A nurse is assessing a child brought to the emergency department ...

[mia]

A nurse is assessing a child brought to the emergency department with a submersion injury. The assessment should focus on which system?
 
  a. Cardiovascular
  b. Respiratory
  c. Neurological
  d. Gastrointestinal

Question 2

What would be the best approach for preventing absorption in an 18-month-old child who has swallowed over-the-counter antihistamine tablets 30 minutes ago?
 
  a. Diluting the toxic substance with water or milk
  b. Administering naloxone
  c. Administering activated charcoal with a oral syringe
  d. Administering ipecac syrup

[elizabethrperez]

Answer to Question 1

B
Assessment of the child with a submersion injury focuses on the respiratory system. Airway and breathing are the priorities. Cardiovascular assessment is secondary to airway and breathing. Preventing neurological impairment is a goal of intervention. Because the primary problem in submersion injuries is hypoxia, the focus of assessment is the respiratory system. Gastrointestinal assessment would be less of a priority than assessment of other body systems.

Answer to Question 2

C
Activated charcoal has become the recommended treatment for acute poisonings in the pediatric population and is most effective when administered within 60 minutes of ingestion. Dilution is used for acid or alkali ingestions. Naloxone (Narcan) is the antidote for an opioid overdose. It is not indicated for use in ingestion of antihistamine tablets. Ipecac is no longer recommended as the first line of treatment for treating accidental ingestions.