Deck 21: The Child’s Experience of Hospitalization

Question 1

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.

Answer 1

He is dealing with the anxiety of hospitalization by regressing.

Question 2

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 nurse's most appropriate response to this mother?

A) "Would you like to do all of your child's care?"
B) "I'm doing the very best job that I can with your child."
C) "Why don't you go have a cup of coffee? You are going to be exhausted if you don't take a break."
D) "I'd love for you to share with me some of the special things you do for your child."

Answer 2

"I'd love for you to share with me some of the special things you do for your child."

Question 3

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

Answer 3

Providing a way for the child to express his feelings

Question 4

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 child's 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.

Question 5

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"

Question 6

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

Question 7

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 child's head means the nurse is superior.
C) Smiling is inappropriate in a serious situation.
D) Staring is a sign of the nurse's rudeness.

Question 8

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.

Question 9

Which statement best corresponds to a preschooler's 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."

Question 10

Which nursing action would facilitate rapport with a child and the child's 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 child's condition.

Question 11

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

Question 12

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.

Question 13

What statement by the parent of a hospitalized toddler leads the nurse to determine the parent understands a hospitalized toddler's need for transitional objects?

A) "This stuffed animal makes him feel secure."
B) "He insisted on bringing this dirty old blanket with him."
C) "I'm going to buy him a big stuffed animal from the gift shop."
D) "I'd like to get him some toys from the playroom."

Question 14

A 13-year-old girl has been hospitalized for the past week.When discussing the girl's 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

Question 15

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.

Question 16

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

Question 17

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 nurse's 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."

Question 18

The mother of a hospitalized toddler states,"He cries when I visit.Maybe I should just stay away." What is the nurse's 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."

Question 19

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

Question 20

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

Question 21

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 nurse's most helpful response?

A) "Although this drug is addictive, the doctor monitors the dose very carefully."
B) "Don't 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."

Question 22

___________________ provides trained workers who come into the home for brief periods to relieve parents of the responsibility of caring for the child.

Question 23

What are the basic fears of a young child being hospitalized?

A) Separation
B) Permanent scarring
C) Pain
D) Cost
E) Body intrusion

Question 24

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

Question 25

What information will the nurse include when taking a developmental history?

A) Previous experience with hospitalization
B) Cultural needs
C) History of illness
D) Allergies
E) Child's nickname

Question 26

The nurse suggests to parents that they use the outpatient surgical center for their child's upcoming surgery.What advantage(s)does this type of facility have to offer?

A) Lower cost
B) Less incidence of health care-associated infections
C) Reduction of parent-child separation
D) Ample time for recuperation at the facility
E) Decreased emotional impact of illness

Question 27

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.

Question 28

What will the nurse include when documenting the discharge of a pediatric patient?

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

Question 29

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

Question 30

The nurse is preparing to obtain a throat culture on a toddler patient.What interventions are appropriate for the nurse to implement?

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.

Question 31

A(n)_______________ ______________ is a person under the age of 18 who can legally sign for consent for medical treatment for themselves or their children.

Question 32

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?

A) Nurses wearing all white
B) Formal atmosphere
C) Availability of a playroom
D) Dim lighting
E) Colored bedding

Question 33

When the preschooler who is hospitalized for surgery to correct a poorly healed fracture says,"My doctor is going to unscrew my bent arm and screw on a new one," the nurse should ________________ this misconception.