A nurse is obtaining a sputum sample from a school-age child. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Rationale for A: If the child can describe what frightened them, this would be more consistent with nightmares. Nightmares often involve the ability to recall details of the bad dream, whereas sleep terrors are typically associated with no memory of the event.

Rationale for B: Children with sleep terrors generally do not fully awaken and can usually go back to sleep immediately. This is a key distinction between sleep terrors and nightmares, where the child remains distressed for some time and may be hesitant to fall back asleep.

Rationale for C: Becoming fully awake and in a panic is more characteristic of nightmares, where the child may wake up terrified and struggle to calm down, unlike sleep terrors where they do not fully awaken.

Rationale for D: A child with nightmares is often easily comforted by the presence of a parent. In contrast, children with sleep terrors are difficult to comfort because they are not fully awake and may not respond to soothing efforts.

Rationale:

A) Heliox may be used in the management of severe asthma exacerbations, but albuterol via nebulizer is typically administered first for rapid bronchodilation.

B) Albuterol is a short-acting beta agonist bronchodilator used as the first-line treatment in acute asthma exacerbations to relieve bronchospasm and improve airflow.

C) Prednisone, an oral corticosteroid, may be indicated in the treatment of status asthmaticus, but it is not the first medication administered.

D) 0.9% sodium chloride via IV bolus is not indicated as the initial treatment for status asthmaticus.