A charge nurse is observing a staff nurse who is caring for a child who has pertussis. Which of the following actions by the staff nurse indicates an understanding of infection control practices?

A. "I should withhold my child's medication before physical activity." Withholding medication is not advised as prednisone helps manage inflammation. The child may require medication to control symptoms during physical activity.

B. "My child might experience mood swings." Mood swings are a known side effect of prednisone, a corticosteroid. This statement indicates correct understanding.

C. "I should take my child to the clinic for a weekly blood test." Routine weekly blood tests are not typically required for prednisone. Monitoring might be necessary, but not weekly blood tests.

D. "My child might have a decreased appetite." Prednisone often causes increased appetite rather than decreased. This statement is incorrect.

A. Place the child in a protected environment for 48 hr: While isolation might be implemented, 48 hours is not a typical timeframe for pertussis. The contagious period can last for weeks.

B. Administer the pertussis vaccine: The pertussis vaccine is for prevention, not treatment of an active case.

C. Report the diagnosis to the public health department. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory illness. Reporting the case to the public health department allows them to track the spread of the disease and take steps to prevent further outbreaks

D. Restrict oral fluids to 500 mL per day. Restricting fluids can worsen dehydration, especially in a child with a respiratory illness.