What is the best action for a nurse when admitting a toddler with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)?

When caring for a toddler admitted with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), maintaining close monitoring of the child's temperature is crucial for assessing any changes in their condition. Keeping a thermometer in the child’s room allows for regular checks to monitor for fever or any other potential complications that could arise due to the virus, such as worsening respiratory distress or secondary infections. Additionally, fever management may be required based on the child's presenting symptoms, so having easy access to a thermometer can support timely intervention if the child's temperature rises.

Although other options like using a humidifier or administering bronchodilators may offer benefits in specific contexts, they are not the first-line priorities in the admission phase for a child specifically diagnosed with RSV. Initiating contact precautions is important for infection control, but RSV is primarily spread through respiratory droplets, so droplet precautions are typically more relevant than contact precautions alone without additional risk factors. Thus, regular temperature monitoring stands out as the fundamental nursing action in managing a toddler with RSV upon admission.