Chapter 21: The Childs Experience of Hospitalization
c. Appearance Illness during early adolescence (12 to 15 years) is seen mainly as a threat to body image. Page 482
A 13-year-old girl has been hospitalized for the past week. When discussing the girls feelings about her illness, what would the nurse expect the girl to express as her biggest concern? a. Invasive procedures b. Loss of control c. Appearance d. Separation from her boyfriend
a. The toddler feels abandoned by his mother. Unless toddlers are extremely ill, their grief and sense of abandonment during hospitalization are obvious. Page 471-472
A 2-year-old child has been crying constantly for his mother since he was hospitalized 3 days ago. What does this behavior suggest? a. The toddler feels abandoned by his mother. b. The child still has not adjusted to his hospitalization. c. The child is not separated from his mother often. d. There is a poor mother-child bond.
d. Invasive procedures The preschool-age child is afraid of bodily harm, particularly invasive procedures. Page 481
A 4-year-old begins to cry when his mother tells him it is time for his operation. The nurse understands this is an expected reaction. On which particular fear of the preschooler does the nurse base this understanding? a. Loss of control b. Restricted mobility c. Unfamiliar routines d. Invasive procedures
a. He is dealing with the anxiety of hospitalization by regressing. Hospitalization is frustrating for toddlers. They show their displeasure when illness restricts satisfaction of their desires. It is not unusual for a toddler who was drinking from a cup to refuse it in the hospital. Page 474-475
A hospitalized toddler was drinking from a cup at home but now refuses to drink from anything except his favorite bottle. What is the most likely reason for this behavior? a. He is dealing with the anxiety of hospitalization by regressing. b. He is demonstrating attention-seeking behaviors because of an overabundance of attention in the hospital. c. He is attempting to refocus the attention of the adults around him to avoid further painful procedures. d. He is exhibiting normal behavior for his age, as children often stop new behaviors after they believe they have mastered them.
b. Providing a way for the child to express his feelings After treatments, the nurse should encourage children to draw and talk about their drawings or to act out their feelings through puppet play. Page 482
A nurse encourages a school-age child to draw a picture after a painful procedure. What is the best rationale for this nursing intervention? a. Attempting to re-establish rapport b. Providing a way for the child to express his feelings c. Encouraging quiet play d. Distracting the child from thinking about the pain
emancipated minor A person under the age of 18 who is no longer under the care of his parents authority or a married minor or minors in the military are considered emancipated minors who are accorded the rights of an adult. Page 483
A(n) _______________ ______________ is a person under the age of 18 who can legally sign for consent for medical treatment for themselves or their children.
a. Loss of control Forced dependency in the hospital, such as immobilization, can result in a feeling of loss of control and loss of security. Page 482
An 8-year-old child will be hospitalized for several weeks in skeletal traction to treat a fractured femur. What does the nurse realize immobilization in this age-group can generate feelings of in planning care of this child? a. Loss of control b. Altered body image c. Shame and guilt d. Fear of bodily harm
a. Lower cost b. Less incidence of health careassociated infections c. Reduction of parent-child separation e. Decreased emotional impact of illness ANS: A, B, C, E All options listed are advantages of outpatient services with the exception of recuperating at the facility. Page 469-470
The nurse suggests to parents that they use the outpatient surgical center for their childs upcoming surgery. What advantage(s) does this type of facility have to offer? (Select all that apply.) a. Lower cost b. Less incidence of health careassociated infections c. Reduction of parent-child separation d. Ample time for recuperation at the facility e. Decreased emotional impact of illness
a. Separation c. Pain e. Body intrusion ANS: A, C, E Small children all share the same basic fears relative to hospitalization, which are separation from family, pain, and body intrusion or mutilation. Page 471
What are the basic fears of a young child being hospitalized? (Select all that apply.) a. Separation b. Permanent scarring c. Pain d. Cost e. Body intrusion
a. Previous experience with hospitalization b. Cultural needs e. Childs nickname ANS: A, B, E The developmental history has information about the child and the childs developmental and cultural needs and personal preferences. The information relative to history of illness or allergies would be covered in the medical history. Page 478
What information will the nurse include when taking a developmental history? (Select all that apply.) a. Previous experience with hospitalization b. Cultural needs c. History of illness d. Allergies e. Childs nickname
c. Availability of a playroom e. Colored bedding ANS: C, E The childrens hospital unit differs in many respects from adult divisions. The pediatric unit or hospital is designed to meet the needs of children and their parents. A cheerful, casual atmosphere helps to bridge the gap between home and hospital and is in keeping with the childs emotional, developmental, and physical needs. Nurses wear colorful uniforms, and colored bedspreads and wagons or strollers for transportation provide a more homelike atmosphere. The physical structure of the unit includes furniture of the proper height for the child, soundproof ceilings, and color schemes with eye appeal. Most pediatric departments include a playroom. Page 470-471
Parents are preparing their child for admission to the pediatric unit for minor surgery. What should they expect to see when visiting the pediatric unit? (Select all that apply.) a. Nurses wearing all white b. Formal atmosphere c. Availability of a playroom d. Dim lighting e. Colored bedding
c. About 4 days before surgery Parents should prepare children for procedures and hospitalization a few days in advance. Page 477
What is the best suggestion by the nurse when parents ask, When is the best time to begin to prepare a 5-year-old for surgery and hospitalization? a. As soon as the surgery is scheduled b. About 2 weeks before surgery c. About 4 days before surgery d. On the night before admission to the hospital
c. Addiction is rare in children when opiates are given for pain. Addiction is rare in children. Page 474
The anxious parent asks if there is a danger of her 2-year-old child becoming addicted to the opioid pain reliever. What is the nurses most helpful response? a. Although this drug is addictive, the doctor monitors the dose very carefully. b. Dont worry. Addicted children are very easy to wean off the drug. c. Addiction is rare in children when opiates are given for pain. d. Addictive behaviors are easy to assess. The drug will be stopped if that happens.
