The nurse is working with a 12-year-old who is hospitalized with a chronic illness. Which action by the nurse might help the chronically ill preteen thrive while hospitalized?

Choice A reason: Rheumatic fever follows streptococcal infections but typically presents with joint pain or carditis, not puffy eyes or abnormal urine. Glomerulonephritis matches the post-infectious symptoms, making this incorrect, as it does not align with the child’s clinical presentation after ear infections.

Choice B reason: Lipoid nephrosis causes edema but lacks a clear link to recent infections or hematuria. Acute glomerulonephritis better explains the symptoms post-ear infection, making this less fitting and incorrect for the suspected condition based on the child’s reported signs and history.

Choice C reason: Urinary tract infections cause dysuria or frequency, not typically puffy eyes or hematuria post-infection. Glomerulonephritis aligns with the streptococcal history and symptoms, making this incorrect compared to the condition suspected based on the child’s clinical presentation to the nurse.

Choice D reason: Acute glomerulonephritis, often post-streptococcal from ear infections, causes hematuria (“funny” urine), periorbital edema (puffy eyes), and headache. This aligns with pediatric nephrology evidence, making it the correct condition the nurse suspects, prompting immediate evaluation by a care provider for the child.

Choice A reason: Infancy is marked by rapid physical and skill development, with milestones like crawling and babbling occurring quickly. This aligns with pediatric developmental assessments, making it the correct characteristic for the nurse to monitor, ensuring infants meet critical growth benchmarks during routine evaluations.

Choice B reason: Insisting on independence with dependence reversion is typical of toddlers, not infants, who lack such autonomy. Rapid skill growth defines infancy, making this incorrect, as it describes a later developmental stage rather than the nurse’s focus for infant growth and development assessments.

Choice C reason: Rapid information intake and questioning “why” and “how” characterize preschoolers, not infants, who lack verbal curiosity. Rapid skill development is the infant focus, making this incorrect, as it applies to older children rather than the nurse’s assessment of infant developmental characteristics.

Choice D reason: Increased attention span is seen in older children, not infants, who have short attention spans. Rapid growth and skill acquisition define infancy, making this incorrect, as it does not reflect the developmental characteristics the nurse should assess in infants during pediatric evaluations.