Final answer:
The correct action for a nurse caring for a 6-month-old infant with intussusception is to prepare the infant for immediate surgery to correct the intestinal blockage and to prevent serious complications. Laxatives, solid foods, and antacids are not appropriate treatments for this condition.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a nurse is caring for a 6-month-old infant who has intussusception, the appropriate action would typically be to prepare the infant for immediate surgery (option B). Intussusception is a serious condition where a part of the intestine slides into an adjacent part of the intestine, similar to the way the parts of a telescope slide into one another. This can lead to a blockage that prevents the normal movement of food and fluids through the intestines, and it can cut off the blood supply to the affected part of the intestine, which requires prompt medical intervention.
Option A, administering a laxative, is not appropriate as it can worsen the condition. Option C, encouraging parents to feed the infant solid foods, is contraindicated as the infant would struggle to digest these due to the blockage. Option D, administering an antacid, is irrelevant to the treatment of intussusception.
Surgery to correct intussusception is often necessary to prevent complications such as infection, perforation of the intestine, and peritonitis. In some cases, a non-surgical procedure involving an enema can be used to try and reduce the intussusception, but this is typically performed under medical supervision, not by a nurse. The primary concern is to address the immediate danger posed by the intussusception.