Question

A nurse is planning developmental activities for a newly admitted 10-year-old child who has neutropenia. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take?

A. Encourage participation in team sports.
B. Provide a pet therapy session.
C. Implement strict isolation precautions.
D. Schedule group play activities.

Answer 1

The nurse should implement strict isolation precautions for the 10-year-old child with neutropenia, avoiding activities like team sports, pet therapy, and group play which increase infection risk.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse planning developmental activities for a 10-year-old child with neutropenia should choose options that minimize the risk of infection due to the child's compromised immune system. In this context, the appropriate action would be C. Implement strict isolation precautions. Activities involving close contact or exposure to pathogens, such as team sports, pet therapy, and group play, should be avoided. Instead, the nurse should provide activities that the child can enjoy while in isolation, such as video games, books, or crafts that can be easily disinfected.

To prevent infection from spreading, like with Marisa in isolation, stringent hand hygiene practices should be followed. The ANC test, as with the patient whose neutrophil count was 1900 cells per microliter, helps indicate whether the immune system can handle further stressors such as chemotherapy, helping healthcare providers decide on treatment plans.