What is the most appropriate nursing action when the nurse notes a reddened area on the forearm of a neutropenic child with leukemia?
a. Massage the area.
b. Turn the child more frequently.
c. Document the finding and continue to observe the area.
d. Notify the physician immediately.
D
Any signs of infection in a child who is immunosuppressed must be reported immediately because it is considered a medical emergency. When a child is neutropenic, pus may not be produced and the only sign of infection may be redness. In a child with neutropenia, a reddened area may be the only sign of an infection. The area should never be massaged. The forearm is not a typical pressure area; therefore, the likelihood of the redness being related to pressure is very small. The observation should be documented, but because it may be a sign of an infection and immunosuppression, the physician must also be notified.
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