Question

A mother brings her 5-month-old daughter into the pediatrician's office with complaints that the child has been vomiting during feedings. The mother also states that the child is sometimes very fussy. The nurse's initial action would be to:

a) Perform a physical examination
b) Recommend a change in formula
c) Order imaging studies
d) Provide reassurance and send them home

Answer 1

The initial action a nurse should take when a child presents with vomiting and fussiness is to perform a physical examination to assess the child's condition.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student asks about the initial action a nurse should take when presented with a 5-month-old who is vomiting during feedings and showing signs of fussiness. The correct answer is that the nurse's initial action would be to perform a physical examination. This step is crucial to gather more information about the child's condition and to rule out or identify any possible physical causes of the symptoms. This approach is consistent with the clinical focus examples provided, such as the case where a physician investigates swollen lymph nodes, abdominal swelling, and other symptoms to determine the cause of illness in patients.

Changing a formula or sending the patient home without a thorough assessment could overlook a potentially serious condition, and ordering imaging studies may not be the immediate step without first examining the patient.