Exam 3 (Impact of Chronic Illness, Disability, or End-of-Life Care on the Child and Family)

Which describes avoidance behaviors parents may exhibit when learning that their child has a chronic condition? (Select all that apply.) a. Refuses to agree to treatment b. Shares burden of disorder with others c. Verbalizes possible loss of child d. Withdraws from outside world e. Punishes self because of guilt and shame

ANS: A, D, E A parent who refuses to agree to treatment, withdraws from the outside world, and punishes self because of guilt and shame is exhibiting avoidance coping behaviors. A parent who shares the burden of disorder with others and verbalizes possible loss of child is exhibiting approach coping behaviors.

Which intervention will encourage a sense of autonomy in a toddler with disabilities? a. Avoid separation from family during hospitalizations. b. Encourage independence in as many areas as possible. c. Expose child to pleasurable experiences as much as possible. d. Help parents learn special care needs of their child.

ANS: B Encouraging the toddler to be independent encourages a sense of autonomy. The child can be given choices about feeding, dressing, and diversional activities, which will provide a sense of control. Avoiding separation from family during hospitalizations, and helping parents learn special care needs of their child should be practiced as part of family-centered care. It does not necessarily foster autonomy. Exposing the child to pleasurable experiences, especially sensory ones, is a supportive intervention. It does not promote autonomy.

The feeling of guilt that the child "caused" the disability or illness is especially critical in which child? a. Toddler b. Preschooler c. School-age child d. Adolescent

ANS: B Preschoolers are most likely to be affected by feelings of guilt that they caused the illness or disability or are being punished for wrongdoings. Toddlers are focused on establishing their autonomy. The illness will foster dependence. The school-age child will have limited opportunities for achievement and may not be able to understand limitations. Adolescents face the task of incorporating their disabilities into their changing self-concept.

The parents of a special health needs child is displaying an approach behavior when doing which of the following? a. Is unable to adjust to a progression of the disease or condition b. Anticipates future problems and seeks guidance and answers c. Looks for new cures without a perspective toward possible benefit d. Fails to recognize the seriousness of the child's condition despite physical evidence

ANS: B The parents who anticipate future problems and seek guidance and answers are demonstrating approach behaviors. They are demonstrating positive actions in caring for their child. Being unable to adjust to a progression of the disease or condition, looking for new cures without a perspective toward possible benefit, and failing to recognize the seriousness of a child's condition despite physical evidence are avoidance behaviors. The parents are moving away from adjustment (and toward maladaptation) in the crisis of a child with chronic illness or disability.

A nurse is caring for a child who is near death. Which physical signs indicate the child is approaching death? (Select all that apply.) a. Body feels warm b. Tactile sensation decreasing c. Speech becomes rapid d. Change in respiratory pattern e. Difficulty swallowing

ANS: B, D, E Physical signs of approaching death include: tactile sensation beginning to decrease, a change in respiratory pattern, and difficulty swallowing. Even though there is a sensation of heat the body feels cool, not warm, and speech becomes slurred, not rapid.

Which are adaptive coping patterns used by children with special needs? (Select all that apply.) a. Develops optimism b. Feels different and withdraws c. Accepts physical limitations d. Is irritable and moody e. Finds achievement in compensatory intellectual pursuits

ANS: A, C, E Adaptive coping patterns used by children with special needs include seeking support and developing optimism. Maladaptive behaviors are seeing themselves as different and withdrawing and becoming irritable, moody, and beginning to act out.

Which are appropriate statements the nurse would make to parents after the death of their child? (Select all that apply.) a. "We feel so sorry that we couldn't save your child." b. "Your child isn't suffering anymore." c. "I know how you feel." d. "You're feeling all the pain of losing a child." e. "You are still young enough to have another baby."

ANS: A, D By saying, "We feel so sorry that we couldn't save your child," the nurse is expressing personal feeling of loss or frustration, which is therapeutic. Stating, "You're feeling all the pain of losing a child," focuses on a feeling, which is therapeutic. The statement, "Your child isn't suffering anymore," is a judgmental statement, which is nontherapeutic. "I know how you feel" and "You're still young enough to have another baby" are statements that give artificial consolation and are nontherapeutic.

The initial response from a parent when learning of a chronic or complex health condition is shock, which is followed by which response? a. Denial b. Guilt and self-accusation c. Social reintegration d. Acceptance of the child's limitations

ANS: B For most families, the adjustment phase is accompanied by several responses. Guilt, self-accusation, bitterness, and anger are common reactions. The initial diagnosis of a chronic illness or disability often is met with intense emotion, characterized by shock and denial. Social reintegration and acceptance of the child's limitations are the culmination of the adjustment process.

A nurse is planning palliative care for a child with severe pain. Which would the nurse expect to be prescribed for pain relief? a. Opioids as needed b. Opioids on a regular schedule c. Distraction and relaxation techniques d. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

ANS: B Pain medications, for children in palliative care, should be given on a regular schedule, and extra doses for breakthrough pain should be available to maintain comfort. Opioid drugs such as morphine should be given for severe pain, and the dose should be increased as necessary to maintain optimal pain relief. Techniques such as distraction, relaxation techniques, and guided imagery should be combined with drug therapy to provide the child and family strategies to control pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are not sufficient to manage severe pain for children in palliative care.

The nurse comes into the room of a child who was just diagnosed with a chronic disability, and the child's parents begin to yell at the nurse about a variety of concerns. Which is the nurse's best response? a. "What is really wrong?" b. "Being angry is only natural." c. "Yelling at me will not change things." d. "I will come back when you settle down."

