Pediatric ATI Practice Exam

When administering an immunization to a four-year-old child, which action should the nurse take?

1. Place the child in a prone position for the immunization

2. Request that the child's caregiver leave the room during the immunization

3. Administer the immunization using a 24-gauge needle

4. Inject the immunization slowly after aspirating for 3 seconds

The correct answer is: Administer the immunization using a 24-gauge needle

When administering an immunization to a four-year-old child, using a 24-gauge needle is appropriate for several reasons. A 24-gauge needle is often suitable for pediatric patients due to its smaller diameter, which can minimize discomfort during the injection. This is particularly important for young children, who may have a heightened fear of needles and pain. Administering immunizations in a minimally painful manner can help in reducing anxiety and creating a more positive health care experience. Choosing the right gauge for the needle is essential to ensure effective delivery of the vaccine into the muscle without causing unnecessary trauma to the tissue. In young children, intramuscular injections are typically administered in areas such as the deltoid or anterolateral thigh muscle, and using an appropriate gauge helps to achieve this effectively. Other options present actions that may not align with best practices for administering immunizations to children. For example, placing a child in a prone position is not typical for intramuscular injections, as a sitting or lying down position may provide better access and security. Additionally, having the caregiver leave the room could cause stress and anxiety for the child, as the presence of the caregiver often helps comfort and reassure the child. Lastly, the practice of aspirating the