A child is in the emergency department (ED)with a dog bite.After cleansing the wound and attending to the child's comfort,which action should the nurse perform next?
A) Give a dose of antibiotic.
B) Offer the child a toy to play with.
C) Provide discharge teaching.
D) Report the bite to authorities.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Animal bites are reportable injuries.The nurse has an obligation to report the bite as soon as he or she is able,as the animal control authorities may want to interview the child and parents quickly.Antibiotics are not warranted in all dog bites.Discharge teaching should be provided when the family is done in the ED.Offering the child a toy is a nice gesture that could be considered a comfort measure,but does not take priority over a legal requirement.

A Child Is in the Emergency Department (ED)with a Dog