Question

The nurse is caring for a child with widespread itching and has recommended bathing as a treatment to relieve the itching. Which of the following responses from the mother indicates a need for further instruction?

A) ""After bathing, I need to rub his skin everywhere to make sure he is completely dry.""
B) ""I should use lukewarm water instead of hot.""
C) ""Oatmeal baths are helpful; we can add Aveeno skin relief bath treatment.""
D) ""We should leave his skin moist prior to applying medication or moisturizer.""

Answer 1

The mother's statement A about rubbing the skin dry indicates the need for further instruction, as this can irritate the skin further. The other statements are correct, addressing the use of lukewarm water, oatmeal baths, and the application of moisturizer on moist skin.

Step-by-step explanation:

The response from the mother that indicates a need for further instruction on how to bathe her child to relieve widespread itching is

A) "After bathing, I need to rub his skin everywhere to make sure he is completely dry." Rubbing the skin vigorously after bathing can potentially irritate itchy skin further. Instead, the skin should be patted gently with a towel to avoid exacerbating the itchiness and potential skin damage. Warm, not hot, water is advisable, as indicated by the mother's correct statement in

B) "I should use lukewarm water instead of hot." Oatmeal baths, such as an Aveeno skin relief bath treatment mentioned in

C), can indeed be soothing for itchy skin. Lastly, leaving the skin slightly moist before applying medication or moisturizer as stated in

D) helps in the absorption of these topical treatments and retains skin moisture.