NGN ATI PEDIATRICS - Questions, Answers and Rationales A nurse is caring for a toddler who has acute otitis media and a temperature of 40 degree C (104
... [Show More] degrees F). After administering acetaminophen, which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take to reduce the toddler's temperature? a. apply a cooling blanket to the toddler b. dress the toddler in minimal clothing c. give the toddler a tepid bath d. administer diphenhydramine to the toddler Apply a cooling blanket to the toddler. Applying a cooling blanket can cause shivering and discomfort, which increases metabolic requirements. The nurse should be aware that the use of a cooling blanket is indicated for the treatment of hyperthermia, but not a fever. Dress the toddler in minimal clothing. The nurse should recognize that dressing the toddler in minimal clothing will expose the skin to air and maximize heat evaporation from the skin, thus reducing the toddler's temperature. Give the toddler a tepid bath. A tepid bath is lukewarm, which can cause discomfort to the toddler. The nurse should be aware that the use of a tepid bath is indicated for the treatment of hyperthermia, but not a fever. Administer diphenhydramine to the toddler. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine indicated for the treatment of an allergic reaction. The nurse should identify that antipyretics, such as acetaminophen, are indicated for the treatment of a fever. A nurse is creating a plan of care for a newly admitted adolescent who has bacterial meningitis. How long should the nurse plan to maintain the adolescent in droplet precautions? a. until the adolescent is afebrile b. for 7 days following admission to the facility c. until the adolescent has a negative blood culture d. for 24 hrs following initiation of antimicrobial therapy A temperature within the expected reference range for an adolescent can be achieved with acetaminophen. Therefore, this is not a determinant factor for removing a client from droplet precautions. The adolescent is not contagious for 7 days. Therefore, it is not necessary for the nurse to maintain droplet precautions for that length of time. Blood cultures should be drawn before the first dose of antibiotics. It usually takes 48 to
72 hr for the organism to grow enough for identification. The test should be repeated after the entire antibiotic regimen is completed to determine if the infection is still present. Therefore, blood cultures are not a determinant factor for removing a client from droplet precautions. The nurse should plan to maintain the adolescent on droplet precautions for at least 24 hr following the initiation of antimicrobial therapy. This practice will ensure that the adolescent is no longer contagious, which protects family members and the person caring for the client. Prophylactic antibiotics might be prescribed to individuals who were in close contact with the adolescent. A nurse in a health department is caring for an emancipated adolescent who has an STI and is unaccompanied by a guardian. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? a. have the adolescent sign a consent form for treatment b. instruct the adolescent to return with a guardian c. obtain consent from the adolescent's guardian over the phone d. treat the adolescent without a consent form The nurse should identify that an emancipated minor can sign the consent form for treatment of an STI or any other form of medical treatment requiring consent. Adolescents or emancipated minors can provide [Show Less]