ANS: B Parental anger after the diagnosis of a child with a chronic disability is a common response. One of the most common targets for parental anger is members of the staff. The nurse should recognize the common response of anger to the diagnosis and allow the family to vent. "What is really wrong?"/"Yelling at me will not change things"/"I will come back when you settle down" will place the parents on the defensive and not facilitate communication.

The parents of a child born with disabilities ask the nurse for advice about discipline. Which information about discipline would the nurse's response include? a. It is essential for normal development. b. It is too difficult to implement with a special-needs child. c. It is not needed unless the child becomes problematic. d. It is best achieved with punishment for misbehavior.

ANS: A Discipline is essential for the child. It provides boundaries on which to test out their behavior and teaches them socially acceptable behaviors. The nurse should teach the parents ways to manage the child's behavior before it becomes problematic. Punishment is not effective in managing behavior.

Which is the most appropriate nursing intervention to promote normalization in a school-age child with a chronic illness? a. Give the child as much control as possible. b. Ask the child's peer to make the child feel normal. c. Convince the child that nothing is wrong with him or her. d. Explain to parents that family rules for the child do not need to be the same as for healthy siblings.

ANS: A The school-age child who is ill may be forced into a period of dependency. To foster normalcy, the child should be given as much control as possible. It is unrealistic to expect one individual to make the child feel normal. The child has a chronic illness. It would be unacceptable to convince the child that nothing is wrong. The family rules should be similar for each of the children in a family. Resentment and hostility can arise if different standards are applied to each child.

The nurse is talking with the parents of a child who died 6 months ago. They sometimes still "hear" the child's voice and have trouble sleeping. How would the nurse interpret these feelings? a. These are normal grief responses. b. The pain of the loss is usually less by this time. c. These grief responses are more typical of the early stages of grief. d. This grieving is essential until the pain is gone and the child is gradually forgotten.

ANS: A These are normal grief responses. The process of grief work is lengthy.

When considering palliative care for a young child with a life-threatening illness, which is an important consideration? a. The family is included in the decision to shift the goals of treatment. b. The decision must be made by the health professionals involved in the child's care. c. The family needs to understand that palliative care takes place in the home. d. The decision should not be communicated to the family because it will encourage a sense of hopelessness.

ANS: A When the child reaches the terminal stage, the nurse and physician should explore the family's wishes. The family should help decide what interventions will occur as they plan for their child's death.

At which age do most children have an adult concept of death as being inevitable, universal, and irreversible? a. 4 to 5 years b. 6 to 7 years c. 9 to 10 years d. 12 to 13 years

ANS: C By age 9 to 11 years, children have an adult concept of death. They realize that it is inevitable, universal, and irreversible.

A 16-year-old with a chronic illness has recently become rebellious and is taking risks such as missing doses of his medication. Which is the best explanation for this behavior? a. Needs more discipline b. Needs more socialization with peers c. This is part of normal adolescence d. This is how he is asking for more parental control

ANS: C Risk taking, rebelliousness, and lack of cooperation are normal parts of adolescence.

A school-age child is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, and the parents want to protect their child from knowing the seriousness of the illness. Which would the nurse tell the parents? a. This will help the child cope effectively by denial. b. This attitude is helpful to give parents time to cope. c. Terminally ill children know when they are seriously ill. d. Terminally ill children usually choose not to discuss the seriousness of their illness.

ANS: C The child needs honest and accurate information about the illness, treatments, and prognosis. Children, even at a young age, realize that something is seriously wrong and that it involves them. The nurse should help the parents understand the importance of honesty.

The nurse observes that a seriously ill child passively accepts all painful procedures. Which would the nurse recognize this child is most likely experiencing? a. A sense of hopefulness b. A sense of chronic sorrow c. A belief that procedures are a deserved punishment d. A belief that procedures are an important part of care

ANS: C The nurse should be particularly alert to the child who passively accepts all painful procedures. This child may believe that such acts are inflicted as deserved punishment. The child who is hopeful is mobilized into goal-directed actions. This child would actively participate in care. Chronic sorrow is the feeling of sorrow and loss that recurs in waves over time. It is usually evident in the parents, not in the child. A child who believes that procedures are an important part of care would actively participate in care. Nursing interventions should be used to minimize the pain.

Which is a characteristic of chronic sorrow often experience by parents who have a chronically ill child? a. Lack of acceptance of the child's limitation b. Lack of available support to prevent sorrow c. Periods of intensified sorrow when experiencing anger and guilt d. Periods of intensified sorrow and loss that occur in waves over time

ANS: D Chronic sorrow is manifested by feelings of sorrow and loss that recur in waves over time. The sorrow is in response to the recognition of the child's limitations. The family should be assessed in an ongoing manner to provide appropriate support as the needs of the family change. The sorrow is not preventable. The chronic sorrow occurs during the reintegration and acknowledgment stage.

Which nursing intervention would the nurse include to help the siblings of a child with special needs cope? a. Explain to the siblings that embarrassment is unhealthy b. Encourage the parents not to expect siblings to help them care for the child with special needs c. Provide information to the siblings about the child's condition only as they request it d. Suggest to the parents ways of showing gratitude to the siblings who help care for the child with special needs

ANS: D The presence of a child with special needs in a family will change the family dynamic. Siblings may be asked to take on additional responsibilities to help the parents to care for the child. The parents should show gratitude, such as an increase in allowance, special privileges, and verbal praise. Embarrassment may be associated with having a sibling with a chronic illness or disability. Parents must be able to respond in an appropriate manner without punishing the sibling. The parents may need assistance with the care of the child. Most siblings are positive about the extra responsibilities. The siblings need to be informed about the child's condition before a nonfamily member does so. The parents do not want the siblings to fantasize about what is wrong with the child.