A nurse is providing care to a child who has Down syndrome during a well-child checkup. Which of the following assessment findings requires immediate follow-up by the nurse?

A. Schedule the child for a follow-up blood test to monitor lead levels over the coming weeks. While ongoing monitoring is important, it is not the immediate priority in a child with extreme lead poisoning. Immediate intervention is needed to manage acute symptoms and prevent further complications.

B. Provide supportive care to manage common symptoms of nausea and pain. This is the correct first action. Severe lead poisoning can cause neurological and gastrointestinal symptoms, including abdominal pain, vomiting, and irritability. Supportive care addresses these symptoms while preparing for further interventions like chelation therapy.

C. Promote a balanced diet rich in calcium and iron to help mitigate lead absorption. Nutritional support is beneficial in mild to moderate cases, as calcium and iron reduce lead absorption, but it is not the first priority in extreme poisoning. Immediate medical treatment takes precedence.

D. Notify the health department to investigate potential lead exposure sources. Identifying the source of lead exposure is crucial for long-term prevention, but in cases of severe poisoning, immediate medical care is the priority before environmental interventions.

A. Ask the parents to escort the child's sibling to the family lounge so they are not in the child's room. Removing the sibling from the room does not address their distress or emotional needs. Siblings of hospitalized children may experience fear, anxiety, or feelings of exclusion, and they need support, not isolation.

B. Consult the child life specialist to provide age-appropriate activities and emotional support to the sibling. Child life specialists are trained to help children understand and cope with hospitalization through play, education, and emotional support. They can help the sibling process their emotions in an age-appropriate way.

C. Provide the sibling with coloring pages and crayons to keep them occupied in the child's room. While coloring can be a helpful distraction, it does not address the sibling’s distress or provide the emotional support they may need to understand their sibling’s condition.

D. Offer the sibling a tour of the hospital unit to help them become more familiar with the environment. A tour may help the child feel more comfortable, but it does not directly address their distress or emotions regarding their sibling’s hospitalization.