Pediatric ATI Practice Exam

When assessing a 3-year-old with recurrent otitis media, which question is most relevant for the nurse to ask?

1. Does the child sleep with a night light?

2. How often does the child eat sweets?

3. Does anyone smoke around, or in the same house as, the child?

4. Is the child experiencing any behavioral issues?

The correct answer is: Does anyone smoke around, or in the same house as, the child?

Asking whether anyone smokes around or in the same house as the child is particularly relevant when assessing a 3-year-old with recurrent otitis media. Exposure to secondhand smoke is a well-established risk factor for ear infections in children. It can lead to inflammation and dysfunction of the Eustachian tube, increasing the likelihood of fluid accumulation in the middle ear, which is a primary cause of otitis media. In children, especially those under 5 years of age, their anatomy makes them more susceptible to ear infections, and environmental factors like exposure to tobacco smoke can exacerbate this condition. Therefore, understanding the child's environment, particularly if there are smokers present, helps the nurse to assess potential contributing factors to the child’s recurrent infections effectively. Other questions, while they may be important for different aspects of health and development, do not directly relate to the etiology or exacerbation of recurrent otitis media. For example, questions about sleep habits or dietary choices, like eating sweets, do not have a direct causal link to ear infections. Similarly, behavioral issues may be significant in a broader scope of child development but are not specifically tied to the recurrence of otitis media.