A nurse is caring for an 8-year-old child who has acute rheumatic fever.Which of the following assessments is the nurse’s priority immediately after admission?

The correct answer is Choice A.Choice A rationaleAuscultating the rate and characteristics of the child’s heart sounds is the priority assessment. Acute rheumatic fever can lead to carditis, which affects the heart valves and can cause new or changed heart murmurs.Choice B rationaleAssessing the client’s erythematous rash is important but not the priority. The rash is a common symptom but does not indicate the severity of the condition.Choice C rationaleIdentifying the degree of parental anxiety is important for providing holistic care but is not the immediate priority in assessing the child’s physical condition.Choice D rationaleUsing a pain-rating tool to determine the severity of joint pain is important for managing symptoms but is not the priority assessment upon admission.