Health Promotion and Maintenance
30. The mother of a child asks a clinic nurse how to safety-proof the home. What should the nurse recognize as the most effective means to prevent accidental poisoning?
Health Promotion and Maintenance
30. The mother of a child asks a clinic nurse how to safety-proof the home. What should the nurse recognize as the most effective means to prevent accidental poisoning?
. Keep the Poison Control Center phone number near the phone.
. Store poisons in the garage rather than in the home.
. Scan the home from the child's eye level and remove accessible toxins.
. Tell children where toxic substances are kept and instruct them not to go there.
Test-Taking Tip
The best way to prevent ingestions is to keep harmful substances out of the reach of children. Choose the option that has the greatest likelihood of accomplishing this goal.
Content Area: Child Health, Poisoning; Integrated Process: Nursing Process, Implementation; Cognitive Level: Application; Client Need/Subneed: Safe and Effective Care Environment/Safety and Infection Control/Home Safety
Health Promotion and Maintenance
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Answer 1 is incorrect because, although this is the proper place to post the Poison Control Center phone number, having the number does not prevent ingestion from taking place. Answer 2 is incorrect because children may come into contact with poisonous substances in the garage just as easily as they do in the home. Answer 3 is correct because the parents should bend down and view the home from the child's eye level to better examine potential access to poisonous substances. This includes checking all storage areas inside and outside the home that are easily accessible and those that may be reached by children when climbing. Answer 4 is incorrect because simply instructing children to stay away from poisonous substances will not ensure they follow these instructions and might in fact increase the curiosity of children.