What intervention should a nurse take when they notice increased stridor in a child with epiglottitis immediately following the parent's departure?

The appropriate intervention when noticing increased stridor in a child with epiglottitis is to call for an emergency intervention. Stridor can indicate airway obstruction, which is particularly critical in a child diagnosed with epiglottitis, a potentially life-threatening condition where the epiglottis swells and blocks the airway.

Immediate action is crucial in such situations to ensure the child's safety and to prevent respiratory distress. Monitoring the respiratory rate alone may not be sufficient, as it does not address the urgency of the situation—stridor indicates that the child may need immediate medical assistance to maintain a patent airway.

Encouraging play to distract the child could lead to increased anxiety or physical activity, which may worsen the respiratory status, and speaking softly to the child, while comforting, does not address the immediate medical need for intervention. The urgency of managing airway compromise outweighs the benefits of these less proactive measures. Thus, recognizing stridor in this context requires swift action to call for emergency help.