A nurse is caring for a school-age child with respiratory failure due to pneumonia. Which position should the nurse encourage to allow for maximal lung expansion?

Choice A rationale

The client should lift the walker and place it down in front of her. This is because lifting the walker provides stability and support as the client moves. It’s important for the client to move the walker first, then step forward to ensure balance and prevent falls.
Choice B rationale
Walking in front of the client to guide her in moving the walker is not the best practice. The client should be allowed to set the pace and the nurse should be beside or slightly behind the client to provide assistance if needed.
Choice C rationale
Having the client move one leg forward with the walker is not the most effective way to use a walker. Both legs should move forward after the walker has been placed down in front of the client.
Choice D rationale
Making sure that the upper bar of the walker is level with the client’s waist is a good practice, but it’s not the best answer for this question. The height of the walker should be adjusted so that the handles are at the level of the client’s wrists when the client’s arms are hanging down. This allows the client to maintain a slight bend in their elbows when holding the handles.

The correct answer is Choice D

Choice A rationale: A 1-inch needle is typically used for intramuscular injections, not intradermal administration. Intradermal injections require a short, fine-gauge needle—usually ¼ to ⅝ inch in length and 25 to 27 gauge—to ensure accurate placement within the dermis. Using a longer needle increases the risk of injecting into subcutaneous tissue, which alters absorption and invalidates the test. Scientific technique demands precise needle selection based on anatomical depth and pharmacokinetics of the test substance.

Choice B rationale: A 20° angle is inappropriate for intradermal injections, which require a shallow angle of 5° to 15° to ensure deposition within the dermal layer. Angles greater than 15° risk penetrating into subcutaneous tissue, compromising test accuracy and absorption kinetics. The dermis is a narrow layer between the epidermis and subcutaneous fat, and precise angulation is critical for forming the characteristic wheal and ensuring localized immune response. Scientific technique mandates strict adherence to angle parameters.

Choice C rationale: The standard volume for a tuberculin skin test using purified protein derivative (PPD) is 0.1 mL, not 0.5 mL. Administering 0.5 mL would exceed the recommended dose, potentially causing excessive local reaction, invalid test results, and patient discomfort. The Mantoux method requires exact dosing to elicit a controlled immune response for accurate interpretation. Scientific protocol emphasizes precision in volume to maintain test validity and minimize adverse effects. Overdosing violates established guidelines.

Choice D rationale: Pinching or gently pulling the skin taut at the injection site stabilizes the dermal layer and facilitates correct needle placement. This technique ensures the needle enters at the proper angle and depth, allowing formation of a visible wheal, which confirms intradermal delivery. It also minimizes patient discomfort and prevents misplacement into deeper tissues. Scientific technique for intradermal injections prioritizes anatomical control and tactile feedback to optimize accuracy and diagnostic reliability.