Pediatric ATI Practice Exam

What should a nurse do to reduce a toddler's temperature after administering acetaminophen for acute otitis media?

1. Apply a cooling blanket

2. Dress the toddler in minimal clothing

3. Give the toddler a tepid bath

4. Administer diphenhydramine

The correct answer is: Dress the toddler in minimal clothing

Dressing the toddler in minimal clothing is an effective way to help reduce a fever. When the body temperature rises, wearing lightweight clothing allows for better heat dissipation. This practice helps prevent overheating while the toddler's body works to regulate its temperature. It is important to keep the child comfortable, and minimal clothing provides an environment that promotes cooling. Applying a cooling blanket, giving a tepid bath, or administering diphenhydramine may have other clinical indications, but they are not the most appropriate first-line strategies for temperature management in a toddler following acetaminophen administration. Cooling blankets can be too aggressive and uncomfortable for young children, while tepid baths may not be well-tolerated, and diphenhydramine is an antihistamine that does not directly address fever reduction. Thus, minimizing clothing is a simple and effective method to support the child’s comfort and temperature regulation during febrile illnesses.