A Day at the Clinic – Risk Identification and Treatment Options for Respiratory Illnesses

A Day at the Clinic – Risk Identification and Treatment Options for Respiratory Illnesses

Priority Vital Sign Measurement

The measurement that has the highest priority and should be reported immediately is the oxygen saturation of 90%. This reading is critical because it indicates hypoxemia, which can lead to severe complications if not addressed promptly. Oxygen saturation below 95% is concerning in children, and a reading of 90% suggests that the child is not getting enough oxygen, which could lead to respiratory distress or failure (Hafen & Sharma, 2022). Immediate intervention, such as supplemental oxygen, is necessary to prevent further deterioration.

Additional Information for RN

Additional information that would be helpful to report to the RN includes the child’s level of consciousness, the presence of any labored breathing or retractions, and whether the child is cyanotic (showing a bluish color around the lips or fingertips). These observations would help the RN assess the severity of the respiratory compromise and decide on the need for emergency interventions.

Assessment of Abnormal Vital Signs

The four abnormal vital sign readings are as follows:

• Temperature: The normal range is 97.9°F to 99.0°F. The child’s temperature is 102.2°F, indicating a fever.
• Heart rate: The normal range for a three-year-old is 80-120 beats per minute. The child’s heart rate is 125, which is slightly tachycardic.
• Respiratory rate: The normal range is 20-30 breaths per minute. The child’s respiratory rate is 28, on the higher end but still within the range (Sapra et al., 2023).
• Oxygen saturation: The normal range is 95-100%. The child’s oxygen saturation is 90%, indicating hypoxemia.

Anticipated Treatments and Prioritization

Treatment for the low oxygen saturation would involve administering supplemental oxygen, which should be given first due to the immediate risk of hypoxemia. The fever can be treated with antipyretics such as acetaminophen, which will help reduce the fever and make the child more comfortable (Weekley & Bland, 2023).

Considerations for the Infant

Given the age of the four-month-old baby, we should be more concerned about the baby’s sniffles. Infants are at higher risk for severe respiratory illnesses due to their underdeveloped immune systems and smaller airways. Close monitoring of the baby’s condition is essential, and it may be prudent for the physician to assess the baby despite the mother’s reassurance.

References

Hafen, B. B., & Sharma, S. (2022, November 23). Oxygen saturation. National Library of Medicine; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525974/

Sapra, A., Malik, A., & Bhandari, P. (2023). Vital sign assessment. National Library of Medicine; StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553213/

Weekley, M. S., & Bland, L. E. (2023). Oxygen administration. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551617/

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Purpose of Assignment: To identify risks and treatment options for respiratory illnesses.

Scenario:

You are one of the LPNs on duty at the clinic today. It has been very busy; it is cold and flu season. There have been so many kids in with respiratory illnesses that there is a designated LPN in charge of getting them all checked in. That is your role today: you will be taking vital signs, obtaining weights, and alerting the RN to any child with abnormal vital signs.

Risk Identification and Treatment Options for Respiratory Illnesses

Your call the next child back to the treatment room for vital signs and a weight. This little one is three years old. He was brought in by his mom who says he has had a cough and sniffles for two days. Mom is also carrying a baby who she says is four-months-old. Mom says the baby has sniffles too, but she does not think the doctor needs to see the baby. The baby is sleeping when you call back the other child.

This is the data you collected from the three-year-old child:

Temperature- 102.2 F orally (above normal range)

Heart rate- 125 (above normal range)

Blood pressure- 100/60 (within normal range)

Respiratory rate- 28 (above normal range)

Oxygen saturation- 90% (below normal range)

Weight- 28 pounds (within normal range)

Instructions:

Using the above scenario, answer the following questions:

There are four measurements above that are abnormal and will be reported to the RN. Which measurement has the highest priority and should be reported immediately? Explain your response.
What additional information will be helpful to report to the RN regarding this priority concern? Explain your response and include what your findings might be.
There are four vital sign readings that are abnormal. What is the normal range for each finding? What treatments would be anticipated for the oxygen saturation and the temperature? Which treatment will be given first? Explain your response.
Additionally, since Mom reported that the four-month-old baby has sniffles. Should we be more or less concerned about this based on the child’s age? Explain your response.