Question

Chapter 48: Nursing Care of the Child With an Immunologic Disorder

2. LaWanda Green, 9 months old, is brought to the emergency department by her grandparents. She has red, raised bumps on her chest and back. Her grandmother states that LaWanda became very fussy and that is when they noticed the bumps. (Learning Objectives 1, 3, 4, and 8)

a. What would be the emergency department nurse’s priority assessments? What other assessments should be made?

b. What information would be important to include in the health history?

c. What discharge teaching should be done with LaWanda and her grandparents?

Answer 1

ANSWER a) Immunologically infants are compromised and may develop signs of infection soon. The nurse in the emergency department should assess the child's body temperature which may help to assess if the child is encountering any infections. Child's respirations and also development growth or milestones according to age should be checked.

Answer b) The health history should include the information if child had any episode of fever, flu like symptoms. The grandparents should be enquired if the child was vaccinated recently, the recent places of visit. food given to child, hygiene practices of the family, any drug administration done and also if the caregivers have any infectious disease on going in the family.

Answer c) The health education to be given to her grandparents are:

• Adequate hand hygiene and other infection control measures.
• Timely vaccination and its expected outcomes.
• Limited visitors.
• Avoid exposure to allergans like dust, extremes of temperature.
• Avoiding contact with infected caregiver who has a disease condition that may spread through air, droplet, or contact.
• Education on recognizing early signs of infections.
• Administration of prescribed medications.
• Followup visit as advised by the physician.