Final answer:
The first intervention for a child having a seizure is to clear the area of any hazards to ensure safety before proceeding to position the child or administer medications. The correct option is A
Step-by-step explanation:
When a 3-year-old child is having a generalized seizure, the first intervention a nurse should do is: A) Clear the area of any hazards. This initial step ensures the safety of the child by preventing injury due to nearby objects. Once the environment is safe, the nurse can proceed to other interventions, such as placing the child on the side to maintain an open airway and prevent aspiration. C) Restraining the child is generally not recommended as it can cause injury and escalate the situation. Although giving the prescribed anticonvulsant like diazepam is important for seizure management, it is not the immediate first step before ensuring the child’s safety. In this scenario, the nurse should first clear the area of any hazards to ensure the safety of the child.
This might involve removing objects that the child could potentially injure themselves with during the seizure. By creating a safe environment, the risk of harm to the child is minimized. Placing the child on the side (B) is another important intervention that the nurse should do after clearing the area. This helps prevent aspiration if the child vomits during the seizure. Restraint (C) should not be the first intervention for a child having a generalized seizure, as it may cause unnecessary harm. The nurse should only restrain the child if it becomes absolutely necessary for their safety or the safety of others. Lastly, giving the prescribed anticonvulsant (D) would likely be done by a healthcare provider, such as a doctor or paramedic, rather than the nurse.