What is the most appropriate nursing action when a child with a probable intussusception has a normal, brown stool?
Take vital signs, including blood pressure.
Auscultate for bowel sounds.
Measure abdominal girth.
Notify the practitioner.
The Correct Answer is C
The correct answer is Choice C: Measure abdominal girth.
Choice A rationale:
Taking vital signs, including blood pressure, is important in assessing the overall health status of a child, but it might not provide specific information about a probable intussusception. Blood pressure is not typically affected in a way that directly relates to intussusception.
Choice B rationale:
Auscultating for bowel sounds is an important assessment technique in various gastrointestinal conditions, but it may not be the most appropriate immediate action when dealing with a probable intussusception. While bowel sounds might be diminished or absent in intussusception, the priority should be on assessing other signs and symptoms.
Choice C rationale:
Measuring abdominal girth is an essential nursing action when a child with a probable intussusception has a normal, brown stool. Intussusception is the telescoping of one segment of the intestine into another, often leading to bowel obstruction. Abdominal distension or girth measurement can provide valuable information about the progression of the condition and potential obstruction.
Choice D rationale:
Notifying the practitioner is an important step, but it might not be the most immediate action required. Assessing and monitoring the child's condition should be the initial response to gather more information before notifying the practitioner.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The correct answer is choice A. Infection or inflammation close to the site.
Choice A rationale:
Tender, enlarged, and warm lymph nodes are indicative of infection or inflammation in the nearby area. Lymph nodes are part of the immune system and can become enlarged and tender when fighting off infections in their drainage area.
Choice B rationale:
While cancer can cause lymph node enlargement, it is less likely in children, and the question doesn't provide any other context to suggest cancer as the primary explanation.
Choice C rationale:
Local scalp infection might cause enlargement of the lymph nodes in the neck, but it would not be the best explanation for tender, enlarged, and warm cervical lymph nodes. Infections or inflammation close to the site of lymph node involvement are more likely.
Choice D rationale:
Infection or inflammation distal to the site wouldn't directly explain the tenderness, warmth, and enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes. Lymph nodes generally react to infections or inflammation in their drainage area.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The correct answer is choice A. Meconium ileus.
Choice A rationale:
Meconium ileus. This is the earliest recognizable clinical manifestation of cystic fibrosis (CF). Meconium ileus refers to the blockage of the small intestine by thick, sticky meconium, the earliest stool of a newborn. It occurs in the first 24-48 hours of life and can be a sign of underlying cystic fibrosis.
Choice B rationale:
Foul-smelling, frothy, greasy stools. Foul-smelling, frothy, greasy stools are characteristic of malabsorption, which can occur in cystic fibrosis. However, this manifestation typically appears after meconium ileus and is not the earliest recognizable clinical sign.
Choice C rationale:
History of poor intestinal absorption. While poor intestinal absorption is a common consequence of cystic fibrosis, it is not one of the earliest recognizable clinical manifestations. Meconium ileus takes precedence as the primary early sign.
Choice D rationale:
Recurrent pneumonia and lung infections. Recurrent pneumonia and lung infections are common in later stages of cystic fibrosis due to the buildup of thick mucus in the respiratory tract. However, they are not among the earliest recognizable clinical manifestations of the disease. Meconium ileus is the earliest indicator in this context.
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