b. Your mommy will be here when you have lunch. The toddler and preschooler do not understand time yet. They understand time relationships through activities in their experience, such as naptime and mealtimes. Page 479-480
The mother of a 3-year-old tells the nurse that she will be in to visit tomorrow around 12:00 PM. The next morning, the child asks the nurse, When is my mommy coming? What is the nurses best response? a. Your mommy will be here around noon. b. Your mommy will be here when you have lunch. c. Mommy will be here very soon. d. Your mommy is coming in 4 hours.
b. It is important that you are here. This is a common reaction in children when they are separated from their parents. During the second stage of separation anxiety (despair), the child is quiet, is not crying, and is sad and depressed. The child will revert to protest when the parent arrives for a visit. Page 471-472 | Page 479-480
The mother of a hospitalized toddler states, He cries when I visit. Maybe I should just stay away. What is the nurses best response? a. Perhaps you are right. He only gets upset when you have to leave. b. It is important that you are here. This is a common reaction in children when they are separated from their parents. c. It might be easier for your child if you would stay with him, but this decision is up to you. d. We take good care of him and he seems fine when you are not here.
b. It has a rapid onset. Fentanyl is a drug useful for all ages because of its rapid onset and brief duration. Page 474
The nurse explains to the parents of a hospitalized child that their child will receive fentanyl for an upcoming procedure. What advantage of fentanyl will the nurse explain? a. It is specifically designed for children. b. It has a rapid onset. c. It is nonaddicting. d. It has a long duration.
a. Model desired behavior. c. Use distractions. ANS: A, C Whenever possible the parent should be involved in the preparation for and initiation of a treatment or procedure, and the child should be prepared according to his or her developmental level. For a toddler, model the behavior desired (i.e., opening the mouth), tell the child it is okay to yell if the treatment or procedure is uncomfortable, and use distractions. Explaining the procedure in detail and encouraging questions are appropriate interventions for an older child. Page 480
The nurse is preparing to obtain a throat culture on a toddler patient. What interventions are appropriate for the nurse to implement? (Select all that apply.) a. Model desired behavior. b. Instruct patient not to yell. c. Use distractions. d. Explain the procedure in detail. e. Encourage the child to ask questions.
a. Involve the parents. It is appropriate to involve the parents when performing a procedure on an infant. Providng a simple explanation, letting the child examine the equipment, and suggesting coping techniques are not appropriate interventions for an infant. Page 470 | Page 478
The nurse is preparing to start an IV on an infant admitted to the pediatric unit. What intervention is appropriate for the nurse to implement? a. Involve the parents. b. Provide a simple explanation to the child. c. Let the child examine the equipment. d. Suggest coping techniques.
c. A 15-year-old with type 1 diabetes mellitus Adolescents usually do better in rooms with one or more roommates than in single rooms. The adolescent would do best with a roommate who is closest to his or her age and also lives with a chronic illness. Page 483
The nurse must make a room assignment for a 16-year-old with cystic fibrosis. Which roommate would be the most appropriate for this patient? a. A 4-year-old child who had an appendectomy b. A 10-year-old child with sickle cell disease in vaso-occlusive crisis c. A 15-year-old with type 1 diabetes mellitus d. To assign the adolescent to a private room
d. Id love for you to share with me some of the special things you do for your child. The person who cares daily for the child with a chronic illness can provide information that will best guarantee continuity of care between the home and the hospital. Page 476-477
The nurse notices that the mother of a child with cerebral palsy corrects and redoes many of the things the nurse does for her child. What is the nurses most appropriate response to this mother? a. Would you like to do all of your childs care? b. Im doing the very best job that I can with your child. c. Why dont you go have a cup of coffee? You are going to be exhausted if you dont take a break. d. Id love for you to share with me some of the special things you do for your child.
