What is the initial action the nurse should take for a child bitten by a rabid animal?

The initial action a nurse should take for a child bitten by a rabid animal is to cleanse the wound with soap and water. This step is crucial as it significantly reduces the risk of infection and helps remove any saliva or potential rabies virus that could be present in the bite wound. Immediate and thorough cleansing of the wound is a fundamental step in managing animal bites and is recommended by health authorities for rabies exposure.

While assessing the wound, obtaining antibiotics, and reporting to animal control are important components of overall care, they are secondary to the immediate need to clean the wound. Proper cleansing initiates the process of limiting the potential for virus entry and prepares the wound for further medical evaluation and treatment as necessary.