HESI 799 RN Exit Exam Quizlet Related

Review HESI 799 RN Exit Exam Quizlet related questions and content

The mother of an adolescent tells the clinic nurse, 'My son has athlete's foot. I have been applying triple antibiotic ointment for two days, but there has been no improvement.' What instruction should the nurse provide?

  • A. Antibiotics take two weeks to become effective against fungal infections like athlete's foot.
  • B. Continue using the ointment for a full week, even after the symptoms disappear.
  • C. Applying too much ointment can reduce its effectiveness. Apply a thin layer to prevent maceration.
  • D. Stop using the ointment and encourage complete drying of the feet and wearing clean socks.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) is a fungal infection, not a bacterial infection that would respond to antibiotics. The primary management involves keeping the feet well-ventilated, dry after bathing, and wearing clean socks to prevent moisture buildup, which promotes fungal growth. Using an antibiotic ointment like triple antibiotic ointment is not effective for treating athlete's foot. Therefore, the nurse should advise the mother to stop using the antibiotic ointment and focus on promoting proper foot hygiene to manage the fungal infection. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect as they do not address the fungal nature of athlete's foot and the ineffectiveness of antibiotic ointments in its treatment.