A nurse is providing care to a group of children at a pediatric clinic.

Which of the following children meets the criteria to receive a varicella vaccine?

Choice A rationale
The first action a nurse should take upon finding a school-age child having a seizure is to ease the person to the floor and turn the person gently onto one side. This will help the person breathe and can prevent injury.
Choice B rationale
Administering an anticonvulsant medication is not the immediate first action a nurse should take upon finding a child having a seizure. The first priority is to ensure the child’s safety by easing them to the floor and turning them onto their side.
Choice C rationale
Applying oxygen by nasal cannula is not the immediate first action a nurse should take upon finding a child having a seizure. The first priority is to ensure the child’s safety by easing them to the floor and turning them onto their side.
Choice D rationale
Checking the client’s oxygen saturation is not the immediate first action a nurse should take upon finding a child having a seizure. The first priority is to ensure the child’s safety by easing them to the floor and turning them onto their side.

The correct answer is (C) Determine if the toddler is voiding.

Choice A: Initiate isotonic fluids with 20 mEq/L potassium chloride. While it is important to maintain hydration in a child with acute gastroenteritis, initiating isotonic fluids with 20 mEq/L potassium chloride is not the first action a nurse should take. The child’s hydration status and electrolyte balance need to be assessed first. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the use of isotonic solutions with adequate potassium chloride and dextrose for maintenance IV fluids in children.

Choice B: Collect a stool sample from the toddler Collecting a stool sample can help identify the cause of the gastroenteritis. However, this is not the first step. The stool sample collection should be done using a clean, dry toilet hat or plastic wrap. But before this, the child’s hydration status needs to be assessed.

Choice C: Determine if the toddler is voiding The first action the nurse should take when using the nursing process is assessment. Therefore, checking if the toddler is voiding is the priority. This will help assess the child’s hydration status, which is critical in managing acute gastroenteritis.

Choice D: Request evaluation of the toddler’s serum electrolytes Requesting an evaluation of the toddler’s serum electrolytes is also important, but it’s typically done after the initial assessment. Fluid and electrolyte derangement are the immediate causes that increase the mortality in diarrhea. However, before requesting this evaluation, the nurse should first determine if the toddler is voiding to assess the child’s hydration status.