The nurse is performing discharge teaching for the parents of a child who had a tonsillectomy. Which of the following instructions would be most appropriate to include?

Question

A) "Call the doctor immediately if you see dark reddish-brown blood in his vomit."
B) "Get him to drink orange juice or iced tea to help soothe his sore throat."
C) "Try using an ice collar or ice chips to make him more comfortable."
D) "Encourage him to cough and clear his throat to remove any dried mucus."

Answer 1

C
Response:
An ice collar can help alleviate pain and ice chips are soothing to the throat. Some dark old blood may be noted in the child's vomitus, and this is normal, but the appearance of bright red blood should be reported immediately. Citrus juice and brown or red fluids should be avoided because the acid in citrus juice may irritate the throat and red or brown fluids may be confused with blood if vomiting occurs. To avoid trauma to the surgical site, the child should be discouraged from coughing, clearing the throat, blowing the nose, and using straws.