A nurse is providing education to the parent of a school-age child who has asthma. Which of the following statements by the parent indicates an understanding of the teaching?

The correct answer is D

Choice A Reason: While croup can be serious, an O2 saturation of 92% on room air is generally stable. This child's condition is concerning but not immediately life-threatening.

Choice B Reason: A 15-year-old adolescent who is 2 hours postoperative following an open reduction and internal fixation of the left ankle and is requesting pain medication is in need of comfort measures. Postoperative pain management is important for recovery, but it is not a priority over more critical conditions.

Choice C Reason: A 3-year-old toddler with gastroenteritis, moderate dehydration, and two loose bowel movements over the past 24 hours requires rehydration and monitoring. The normal range for bowel movements varies, but two loose stools in 24 hours for a toddler with gastroenteritis is not unusual. Dehydration can become severe, so this child should be assessed soon, but it is not the most urgent case.

Choice D Reason: This child's sudden relief from pain could be a sign of a perforated appendix, a serious complication that requires immediate medical attention. Therefore, this child's condition is the most urgent and requires immediate assessment.

• A is incorrect because assessing the apical pulse while the newborn is crying can result in an inaccurate measurement due to increased heart rate and respiratory rate.
• B is incorrect because palpating the radial pulse for 30 seconds is not appropriate for a newborn as it can be difficult to locate and count accurately.
• C is incorrect because listening to the apical pulse while palpating the radial pulse is not necessary for a newborn and can be confusing and time-consuming.
• D is correct because auscultating the apical pulse at least 1 min is the best way to assess a newborn's heart rate as it provides an accurate and reliable measurement.