A 2-month-old presents to the pediatric clinic with a cough with crowing at the end, coryza, and vomiting. The diagnosis is whooping cough, and the child is taken immediately to the pediatric unit at the nearby hospital

Question

The nurse explains the plan of care for the infant to the mother. The nurse should say: (Select all that apply.) 1. "Feedings will be small in an attempt to keep the infant from vomiting.".
2. "We will be watching how the infant breathes and will provide extra support if needed.".
3. "We plan to wake the infant every hour in order to assess and feed the infant to make sure that he/she is getting enough calories.".
4. "Cool mist humidification will be continuous to help keep the fever down.".
5. "An IV will be placed for antibiotics.".

Answer 1

1, 2, 5
Feedback
1. Small, frequent feedings will decrease the chance for an emesis when the infant coughs.
2. Respiratory compromise occurs with whooping cough. It is important to provide support if needed.
3. Letting the infant rest is important to help with the healing process.
4. Cool mist humidification is used for keeping secretions thin, not for fever reduction.
5. IV antibiotics are an effective treatment for this disease process.