A nurse is preparing to perform a venipuncture on a 4-year-old child.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take to ensure atraumatic care?

The correct answer is Choice B.

Choice A rationale

Increased throat pain is common after a tonsillectomy and can be managed with pain relief measures. It is not the most critical finding.

Choice B rationale

Frequent swallowing can indicate bleeding at the surgical site, which is a serious complication that requires immediate attention.

Choice C rationale

Refusal to drink clear liquids is concerning for dehydration but is not as immediately critical as signs of bleeding.

Choice D rationale

Crying often can be due to pain or discomfort but is not as critical as signs of bleeding.

The correct answer is C. “My child went to the bathroom two times when the alarm went off last night.”.

Choice A rationale

Holding urine for extended periods may indicate urinary retention, which is not the desired outcome of treatment for enuresis. The goal of enuresis treatment is to help the child develop better bladder control and responsiveness to the need to urinate.

Choice B rationale

Kegel exercises primarily target pelvic floor muscles and may not directly address the underlying causes of enuresis. While Kegel exercises can be beneficial for strengthening pelvic muscles, they are not typically the primary focus of conditioning therapy for enuresis.

Choice C rationale

Waking to urinate in response to the alarm indicates improved bladder control and responsiveness to conditioning therapy for enuresis. This statement suggests that the child is becoming more aware of the need to urinate and is responding appropriately to the alarm, which is a positive sign of treatment effectiveness.

Choice D rationale

Drinking less may not necessarily indicate treatment effectiveness and could lead to dehydration. It is important for children to maintain adequate hydration, and reducing fluid intake is not a recommended strategy for managing enuresis.