Introduction: This article will discuss the case study of Liam, a three-month-old boy who is transferred from the family doctor to the pediatric ward suffering from bronchiolitis. Liam's major health problems will initially be identified, followed by nursing assessment and diagnosis of the child's needs. The focus will be on the management of two important health problems: respiratory distress and dehydration, and on the synthesis and evaluation of interventions with evidence of learning. Finally, there will be a conclusion of the author's self-evaluation. Identifying specific key issues: Liam is a previously healthy boy who has suffered from a runny nose, intermittent cough, and poor nutrition for the past four days. His positive nasopharyngeal aspirate result for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) indicates that Liam has acute bronchiolitis which is a viral infection (Glasper & Richardson, 2010). “Bronchiolitis is the most common reason for hospitalization in the first 6 months of life. It describes a clinical syndrome characterized by cough, tachypnea, difficulty feeding and inspiratory crackles on auscultation of the chest” (Fitzgerald, 2011, p.160). Bronchiolitis can cause breathing difficulty and desaturation (91% in room air) in Liam due to blockage of the airway; therefore the child appears to have an enlarged nose, intercostal and subcostal retractions, and tachypnea (54 breaths/min) during breathing (Glasper & Richardson, 2010). Tachycardia (152 beats/min) may occur due to hypoxemia and the compensatory mechanism for low blood pressure (74/46 mmHg) (Fitzgerald, 2011; Glasper & Richardson, 2010). Additionally, Liam has fever and conjunctival injection which may be the result of an infection, as evidenced by elevated temperature (38.6°C) and bilateral tympanic membrane......middle of paper..... ..) and dehydration (e.g. sunken fontanel, dry mucous membranes, decreased urine production and intolerance to oral fluids), participate in treatment and reduce anxiety/stress during Liam's hospitalization (Axton & Fugate 2009; Pillitteri, 2010). Furthermore, Liam's older sister may understand the reason for Liam's hospitalization and the care she may undertake once Liam is discharged (Pillitteri, 2010). Conclusion: In summary, the article focuses on the care of a child suffering from bronchiolitis. The student nurse realized that it is important to gather information from parents because they know their child best. Nursing interventions should encourage family members to participate as they are the ones who care the most for their child. Special attention needs to be paid to children attending daycare and follow-up care is necessary. Words matter: 1674