After a child comes to the emergency room with aspirin overdose, the nurse should take which of following priority actions?

Explanation

•Aspirin is a poison frequently ingested by children. The immediate treatment is to remove the drug from the child’s stomach by inducing vomiting, gastric lavage, or administering activated charcoal.

•Gastric lavage and activated charcoal are the processes used in cleaning out the contents of the stomach. This is useful in removing ingested poisons.

•Administering an antacid and obtaining a urine specimen are not necessary.

•Osmotic laxatives are not used because aspirin is eliminated through the urine.

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