The caregivers of a child who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis 5 months ago report that they have been following all of the suggested guidelines for nutrition, fluid intake, and exercise, but the child has been having bouts of constipation and diarrhea. The nurse tells the caregiver to increase the amount of which substance in the child’s diet?

Choice A reason: Holding the buttocks together for 1-2 minutes after suppository insertion prevents expulsion, ensuring the medication is absorbed in a 3-month-old. This aligns with pediatric medication administration protocols, making it the correct intervention to assure effective delivery of the rectal suppository in this infant.

Choice B reason: Pre-warming the suppository is not standard, as it may soften excessively, complicating insertion. Holding the buttocks ensures retention, directly impacting absorption, making this less effective and incorrect compared to the critical step of preventing expulsion in a 3-month-old during suppository administration.

Choice C reason: Using the index finger is inappropriate for an infant, as the pinky finger is safer for their small rectum. Holding the buttocks ensures medication retention, making this unsafe and incorrect compared to the prioritized intervention for effective suppository administration in a 3-month-old child.

Choice D reason: Placing the child on the abdomen may aid positioning but does not ensure suppository retention like holding the buttocks. Retention is critical for absorption, making this less essential and incorrect compared to the direct intervention of securing the suppository in place post-insertion for the infant.

Choice A reason: A complete fracture occurs when bone fragments are fully separated, disrupting the bone’s continuity. This aligns with orthopedic definitions, as separation indicates a break through the entire bone, requiring intervention. The nurse’s explanation matches this, making it the correct term for separated fracture fragments in children, consistent with pediatric trauma care.

Choice B reason: An incomplete fracture involves a partial break, with fragments not fully separated, common in children’s flexible bones. The question specifies separated fragments, which does not fit this definition. This choice is incorrect, as it contradicts the description of a complete separation of bone fragments in the context of fracture classification.

Choice C reason: A spiral fracture is caused by twisting, with a helical break pattern, but separation of fragments is not its defining feature. Complete fractures specifically describe separated fragments, making this incorrect, as spiral refers to shape, not the extent of fragment separation in fractures, per orthopedic terminology.

Choice D reason: A greenstick fracture is an incomplete break where one side bends and the other cracks, typical in children. Separated fragments indicate a complete fracture, not a greenstick, making this incorrect, as greenstick fractures do not involve full separation of bone fragments as described in the nurse’s explanation.