A 16-year-old has been admitted to the hospital for advanced osteosarcoma with metastasis to the lungs. His prognosis is poor. He is continuing to require oxygen and needs to remain in the hospital for monitoring. The adolescent is very frustrated and states that he doesn't want to stay in the hospital and wants to be with his friends. Which of the following is the best option?

A. Obtaining a throat culture and B. visualizing the epiglottis with a tongue depressor are not safe actions for the nurse to perform without appropriate medical equipment and expertise. These actions can trigger a sudden airway obstruction in a child with epiglottitis. The priority is to ensure airway patency and seek immediate medical assistance.

C. Place the child in an upright position.

Suspected epiglottitis is a medical emergency that can result in rapid airway obstruction. Placing the child in an upright position helps improve airflow by allowing the throat to open and reduces the risk of complete airway obstruction. It's important not to perform invasive procedures (such as throat culture or visualization of the epiglottis) without proper medical equipment and expertise, as these actions can lead to worsening airway obstruction.

D. Transporting the child to radiology for a throat x-ray is not appropriate in this situation, as it may delay necessary interventions to secure the airway.

Options A (increased ability of tissue to retain fluid) and B (reduced blood pressure) are not typical signs of improvement in Nephrotic Syndrome. The primary focus is on reducing protein loss and alleviating edema.

Option C. Increased diuresis and decreased protein loss in urine.

Nephrotic Syndrome is characterized by increased urinary protein loss, resulting in hypoalbuminemia, edema, and other symptoms. Improvement in Nephrotic Syndrome is typically indicated by:

Increased diuresis: An increase in urine output suggests that the child is excreting excess fluid, which can help reduce edema (swelling).

Decreased protein loss in urine: A reduction in proteinuria (loss of protein in the urine) is a positive sign, as it indicates that the damaged kidney glomeruli are functioning more effectively in retaining protein.

Option D (decreased protein levels in serum) is also not a clear sign of improvement. While it may be related to reduced protein loss in urine, it does not directly reflect the overall improvement of the condition. Monitoring protein levels in the urine (proteinuria) is a more specific indicator of Nephrotic Syndrome management.