A 5-year-old child is brought to the emergency department with copious drooling and a croaking sound on inspiration. Her mother states that the child is very agitated and only wants to sit upright
What should be the nurse's first action in this situation? a. Prepare intubation equipment and call the physician.
b. Examine the child's oropharynx and call the physician.
c. Obtain a throat culture for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
d. Obtain vital signs and listen to breath sounds.
A
The 5-year-old child has symptoms of epiglottitis, is acutely ill, and requires emergency measures. If epiglottitis is suspected, the nurse would never examine the child's throat. Inspection of the epiglottis is done only by a physician because it could trigger airway obstruction. A throat culture could precipitate a complete respiratory obstruction. Vital signs can be assessed after emergency equipment is readied.
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