The correct action for the nurse to take when caring for a child at an urgent care clinic with severe lead poisoning is to initiate chelation therapy. Chelation therapy involves administering medication that binds to the lead in the child's body, allowing it to be excreted through urine. This helps reduce the levels of lead in the child's system and prevents further harm.
On the other hand, giving the child activated charcoal is not the appropriate action for lead poisoning. Activated charcoal is more commonly used for certain types of poisoning, like overdoses of certain medications, but it is not effective for treating lead poisoning.
Checking the child's blood glucose level every 2 hours is also not the priority in this situation. Lead poisoning primarily affects the neurological system and other organs rather than directly impacting blood glucose levels.
Limiting the child's oral fluid intake is not the recommended action for severe lead poisoning. Adequate hydration is essential for overall health and is not contraindicated in the treatment of lead poisoning.
In summary, when dealing with a child with severe lead poisoning, the nurse should prioritize initiating chelation therapy to reduce the levels of lead in the child's body and prevent further complications.
