A nurse is assisting with planning care for a school-age child on the pediatric unit. Exhibits Complete the following sentence by using the lists of options. The nurse should plan to dropdownfollowed bydropdown
Explanation & Rationale
Rationale for Correct Choices: Inspect the child's oropharynx: The child has bright red emesis and a history of frequent throat clearing, with visible bleeding in the posterior pharynx. This raises concern for post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage, a serious complication. Immediate inspection of the oropharynx helps assess the severity and source of the bleeding. Obtaining a set of vital signs: After confirming bleeding, it is crucial to assess hemodynamic stability. The child’s heart rate is elevated (120/min) and hemoglobin is low (8.8 g/dL), suggesting possible blood loss. Repeat vital signs will help determine the urgency of medical intervention. Rationale for Incorrect Choices: Offer the child a red popsicle: Red-colored foods or drinks are contraindicated post-tonsillectomy because they can be mistaken for blood in vomit or secretions. This could delay recognizing true hemorrhage. Place the child in a supine position: Supine positioning can increase the risk of aspiration of blood. The child should be positioned upright or side-lying to promote drainage and reduce aspiration risk. Requesting a prescription for codeine: Codeine is not recommended in children post-tonsillectomy due to the risk of respiratory depression. It is contraindicated for pediatric pain control in this context. Encouraging the child to cough and deep breathe: Coughing may aggravate bleeding in a post-tonsillectomy patient and should be avoided when active hemorrhage is suspected.