Practice Question
A nurse in the emergency department is preparing to discharge a 3-year-old child.
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
"You should cut and file your child's fingernails frequently"
Rationale:
🎯 A. Cut and file your child's fingernails frequently
🌿 Short, smooth fingernails help prevent skin trauma from scratching, which can lead to excoriation, bleeding, and secondary bacterial infection (often by Staphylococcus aureus).
🌿 This is especially important in toddlers who may scratch during sleep, leading to further inflammation and worsening of lesions.
🌿 Filing nails instead of clipping can avoid sharp edges, which further protects the epidermal barrier in children with sensitive skin.
🎯 B. Use a mild detergent for laundry
🌿 Harsh detergents often contain fragrances and dyes, which can act as irritants or allergens, triggering eczema flare-ups.
🌿 Mild, fragrance-free detergents are less likely to leave residues on clothing that aggravate skin.
🌿 This is part of environmental control, especially important for children with atopic conditions, including allergic rhinitis, as in this case.
🎯 D. Your child will experience occasional flare-ups
🌿 Atopic dermatitis is a chronic relapsing condition, meaning that even with good management, periodic exacerbations are expected.
🌿 Triggers such as dry weather, allergens, infections, stress, or new skin products can cause these flare-ups.
🌿 Educating the caregiver that flare-ups are normal and manageable reduces anxiety and promotes long-term adherence to therapy.
🎯 F. You can apply gloves to your child’s hands
🌿 Wearing cotton mittens or gloves at night prevents involuntary scratching during sleep, which can worsen lesions and delay healing.
🌿 This intervention is especially useful in toddlers who may not understand verbal instructions to avoid scratching.
🌿 Gloves also help to preserve skin integrity and reduce the chance of infection and scarring.
🎯 G. Apply emollients after bathing
🌿 Emollients (moisturizers) are essential in atopic dermatitis to restore the skin barrier, which is often compromised and dry.
🌿 Applying them immediately after bathing helps trap moisture in the skin, a practice known as the “soak and seal” method.
🌿 Frequent application, especially after water exposure, is key to preventing trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and maintaining hydration.
Want to practice more questions like this?
This question is from RN ATI Pediatric Nursing~2023 Exam 3 which contains 55 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: ATI Exam(s)
- Domain: RN ATI Pediatrics
- Answer Choices: 7