A nurse is reinforcing teaching with an adolescent client about the purpose of the glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) test. Which of the following descriptions should the nurse include in the teaching?

A. Administer the vaccine in the vastus lateralis muscle using a 25-mm (1-in) needle: For infants, the vastus lateralis muscle in the thigh is the preferred site for intramuscular (IM) vaccinations, including the Hib vaccine. A 25-mm (1-in) needle is an appropriate length for this muscle in a 6-month-old infant.
B. Administer the vaccine subcutaneously in the abdomen using a 16-mm (5/8-in) needle: The Hib vaccine is not administered subcutaneously. It is an intramuscular injection, and the abdomen is not the recommended site for this vaccine.
C. Administer the vaccine subcutaneously in the upper arm using a 13-mm (1/2-in) needle: The Hib vaccine is administered intramuscularly, not subcutaneously. The upper arm is used for intramuscular injections in older children. A 13-mm needle is too short for an intramuscular injection in the vastus lateralis.
D. Administer the vaccine in the dorsogluteal muscle using a 51-mm (2-in) needle: The dorsogluteal muscle is not recommended for infants due to the risk of damaging the sciatic nerve. A 2-inch needle is too long for this area in an infant.

Rationale:

• Insert a peripheral IV catheter: A peripheral IV catheter is essential for administering fluids and medications, which is critical for this adolescent, especially with the concern for bacterial meningitis.
• Place the adolescent on a cooling blanket: The adolescent has a high fever (39°C), which needs to be managed promptly to prevent further complications. A cooling blanket helps reduce the fever and manage the patient’s temperature.
• Administer IV acyclovir: Acyclovir is an antiviral medication typically used to treat viral infections such as herpes simplex virus or varicella-zoster virus, not bacterial meningitis. Given the CSF findings and suspected bacterial meningitis, acyclovir is not appropriate. Antibiotics like cefotaxime are indicated instead.
• Place on seizure precautions: Given the adolescent's symptoms (e.g., headache, photophobia, lethargy), the risk of seizures is elevated, especially if meningitis is suspected. Seizure precautions are important to prevent injury during a potential seizure.
• Keep adolescent flat in bed for 24 hr post lumbar puncture: After a lumbar puncture, keeping the adolescent flat in bed for 24 hours helps prevent post-lumbar puncture headaches and minimizes the risk of cerebrospinal fluid leaks or complications.
• Administer IV cefotaxime: IV cefotaxime is an appropriate antibiotic for treating bacterial meningitis. Given the abnormal CSF results (low glucose, high protein, elevated WBC), the adolescent is at high risk for bacterial meningitis, and IV cefotaxime is expected to be part of the treatment plan.