Question

The nurse assists in monitoring for early signs of meningitis in a child and attempts to elicit Kernig's sign. Which is the appropriate procedure to elicit Kernig's sign?

a. Flex the child's neck and observe for pain or resistance
b. Extend the child's leg at the knee and observe for pain or resistance
c. Rotate the child's shoulder and observe for pain or resistance
d. Abduct the child's arm and observe for pain or resistance

Answer 1

Kernig's sign is elicited by extending the child's leg at the knee while the hip is flexed at a 90-degree angle, checking for pain or resistance.

Step-by-step explanation:

To elicit Kernig's sign, which is associated with meningitis, the appropriate procedure is to extend the child's leg at the knee and observe for pain or resistance. This is done while the child is lying flat with the hip flexed at a 90-degree angle. If pain and increased resistance occur when attempting to straighten the knee, this indicates a positive Kernig's sign, which could be suggestive of meningitis.