HESI 799 RN Exit Exam Quizlet Related

Review HESI 799 RN Exit Exam Quizlet related questions and content

A mother brings her 6-year-old child, who has just stepped on a rusty nail, to the pediatrician's office. Upon inspection, the nurse notes that the nail went through the shoe and pierced the bottom of the child's foot. Which action should the nurse implement first?

  • A. Cleanse the foot with soap and water and apply an antibiotic ointment
  • B. Provide teaching about the need for a tetanus booster within the next 72 hours.
  • C. Have the mother check the child's temperature every 4 hours for the next 24 hours
  • D. Transfer the child to the emergency department to receive a gamma globulin injection
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct first action for the nurse to implement is to cleanse the foot with soap and water and apply an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. In cases of puncture wounds like stepping on a rusty nail, the immediate concern is to reduce the risk of infection. Providing teaching about the need for a tetanus booster within the next 72 hours is important as well, but it should come after the wound is cleansed. Checking the child's temperature and transferring to the emergency department for a gamma globulin injection are not the immediate priorities in this scenario.