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 A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Rheumatic fever is often preceded by a streptococcal infection, such as strep throat. A sibling with a sore throat 3 weeks ago could have had a strep infection, which is a significant risk factor for developing rheumatic fever.
Choice B rationale
Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus and is not related to rheumatic fever, which is a complication of streptococcal infections.
Choice C rationale
Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining and is not associated with rheumatic fever.
Choice D rationale
Fifth disease is caused by parvovirus B19 and is not related to rheumatic fever.
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.