A 10-year-old child with type 1 diabetes is admitted to the hospital with elevated blood glucose levels.
The pediatric nurse is preparing to administer insulin.
What is the most important step the nurse should take before administering insulin to ensure the safety of the child?
Ask the child if they have eaten recently.
Verify the child's identity and check the medication order.
Ensure the child is comfortable and relaxed.
Prepare the insulin in a syringe without checking the expiration date.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A rationale
Asking if the child has eaten recently is important for understanding potential causes of elevated blood glucose and to consider the timing of insulin administration relative to meals. However, it does not directly ensure the medication being administered is correct for the right patient.
Choice B rationale
Verifying the child's identity using at least two identifiers and comparing the medication order to the prescription ensures that the right medication, dose, route, and time are being administered to the correct patient. This is a critical step in preventing medication errors and ensuring patient safety, especially with a high-risk medication like insulin.
Choice C rationale
Ensuring the child is comfortable and relaxed is beneficial for the child's overall well-being and can indirectly influence physiological parameters. However, it does not directly address the critical step of verifying the medication and patient identity before administration.
Choice D rationale
Preparing insulin without checking the expiration date is a medication error. Expired medications may have reduced potency or altered chemical properties, potentially leading to ineffective treatment or adverse effects. Checking the expiration date is a fundamental safety check.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
For scabies treatment with topical permethrin in children, the medication should be applied from the neck down to the toes, ensuring all skin surfaces are covered because scabies mites can burrow anywhere on the body. The permethrin should be left on for the prescribed duration, typically 8-14 hours or overnight, to allow sufficient contact time to kill the mites and their eggs.
Choice B rationale
Applying permethrin only to affected areas may not be sufficient to eradicate scabies because mites can be present on areas of the skin that do not yet show visible signs of infestation or itching. Complete coverage is necessary to ensure treatment success.
Choice C rationale
Applying permethrin only to the scalp is inadequate for treating scabies, as the mites commonly infest other areas of the body. While scabies can affect the scalp, especially in infants and young children, treatment must extend to all skin surfaces from the neck down.
Choice D rationale
A hot bath should be avoided before applying permethrin. Hot water can irritate the skin and increase absorption of the medication, potentially leading to systemic toxicity or reduced effectiveness. Permethrin is typically applied to cool, dry skin.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by pruritus (itching), erythema (redness), and scaling. Topical corticosteroids are the first-line treatment due to their potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties, which help to reduce the inflammatory response in the skin and alleviate itching.
Choice B rationale
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin disorder characterized by thickened, scaly plaques. Topical calcineurin inhibitors are used to treat psoriasis by suppressing the activity of T-cells, which are involved in the inflammatory process. The presentation of an itchy rash as the primary finding is less consistent with typical psoriasis.
Choice C rationale
Contact dermatitis is an inflammatory skin reaction resulting from direct contact with an irritant or allergen, often presenting with redness, swelling, and vesicles in addition to itching. While topical antihistamines can help with itching associated with allergic reactions, topical corticosteroids are generally more effective for managing the inflammation in contact dermatitis.
Choice D rationale
Tinea corporis, or ringworm, is a fungal infection of the skin characterized by circular, raised, scaly patches with central clearing. Topical antifungals are the appropriate treatment for tinea infections as they inhibit the growth and reproduction of the dermatophyte fungi causing the infection.
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