Question

The nurse is providing home care instructions to the mother of a child who is recovering from Reye's syndrome. Which instruction should the nurse provide to the mother?

1. Increase stimuli in the home environment.
2. Avoid daytime naps so that the child will sleep at night.
3. Give the child frequent small meals, if vomiting occurs.
4. Check the skin and eyes every day for a yellow discoloration.

Answer 1

The nurse should instruct the mother to give the child recovering from Reye's syndrome frequent small meals if vomiting occurs, as proper nutrition and hydration are vital during recovery.

Step-by-step explanation:

When caring for a child recovering from Reye's syndrome, it is essential that the nurse provide accurate and supportive guidance to the mother for the child's continued recovery. The most appropriate instruction to give the mother in this situation would be to give the child frequent small meals, if vomiting occurs. This approach helps manage the symptoms of nausea and reduces the risk of dehydration. Ensuring the child receives adequate nutrition and hydration without overwhelming their digestive system is crucial during the recovery phase of Reye's syndrome. High stimuli environments, avoiding daytime naps, and checking for yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes (a sign of jaundice) are not directly related to the management of Reye's syndrome post-recovery.