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 D
Explanation
A. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV): This vaccine is generally completed before the age of 5, so it is not typically administered at this stage.
B. Hepatitis B (HBV): The HBV series is usually completed during infancy and early childhood, so it is not needed at 5 years if the child is up to date.
C. Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib): Hib is typically completed by 18 months of age and is not required for pre-kindergarten.
D. Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR): A second dose of MMR is typically required at 4-6 years, aligning with pre-kindergarten vaccination schedules.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Describing manifestations of the illness: Preschoolers lack the cognitive ability to describe symptoms in detail.
B. Relating fears to magical thinking: Magical thinking is characteristic of preschoolers, and they may associate illness with punishment or fantastical causes.
C. Awareness of body function: This is more typical of school-age children, not preschoolers.
D. Understanding cause of illness: Preschoolers do not have the cognitive development to understand illness causation fully.