A nurse is caring for a child who has a suspected diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Which of the following actions is the nurse’s priority?
Obtain blood cultures.
Administer an intravenous antibiotic.
Prepare the child for a lumbar puncture.
Place the child in isolation.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A rationale
Obtaining blood cultures is important for identifying the causative organism, but it should be done immediately before or concurrently with the administration of antibiotics.
Choice B rationale
Administering an intravenous antibiotic is the priority action for a child with suspected bacterial meningitis. Early administration of antibiotics is crucial to treat the infection and prevent complications such as brain swelling and seizures.
Choice C rationale
Preparing the child for a lumbar puncture is necessary for diagnosing meningitis, but it should not delay the administration of antibiotics.
Choice D rationale
Placing the child in isolation is important to prevent the spread of infection, but it is not the immediate priority over administering antibiotics.
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Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale
A sputum culture can help identify respiratory infections but is not definitive for diagnosing cystic fibrosis.
Choice B rationale
Stool fat content analysis can indicate malabsorption issues but is not specific to cystic fibrosis.
Choice C rationale
Pulmonary function tests assess lung function but do not confirm a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis.
Choice D rationale
The sweat chloride test is the gold standard for diagnosing cystic fibrosis. It measures the concentration of chloride in sweat, which is elevated in individuals with cystic fibrosis due to defective chloride transport in sweat glands.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Tugging on the affected ear lobe is a common sign of otitis media in children. This behavior is often observed because the child is experiencing discomfort or pain in the ear, and tugging or pulling on the ear lobe is a way to express or alleviate that discomfort.
Choice B rationale
Erythema and edema of the affected ear are not typical findings in otitis media. These symptoms are more commonly associated with external ear infections, such as otitis externa.
Choice C rationale
Pain when manipulating the affected ear lobe is more indicative of otitis externa rather than otitis media. Otitis media involves the middle ear, and manipulation of the ear lobe does not typically cause pain.
Choice D rationale
Clear drainage from the affected ear is not a typical finding in otitis media. If there is drainage, it is usually purulent (pus-like) and indicates a more severe infection or a ruptured eardrum.