A nurse at a pediatric hotline receives a call from a mother who plans to administer aspirin to a toddler for a fever and wants to know the dosage. Which of the following statements by the nurse is an appropriate response?
"Give her acetaminophen, not aspirin."
"You'll have to call your physician."
"Give her no more than three baby aspirin every 4 hours."
"Follow the directions on the aspirin bottle for her age and weight."
The Correct Answer is A
A. "Give her acetaminophen, not aspirin.": Aspirin is contraindicated in children due to the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious condition that affects the liver and brain, especially during viral illnesses like the flu or chickenpox. Acetaminophen is a safer alternative for fever management in children.
B. "You'll have to call your physician.": While seeking physician advice is important, the nurse has a duty to provide accurate, immediate, evidence-based guidance to prevent harm.
C. "Give her no more than three baby aspirin every 4 hours.": Recommending aspirin dosing is unsafe due to the risk of Reye's syndrome.
D. "Follow the directions on the aspirin bottle for her age and weight.": Providing this advice without addressing safety concerns is inappropriate and potentially harmful.
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Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Move the child into a side-lying position: This is the priority action to maintain an open airway, promote drainage of vomit, and reduce the risk of aspiration.
B. Remove the child's eyeglasses: While helpful to prevent injury, it is not the priority action during an active seizure.
C. Time the seizure: Timing is important to assess the duration and severity of the seizure, but it does not address immediate safety concerns like aspiration.
D. Place a pillow under the child's head: While this may prevent head injury, repositioning to a side-lying position to prevent aspiration is more critical.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. "I know that my child will need to have a companion when swimming." This is a correct precaution to prevent drowning in case of a seizure.
B. "I will make my child wear a medical identification bracelet." This is correct to alert others in case of an emergency.
C. "I will need to give antiseizure medications when my child has a seizure." Antiseizure medications are typically administered as a preventive measure, not during a seizure. Emergency medications (e.g., rectal diazepam) may be used for prolonged seizures but are not routine for every seizure.
D. "I will have my child wear a bike helmet when riding a bike or skateboard." This is correct to protect the child from head injuries during activities.