A nurse is planning care for a 4-year-old child who has been admitted to the hospital. Which of the following toys should the nurse plan to provide the child?

A. Determine if the toddler is voiding: Assessing urine output is crucial for determining the child’s hydration status. Voiding is an important indicator of kidney function and fluid balance. Ensuring the child is voiding can help determine the severity of dehydration and guide further interventions.

B. Request evaluation of the toddler's serum electrolytes. Evaluating serum electrolytes is important for understanding the extent of dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. However, it is not the immediate first action and should follow the initial assessment of the child's hydration status.

C. Initiate isotonic fluids with 20 mEq/L potassium chloride. Initiating fluid therapy is crucial but should only be done after assessing kidney function through urine output and evaluating the need for potassium supplementation to avoid complications like hyperkalaemia if the kidneys are not functioning properly.

D. Collect a stool sample from the toddler. Collecting a stool sample is useful for diagnosing the cause of gastroenteritis, but it is not the immediate priority. The focus should first be on assessing hydration status and initiating appropriate fluid therapy.

A. Obtain a throat culture. Throat cultures are contraindicated in suspected epiglottitis because the procedure can provoke airway obstruction and worsen the condition.

B. Visualize the epiglottis using a tongue depressor. Attempting to visualize the epiglottis can lead to sudden airway obstruction in children with epiglottitis. This is dangerous and should be avoided.

C. Initiate airborne precautions. Droplet precautions, not airborne, are necessary for epiglottitis because it is typically caused by bacteria that spread through respiratory droplets.

D. Prepare the child for a neck X-ray and possible tracheostomy. A neck X-ray can help diagnose epiglottitis by showing the characteristic "thumb sign." Immediate airway management, including preparation for a potential tracheostomy, is crucial due to the risk of sudden airway obstruction.