A nurse enters a school age child's room to administer morning medications and finds the client sitting in a chair having a seizure. After lowering the client to the floor, which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Apply oxygen by nasal cannula.
Turn the client to a lateral position.
Administer an anticonvulsant medication.
Check the client's oxygen saturation.
The Correct Answer is B
A. Apply oxygen by nasal cannula: Applying oxygen can be beneficial but is not the immediate priority during an active seizure. Protecting the airway comes first.
B. Turn the client to a lateral position: This action prevents aspiration by keeping the airway clear if the client vomits or has excessive secretions.
C. Administer an anticonvulsant medication: Medications may be necessary later, but immediate safety and airway protection take precedence.
D. Check the client’s oxygen saturation: Monitoring oxygen saturation is important but should follow positioning to ensure airway protection.
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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 B
Explanation
A. Restrain the toddler for 1 hr after the procedure: Restraint is not appropriate post-procedure. The child should be monitored for complications but not physically restrained unless medically necessary.
B. Place the toddler in a side-lying, knee-chest position: This position flexes the spine and opens the spaces between the vertebrae, allowing for easier access to the subarachnoid space for the lumbar puncture.
C. Ask another nurse to assist with holding the toddler in a prone position: The prone position is incorrect for lumbar punctures. The side-lying, knee-chest position is standard.
D. Swaddle the toddler in a warm blanket: Swaddling may comfort the toddler but does not facilitate the lumbar puncture.