A nurse has taught parents about diagnostic testing for their child who is suspected of having leukemia.

What test described by the parents shows good understanding of this information?

Choice A rationale

Placing non-latex gloves in the child's room is an appropriate intervention for a child suspected of having a latex allergy, such as those with spina bifida who have high exposure risk. This action ensures that all caregivers have readily available, safe supplies to prevent skin and mucous membrane contact with latex proteins, thereby minimizing the risk of triggering an allergic or anaphylactic reaction.

Choice B rationale

Checking the child's tray for allergenic foods like bananas, kiwis, avocados, and chestnuts is a crucial and appropriate intervention because these foods contain proteins that cross-react with latex proteins. This phenomenon, known as latex-fruit syndrome, necessitates dietary precautions to prevent a systemic allergic reaction in latex-sensitive individuals.

Choice C rationale

Placing a latex allergy sign on the child's door is a standard and essential safety intervention to alert all healthcare personnel, visitors, and support staff to the child's allergy status. This universal precaution helps ensure that all items brought into the room or used on the child are verified as latex-free, which is vital for preventing accidental exposure.

Choice D rationale

Removing the child's allergy armband because the parent asks would be a nursing error and an inappropriate intervention to question, as this action contradicts standard safety protocols. The allergy armband is a critical, visible identifier of a life-threatening allergy, and its removal substantially increases the risk of an accidental latex exposure and subsequent severe adverse reaction.

Choice A rationale

Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone, an androgen, responsible for the development of male secondary sex characteristics and reproductive tissues. While present in trace amounts in females, it has no direct role in the pulmonary physiology or the production of pulmonary surfactant, which is the critical deficiency leading to respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm neonates.

Choice B rationale

Somatotropin, also known as growth hormone (GH), is a peptide hormone responsible for stimulating growth, cell reproduction, and regeneration. Its main effects are on somatic growth and metabolism. Although many hormones influence fetal lung maturation indirectly, an altered secretion of somatotropin is not the primary physiological cause for the development of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.

Choice C rationale

Surfactant is a lipoprotein complex produced by Type II alveolar cells. Its function is to lower the surface tension within the alveoli, preventing their collapse upon expiration. In preterm infants, especially those born before 34 weeks' gestation, the production of adequate amounts of surfactant is often immature or insufficient, leading to widespread atelectasis and the clinical picture of respiratory distress syndrome.

Choice D rationale

Progesterone is a major female sex hormone primarily involved in the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and embryogenesis. It plays a crucial role in maintaining pregnancy by supporting the uterine lining. While steroid hormones are generally involved in fetal development, altered secretion of progesterone is not the main physiological factor causing the acute alveolar collapse seen in respiratory distress syndrome.