Pediatric HESI Test Bank Related

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How does the nurse assess a child's capillary refill time?

  • A. Inspecting the chest
  • B. Auscultating the heart
  • C. Palpating the apical pulse
  • D. Palpating the skin to produce a slight blanching
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Capillary refill time is a clinical assessment used to evaluate peripheral perfusion. To perform this assessment on a child, the nurse would gently press on the child's nail bed or skin, causing the area to momentarily blanch (turn white) as blood is temporarily forced out of the capillaries. Once pressure is released, the nurse observes and times how quickly the color returns to normal. A normal capillary refill time in a child is less than 2 seconds. This method helps the nurse determine if the child's peripheral circulation is adequate. Inspecting the chest (choice A), auscultating the heart (choice B), and palpating the apical pulse (choice C) are not appropriate methods for assessing capillary refill time.