A 6-year-old child is admitted to the hospital with suspected bacterial meningitis. What is the nursing priority in the care of this child? Select all that apply.

Ensure the child is placed on droplet precautions.

Encouraging the child to drink plenty of fluids.

Administering intravenous antibiotics as prescribed.

Providing comfort measures such as dimming the lights.

Prepare the child for a CT scan of the head.

Answer and Explanation

Correct Answer : A,C,D

A. Ensure the child is placed on droplet precautions is the priority because bacterial meningitis is highly contagious. Droplet precautions help prevent the spread of the infection to others in the hospital.

B. Encouraging the child to drink plenty of fluids is not the priority in the acute phase of meningitis, as increased fluid intake may not be appropriate, especially if there is elevated intracranial pressure or vomiting. Fluid management should be carefully monitored by the healthcare team.

C. Administering intravenous antibiotics is crucial because bacterial meningitis requires prompt treatment with antibiotics to prevent complications and reduce mortality.

D. Providing comfort measures such as dimming the lights is important because the child may be sensitive to light, noise, and stimuli. A calm, quiet environment can help reduce discomfort and manage symptoms like headache and photophobia.

E. Preparing the child for a CT scan of the head might be indicated if there are signs of increased intracranial pressure, but it is not the immediate priority. Initial treatment with antibiotics and managing the environment are higher priorities.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. The absolute neutrophil count (ANC) is the best indicator of a child's ability to fight infection. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell crucial for fighting bacterial infections, and chemotherapy can suppress bone marrow production of neutrophils. The ANC helps assess the risk for infection and the need for additional precautions, such as infection control.

B. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that primarily respond to allergies and parasitic infections, and their count is not used to assess infection risk in chemotherapy patients.

C. The red blood cell count (RBC) is important for assessing oxygen-carrying capacity but does not directly relate to infection-fighting ability.

D. Hemoglobin (Hgb) reflects the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, not the body's ability to fight infection.

A. Hold the infant's chin to his chest and knees to his abdomen during the procedure. B. No sedation is needed, due to application of anesthetic cream. C. Apply an anesthetic mixture of lidocaine and prilocaine cream topically 15 min prior to the procedure. D. Keep the infant NPO for 6 hr prior the procedure.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. Hold the infant's chin to his chest and knees to his abdomen during the procedure is correct. For a lumbar puncture in an infant, a proper position to facilitate the procedure is to curl the infant into a fetal position by holding the chin to the chest and the knees to the abdomen, which opens up the intervertebral spaces for better access.

B. No sedation is needed, due to application of anesthetic cream is incorrect. While an anesthetic cream is typically used to numb the skin, sedation or pain management may still be required depending on the infant's tolerance.

C. Apply an anesthetic mixture of lidocaine and prilocaine cream topically 15 min prior to the procedure is incorrect. Lidocaine and prilocaine are topical anesthetics, but the cream should be applied 30 minutes to 1 hour prior to the procedure to ensure effectiveness, not just 15 minutes.

D. Keep the infant NPO for 6 hr prior the procedure is incorrect. Most lumbar puncture procedures in infants do not require the infant to be NPO for 6 hours. The NPO guideline typically depends on whether anesthesia or sedation is being used, and for lumbar punctures, a shorter fasting period (if any) is often sufficient.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

A 6-year-old child is admitted to the hospital with suspected bacterial meningitis. What is the nursing priority in the care of this child? Select all that apply.

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A nurse is planning care for a 5-month-old infant who is scheduled for a lumbar puncture to rule out meningitis. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in the plan of care?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

When performing the tape test to check for pinworms, when should the caregiver remove the tape from the child's anus?

The nurse is providing discharge teaching to the parents of a toddler who experienced a febrile seizure. The nurse knows that the parents understand the teaching when the parents make which statement(s)? (Select All that Apply.)

A nurse is caring for a client who presents to the emergency room in sickle cell crisis. Which of the following medications should the nurse anticipate administering?

A nurse is caring for a child who has been diagnosed with malignant neuroblastoma. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

The nurse is monitoring a 7-year-old child post-surgical resection of a supratentorial (cerebral) brain tumor. Which vital sign finding indicates Cushing's triad?

During an episode of status epilepticus of a hospitalized child, what is the priority intervention?

A nurse is caring for a 10-month-old infant who is 8 hours postoperative following cleft palate repair. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the infant's plan of care?

A nurse is educating a family about bleeding disorders while they await the results of their child's laboratory testing. Which of the following statements accurately describes the differences in the causes of hemophilia A, hemophilia B, and von Willebrand disease? (Select All that Apply.)