option B) is incorrect because assessing the range of
motion of all extremities, is not directly relevant to the given symptoms and should not take
priority over assessing for warmth at the site of pain.
Blood pressure in (Option D) is incorrect because assessing blood pressure, is not directly
related to the symptoms of pain, edema, and fever in the context of skeletal traction. While
blood pressure is an essential vital sign, it does not provide specific information about the
potential infection at the site of pain in this situation.