The nurse is planning care for a school-age child with bacterial meningitis.What intervention should be included?
A) Keep environmental stimuli to a minimum.
B) Have the child move her head from side to side at least every 2 hours.
C) Avoid giving pain medications that could dull sensorium.
D) Measure head circumference to assess developing complications.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The room is kept as quiet as possible and environmental stimuli are kept to a minimum.Most children with meningitis are sensitive to noise,bright lights,and other external stimuli.The nuchal rigidity associated with meningitis would make moving the head from side to side a painful intervention.If pain is present,the child should be treated appropriately.Failure to treat can cause increased intracranial pressure.In this age group,the head circumference does not change.Signs of increased intracranial pressure would need to be assessed.

The Nurse Is Planning Care for a School-Age Child with Bacterial