A home health nurse is providing teaching about post seizure management to the parents of a school-age child who has epilepsy and experiences tonic-clonic seizures. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching? (Select all that apply.)
Explanation & Rationale
A. "Hyperextend your child's head for 5 minutes following a seizure." Hyperextension can obstruct the airway. Instead, place the child in a side-lying position to maintain an open airway. B. "Immediately following a seizure, give your child 6 ounces of water." Do not give anything orally until the child is fully awake and the gag reflex has returned to avoid aspiration. C. "Following a seizure, record the length and characteristics of your child's seizure." Important for tracking seizure activity and evaluating treatment effectiveness. D. "Administer rectal diazepam to your child following a seizure." Rectal diazepam may be prescribed for prolonged or clustered seizures, especially at home. E. "Call for emergency medical services if the size of your child's pupils are unequal after a seizure." Unequal pupils post-seizure may indicate increased intracranial pressure or brain injury and warrant immediate medical attention.