Pediatric ATI Practice Exam

What dietary recommendation should a nurse give to the parents of a child with a blood lead level of 3 mcg/dL?

1. Decrease the child's vitamin C intake until the blood lead level decreases to zero.

2. Administer a folic acid supplement to the child each day.

3. Ensure the child's dietary intake of calcium and iron is adequate.

4. Give pancreatic enzymes to the child with meals and snacks.

The correct answer is: Ensure the child's dietary intake of calcium and iron is adequate.

When addressing a child with a blood lead level of 3 mcg/dL, it's important to focus on nutritional strategies that can help minimize lead absorption and support overall health. Ensuring that the child's dietary intake of calcium and iron is adequate is crucial because both of these minerals play significant roles in reducing lead absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Lead interferes with the body's ability to absorb essential nutrients. Adequate levels of calcium can help prevent lead from being absorbed into the bloodstream and can support bone health, while sufficient iron intake helps to reduce the risk of lead poisoning, as lead competes with iron for absorption. Promoting foods rich in these minerals, such as dairy products for calcium and meats or leafy greens for iron, can help mitigate the effects of lead exposure. The other options do not provide appropriate or effective strategies for managing lead levels in children. Reducing vitamin C intake is contrary to the fact that vitamin C can actually enhance iron absorption; thus, decreasing it may not be beneficial. Though folic acid is important for overall health, its direct effect on lead levels is limited, especially at a low lead level such as 3 mcg/dL. Lastly, administering pancreatic enzymes is not relevant in managing lead exposure and does not address the