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 B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Administering an oral analgesic does not aid in bronchodilation and is not effective in treating laryngotracheobronchitis (Croup)10.
Choice B rationale
Assisting with racemic epinephrine nebulizer therapy is the most effective measure in aiding bronchodilation in a child with laryngotracheobronchitis (Croup). Racemic epinephrine helps reduce airway swelling and improve breathing.
Choice C rationale
Urging the child to continue to take oral fluids is important for hydration but does not directly aid in bronchodilation.
Choice D rationale
Teaching the child to take long, slow breaths can help with breathing techniques but is not the most effective measure for bronchodilation.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Auscultating for a cardiac murmur can be helpful but is not the most specific assessment for coarctation of the aorta. Murmurs can be present in various cardiac conditions.
Choice B rationale
Recording blood pressure in the upper extremities alone is not sufficient. Coarctation of the aorta often presents with a discrepancy between upper and lower extremity blood pressures.
Choice C rationale
Assessing for the presence of femoral pulses is crucial. In coarctation of the aorta, there is decreased blood flow to the lower extremities, leading to weak or absent femoral pulses.
Choice D rationale
Observing for excessive crying is non-specific and can be associated with many conditions, not just coarctation of the aorta.