A nurse is caring for a preschooler who is postoperative following a tonsillectomy. The child is now ready to resume oral intake.
Which of the following dietary choices should the nurse offer the child?

Choice A rationale: Telling the child that the medication tastes like candy can be misleading and might contribute to a misunderstanding about the purpose and importance of medication. It's important to maintain honesty and build trust with the child, rather than using such statements.

Choice B rationale: Explaining that the medication will treat the hypersensitivity reaction uses medical terminology that may be too complex for a preschooler to understand. This explanation is more suited for older children or adults who can comprehend such information.

Choice C rationale: Allowing the preschooler to decide when to take the medication can delay treatment and may not be practical in urgent situations. While giving some sense of control to the child is important, the nurse must ensure timely administration of the medication to manage the hypersensitivity reaction.

Choice D rationale: Acknowledging the child’s feelings by saying that sometimes children feel sad when they have to take medication helps validate the child's emotions and can build trust. This approach is more likely to calm the child and make them feel understood, potentially making it easier to administer the medication.

Choice A rationale:

Providing frequent range of motion to the neck and shoulders is not appropriate for an infant with bacterial meningitis. Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord and can cause severe neck pain and stiffness. Range of motion exercises could exacerbate the discomfort and should be avoided.

Choice B rationale:

Keeping the television on in the room to provide background noise is not appropriate for an infant with bacterial meningitis. Infants with meningitis need a quiet and calm environment to reduce stimuli and promote healing.

Choice C rationale:

Padding the side rails of the crib is important to prevent injury during seizures, which can occur in bacterial meningitis. Seizures can cause uncontrolled movements, and padding the crib rails can prevent the infant from getting hurt during these episodes.

Choice D rationale:

Placing the infant in a semiprivate room is not appropriate for bacterial meningitis. Infants with meningitis need isolation to prevent the spread of the infection to other patients. They should be placed in a private room with strict infection control measures in place.