A nurse is caring for a school-age child who has a new plaster cast on her right arm. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A. Wrist: Wrist restraints are typically used to prevent older children or adults from pulling at medical devices or dressings. For an infant, wrist restraints can be too harsh and restrictive. They do not prevent the child from bending their arms, which could allow them to reach their face and potentially disrupt the surgical site.

B. Mummy: A mummy restraint involves wrapping the infant’s body tightly with a blanket to restrict movement, typically used for short periods during medical procedures to keep the child still. This type of restraint is too restrictive for postoperative care and does not allow any movement of the arms, making it uncomfortable and unsuitable for continuous use over extended periods.

C. Elbow: Elbow restraints, also known as no-no’s, are designed to prevent the infant from bending their arms. This type of restraint keeps the elbows straight, preventing the child from touching their face and disrupting the surgical site of the cleft lip and palate. It is effective in allowing the infant to move their arms while ensuring that they cannot interfere with the healing area. This method is less restrictive and more humane for postoperative care in an infant.

D. Jacket: Jacket restraints are used to secure the torso, usually to prevent a child from moving out of bed or a chair. This type of restraint is more restrictive and not specific to preventing arm movement. For an infant recovering from cleft lip and palate surgery, jacket restraints would not effectively prevent the child from reaching their face, and they can be excessively confining and distressing for an infant.

A. Active psychiatric disorder: The presence of an active psychiatric disorder, such as depression or anxiety, is the most significant risk factor for suicide. Mental health disorders can severely affect an adolescent's emotional and psychological well-being, increasing the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

B. Availability of firearms: While access to firearms increases the risk of successful suicide, it is a secondary risk factor compared to the presence of a psychiatric disorder, which is more directly linked to the development of suicidal ideation.

C. Family conflict: Family conflict is a risk factor for emotional distress and can contribute to suicidal thoughts, but it is less significant than having an active psychiatric disorder, which directly impacts the adolescent's mental health.

D. Homosexuality: While LGBTQ+ youth are at higher risk for suicide due to factors like discrimination and lack of support, the presence of an active psychiatric disorder remains a more critical and direct risk factor for suicide.