a. Clinical pathway This document is the clinical pathway, which is a broad outline of interdisciplinary plan of care with specific timelines. Page 478
The nurse shares the information and timelines recorded on the interdisciplinary outline of care for a child. What is this document? a. Clinical pathway b. Comprehensive nursing care plan c. Holistic care approach d. Incorporated cost analysis
d. The preschooler needs to visit his infant sister to reassure himself that she is all right. Siblings are affected by a childs hospitalization. Their ability to cope is influenced by their age, experience, and intactness of the family. Page 477
The parents of a hospitalized 9-month-old infant ask if their preschool child may visit his younger sibling. What understanding would assist the nurse most in formulating a response? a. Preschool children can be disruptive in the hospital environment. b. Seeing his younger sibling would probably frighten the preschooler and thus should be avoided. c. The sibling could view the infant from the doorway but not enter the room to prevent the spread of microorganisms. d. The preschooler needs to visit his infant sister to reassure himself that she is all right.
c. Denial In the stage of denial or detachment, the child appears to deny the need for the parents and becomes uninterested in their visits. Page 471, Nursing Tip
The parents of a hospitalized toddler are upset because she seems more interested in her toys when they come to visit her. In which stage of separation anxiety is the toddler? a. Protest b. Despair c. Denial d. Attachment
c. 225 mg Acetaminophen is commonly used for the relief of mild to moderate pain in infants and children. The maximum dose is 15 mg/kg/dose for infants and children, with a maximum of 5 doses in 24 hours. Page 474
The pediatric nurse is caring for child that weighs 15 kilograms and calls the physician for an order for Acetaminophen for pain control. What is the maximum amount of medication per dose the nurse anticipates ordering? a. 100 mg b. 150 mg c. 225 mg d. 250 mg
c. Smiling is inappropriate in a serious situation. In Russia, a smile indicates happiness and is inappropriate in a serious or sad situation. Page 476
What should the nurse, preparing to collect an admission history from parents who have recently emigrated from Russia, keep in mind? a. Eye-to-eye contact is considered disrespectful. b. Touching the childs head means the nurse is superior. c. Smiling is inappropriate in a serious situation. d. Staring is a sign of the nurses rudeness.
a. This stuffed animal makes him feel secure. The use of a transitional object such as a blanket or a favorite toy promotes security. Page 480
What statement by the parent of a hospitalized toddler leads the nurse to determine the parent understands a hospitalized toddlers need for transitional objects? a. This stuffed animal makes him feel secure. b. He insisted on bringing this dirty old blanket with him. c. Im going to buy him a big stuffed animal from the gift shop. d. Id like to get him some toys from the playroom.
a. Time of discharge b. Adult(s) accompanying the child and the relationship to the child c. Condition of the child d. Method of transportation ANS: A, B, C, D Information that should be included in the discharge note include time of discharge, adults accompanying the child and relationship to child, condition of the child, and method of transportation. It should also be documented that instructions were given to parents. Page 484, Legal and Ethical Considerations box
What will the nurse include when documenting the discharge of a pediatric patient? (Select all that apply.) a. Time of discharge b. Adult(s) accompanying the child and the relationship to the child c. Condition of the child d. Method of transportation e. Instructions that were given to physician
b. Play with the child using pop-up toys. Distractions such as blowing bubbles, looking through a kaleidoscope, and playing with pop-up toys may help reduce anxiety and pain. Page 480
When a 2-year-old returns to her hospital room following a diagnostic procedure, her parents are not available, and the child is crying loudly. Which technique is most appropriate to alleviate the childs distress? a. Rock the child gently to sleep. b. Play with the child using pop-up toys. c. Role play with the child to act out her feelings. d. Ask the child to draw a picture about her feelings.
b. 16-month-old child Separation anxiety occurs after age 6 months and is most pronounced in the toddler. Page 471-472
Which child would have the most difficulty in coping with separation from parents because of hospitalization? a. 3-month-old child b. 16-month-old child c. 4-year-old child d. 7-year-old child
b. Answer questions in a calm and matter-of-fact way. The nurse tries not to appear rushed. A matter-of-fact attitude must be maintained regardless of the childs condition. Page 477-478
Which nursing action would facilitate rapport with a child and the childs parents during the admission process? a. Direct the parents to undress the child. b. Answer questions in a calm and matter-of-fact way. c. Perform assessments and ask questions as quickly as possible. d. Express concern about the seriousness of the childs condition.
b. I got sick because I was mad at my brother. The preschooler may feel guilty, particularly if an accident happens as a result of mischief on his or her part. Page 481
Which statement best corresponds to a preschoolers understanding of hospitalization? a. A germ made me get sick. b. I got sick because I was mad at my brother. c. My tonsils are sick and they have to come out. d. I have a cast because I broke my leg.
