A nurse prepares to apply topical permethrin for a child with scabies.
What should be included in the instructions?

Choice A rationale

Pediculosis, an infestation of lice, is highly contagious through direct contact, especially head-to-head contact. Therefore, no precautions are insufficient to prevent the spread of lice to healthcare workers and other patients. Standard precautions are necessary.

Choice B rationale

Wearing a gown and hair cover is not typically required for routine care of a child with pediculosis. Standard precautions, including gloves to prevent direct contact with the child's hair and scalp, are generally sufficient. Gowns are usually indicated when there is a risk of contact with body fluids or secretions.

Choice C rationale

Isolating the child in a negative-pressure room is reserved for airborne infections, such as tuberculosis or measles. Pediculosis is transmitted through direct contact, not airborne droplets, so isolation in a negative-pressure room is unnecessary and inappropriate.

Choice D rationale

Wearing gloves is the appropriate nursing action when treating a hospitalized child with pediculosis. Gloves prevent direct contact with the lice and their eggs (nits) during examination and treatment of the scalp and hair, thus minimizing the risk of transmission to the healthcare worker. .

Choice A rationale

A first-degree burn involves only the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. It is characterized by redness (erythema), pain, and dryness, without the formation of blisters. The superficial damage affects the outer layer of epithelial cells, causing vasodilation and inflammation, leading to the observed redness and discomfort.

Choice B rationale

A second-degree burn involves the epidermis and a portion of the dermis, the layer beneath the epidermis. These burns are characterized by blisters, significant pain, redness, and swelling. The damage extends deeper into the skin, affecting nerve endings and blood vessels, leading to fluid leakage and blister formation.

Choice C rationale

A third-degree burn involves the destruction of the epidermis and the entire dermis, potentially extending into the subcutaneous tissue. These burns appear white or charred, are often painless initially due to nerve damage, and lack blisters. The full thickness destruction of skin layers impairs sensation and requires significant medical intervention, often including skin grafting.

Choice D rationale

Full-thickness burn is another term for a third-degree burn, indicating that all layers of the skin have been destroyed. This type of burn extends through the epidermis and dermis and may involve underlying subcutaneous tissue, muscle, or bone. The appearance is typically dry, leathery, and may be white, charred, or waxy.