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
The inability to stand upright without support at 15 months is a developmental delay that should be reported to the provider. By this age, most toddlers can stand and walk independently. Delays in motor skills can indicate underlying neurological or musculoskeletal issues.
Choice B rationale
Building a tower of six to seven cubes is a skill typically developed by 24 months. At 15 months, a toddler may only be able to stack two to three cubes.
Choice C rationale
Jumping with both feet is a skill that develops around 24 to 36 months. It is not expected for a 15-month-old toddler to be able to jump with both feet.
Choice D rationale
Turning a doorknob is a fine motor skill that develops around 24 to 36 months. It is not expected for a 15-month-old toddler to have this skill.
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.