Final answer:
Postoperative care for a toddler following cleft palate repair should include managing pain with prescribed opioids. The care plan should be designed to protect the surgical site and aid healing, and other actions like suctioning secretions and changing oral packing should be guided by the surgeon's instructions.
Step-by-step explanation:
When caring for a toddler postoperative following a cleft palate repair, it is essential to follow precise postoperative care protocols to ensure safe and effective healing. The correct action from the options provided would be:
- Administer opioids for mouth pain: Managing the child's pain after surgery is crucial, and opioids are often prescribed for severe pain following such operations.
Keeping the toddler NPO (nothing by mouth) might be required for a specific period postoperatively, but not necessarily for 24 hours. The time frame would be directed by the surgeon based on the procedure and the child's condition. The use of a bulb syringe to suction oral secretions should be done cautiously, as aggressive or frequent suctioning can disrupt the surgical site. Changing oral packing is typically not done as frequently as every 6 hours, and this task would require specific orders from the surgeon based on the individual case.