A nurse is providing discharge teaching to the parents of a 6-month-old infant following a surgical procedure to repair a hypospadias. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?

A. "Avoid immunizing your child with the meningococcal vaccine."

This statement is incorrect. Children with sickle cell anemia are at increased risk of infections, including meningococcal disease. Immunization with the meningococcal vaccine is recommended to help prevent this serious infection.

B. "Restrict the time your child spends playing outdoors."

While it's important for children with sickle cell anemia to avoid extreme temperatures and stay hydrated to prevent triggering a vaso-occlusive crisis, completely restricting outdoor playtime may not be necessary. It's essential to encourage appropriate hydration and dress warmly in cold weather but allowing outdoor play in moderation can be beneficial for physical activity and socialization.

C. "Increase your child's intake of oral fluids."

This is a correct statement. Adequate hydration is crucial for children with sickle cell anemia to help prevent vaso-occlusive crises and maintain overall health. Increasing oral fluid intake, particularly water, can help prevent dehydration and promote circulation of sickle-shaped red blood cells.

D. "Provide your child with a high-protein diet."

This is also a correct statement. A diet rich in high-quality protein can help support healthy growth and development in children with sickle cell anemia. Protein is important for building and repairing tissues, including red blood cells. However, it's essential to ensure a balanced diet that includes a variety of nutrients, not just protein.

A. Oucher pain rating scale: The Oucher pain rating scale uses pictures of children's faces to represent varying degrees of pain intensity. This scale is specifically designed for young children and can be effective in assessing pain in preschool-aged children who may not yet be able to accurately use verbal descriptors to express their pain.

B. Word-Graphic rating scale: This type of scale presents both words and pictures to represent different levels of pain intensity. While it may be suitable for older children who can understand and use words to describe their pain, it may be less effective for a 4-year-old child who is still developing language skills.

C. Numeric rating scale: Numeric rating scales typically ask the child to rate their pain on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 representing no pain and 10 representing the worst pain imaginable. While this scale may be appropriate for older children, it may be challenging for a 4-year-old to understand and use numbers to describe their pain.

D. Visual analog scale: Visual analog scales typically consist of a line with endpoints labeled "no pain" and "worst pain imaginable," with the child asked to mark or point to the spot on the line that represents their pain level. While this scale may be suitable for older children and adults, it may be too abstract for a 4-year-old child to understand and use effectively.