6-year-old child.

Vomited 3 times in the past 24 hr. Irritable behavior for the past 24 hr. The respiratory infection started 3 days ago.

Brudzinski's and Kernig's signs are positive.

Vital Signs.

Respiratory rate 28/min.

Pulse rate 120/min.

BP 108/64 mm Hg. Pain level of 6 on a scale from 0 to 10. Medication Administration Record.

Vancomycin 300 mg IV q 6 hr following blood cultures.

Acetaminophen 240 mg PO q 6 hr PRN fever.

A nurse is planning care for a child during admission to the facility.

Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Choice A rationale:

A heart rate of 140/min is not a specific indicator of desmopressin effectiveness in a child with diabetes insipidus. The effectiveness of desmopressin is primarily evaluated based on the reduction in excessive urination and thirst associated with the condition. Monitoring heart rate is essential in certain situations but is not a direct measure of desmopressin efficacy in managing diabetes insipidus.

Choice B rationale:

Cessation of nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting) is a significant indication that desmopressin, an antidiuretic hormone, is effective. One of the main symptoms of diabetes insipidus is excessive urination, including during the night, leading to bedwetting. When desmopressin effectively reduces urine production, patients often experience improvement in these symptoms, including the cessation of nocturnal enuresis.

Choice C rationale:

Capillary refill of 3 seconds is a measurement used to assess peripheral perfusion and circulatory status. While it is essential to monitor capillary refill in pediatric patients, especially in cases of dehydration or circulatory compromise, it is not a specific indicator of desmopressin effectiveness in managing diabetes insipidus. Capillary refill time is more relevant in the assessment of cardiovascular function and fluid status.

Choice D rationale:

The absence of hypoglycemic episodes is not a direct indicator of desmopressin effectiveness. Diabetes insipidus is unrelated to blood glucose levels, as it involves the dysregulation of water balance due to insufficient antidiuretic hormone. While it is essential to monitor blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes mellitus, it is not relevant to assessing the effectiveness of desmopressin in treating diabetes insipidus.

Choice A rationale:

The nurse should instruct the assistive personnel (AP) to report the client who has a prescription for compression stockings but did not receive them. This situation involves a missed intervention that is crucial for the client's health and safety. Reporting this to the nurse allows timely intervention and ensures that the client receives the necessary care.

Choice B rationale:

Consuming all the food from the meal tray is not a cause for concern and does not require immediate reporting to the nurse. It is a normal behavior and does not indicate any potential issues with the client's health or safety.

Choice C rationale:

The client's request to sit in the bedside chair while watching TV is a common and appropriate request. It does not pose any risk to the client's health or safety and does not require immediate reporting to the nurse.

Choice D rationale:

A client requesting assistance to use the bedside commode indicates a need for assistance with a basic activity of daily living. The AP should assist the client with this request as appropriate and does not need to report it to the nurse unless complications or concerns arise during the process.