For a 6-year-old presenting with cough, nasal congestion, and a rash, what is the priority intervention?

In the scenario presented, where a 6-year-old has a cough, nasal congestion, and a rash, the priority intervention is to place the child in contact isolation. This decision is based on the potential presence of a contagious illness that could be transmitted through direct or indirect contact with contaminated surfaces or secretions.

Contact isolation is crucial in preventing the spread of infections that might present with these symptoms, such as viral exanthems or bacterial infections that can manifest with respiratory symptoms and rashes. It helps to protect not only the child but also other patients and healthcare workers in the clinical environment.

Other options, such as obtaining a nasopharyngeal swab, while important for diagnosing specific infections, do not address immediate containment of potential infectious agents. Placing the child in airborne isolation would be necessary if there were strong indications of diseases transmitted through airborne particles, such as tuberculosis or varicella; however, the symptoms described do not specifically suggest these infections. Lastly, obtaining a fingerstick glucose is generally not a priority in this context, as it does not address the immediate concern of infection control related to the child's presenting symptoms.