A nurse is evaluating the laboratory values of a client who is receiving epoetin alfa. Which of the following findings indicates a therapeutic response to the medication?

Choice A reason:

Natural loss of deciduous teeth is incorrect. Natural loss of deciduous teeth, also known as baby teeth, usually begins around the age of 5 or 6 years. At the age of 2, a toddler would still have their baby teeth.

Choice B reason:

This is a normal finding in toddlers. It is common for toddlers to have a protruding abdomen due to their body composition and the normal development of their abdominal muscles.

Choice C reason:

Head circumference exceeds chest circumference: In a typical 2-year-old toddler, the head circumference should be less than the chest circumference. The head grows rapidly during infancy and slows down as the child grows older, leading to a cage in the head-to-chest ratio.

Choice D reason:

The fontanels, or soft spots on the skull, usually close by the end of the first year. By age 2, the fontanels should be closed or very close to being closed, and they would not typically be palpable.

A. Assessing fluid intake every 24 hr is important for a postoperative client, but it is not the priority action. The nurse should monitor fluid intake and output more frequently, such as every 8 hr or every shift, to detect any imbalances or complications.

B. Ambulating three times a day is beneficial for a postoperative client, but it is not the priority action. The nurse should encourage early and frequent ambulation to promote circulation, prevent thromboembolism, and enhance bowel function, but only after ensuring that the client is stable and has adequate pain control.

C. Assisting with deep breathing and coughing is the priority action for a postoperative client who had abdominal surgery. The nurse should help the client perform these exercises every 1 to 2 hr to prevent atelectasis, pneumonia, and respiratory failure, which are common and serious complications after abdominal surgery.

D. Monitoring the incision site for findings of infection is important for a postoperative client, but it is not the priority action. The nurse should inspect the wound for signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, warmth, drainage, or odor, but this can be done during routine dressing changes or as needed.