Deck 6: Child and Family Communication

Question 1

Following a car accident, a four-year-old child was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit. Both parents were injured in the accident and have been unable to visit. The child's condition has stabilized, and the child is transferred to the surgical unit for the remainder of her hospitalization. The child has not expressed any feelings during the hospitalization. Which interventions might help the child express her feelings?

A)Asking the hospital chaplain to talk with the child
B)Use play therapy including mother, father, and child dolls.
C)Use journaling to allow the child to express herself.
D)Using humor by telling knock-knock jokes

Answer 1

Use play therapy including mother, father, and child dolls.

Question 2

A nurse working with Japanese American adolescents should be aware of nonverbal communication patterns in their culture. While working with these clients, the nurse should:

A)Touch them often during the communication to reassure them.
B)Stand very close to them while talking with them.
C)Shake their hands upon greeting them.
D)Look directly at them while talking with them.

Answer 2

Shake their hands upon greeting them.

Question 3

A nurse is working with a child who is a pediatric trauma victim. The nurse is planning nursing interventions to facilitate rapport and effective communication with this child and family. The nurse will utilize which interventions? Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)Closing the door to the room when speaking to the family or child
B)Avoiding the use of medical jargon
C)Inviting the family out to a movie to decrease their anxiety
D)Introducing self to the child and family
E)Sitting in a chair facing the family and child

Answer 3

Closing the door to the room when speaking to the family or child
Avoiding the use of medical jargon
Introducing self to the child and family
Sitting in a chair facing the family and child

Question 4

The nurse is working with a 14-year-old adolescent with an intellectual disability. The adolescent's mental age is four. In explaining an X-ray to the adolescent, the nurse should explain:

A)To the adolescent in terms appropriate to a teenager.
B)To the parents and have them explain to their child.
C)As little as possible because the child will not understand anyway.
D)Using words that are in the vocabulary of a four-year-old without talking down to the adolescent.

Question 5

A nurse notices a client sitting at the edge of the chair, tapping her fingers, fidgeting, and blinking her eyes frequently. In planning this client's care, the nurse should take into account that this client is most likely displaying nonverbal cues of:

A)Shyness.
B)Anxiety.
C)Anger.
D)Interest.

Question 6

A non-Spanish-speaking nurse is working with a seven-year-old client who is able to speak English but whose family speaks only Spanish. The nurse needs to give discharge instructions regarding the client's oral antibiotics. There are no Spanish-speaking interpreters available presently, but one will be able to come in about one hour. The nurse's most appropriate intervention would be:

A)To give the discharge instructions to the parents, with the child acting as interpreter.
B)To give the discharge instructions to the child.
C)To obtain an English/Spanish translation book and use this to aid in giving discharge instructions to the parents.
D)To have the parents wait until an interpreter can be found to translate the discharge instructions.

Question 7

While the nurse is admitting a pediatric patient, the mother blurts out, "I think this hospital is the most disorganized, inefficient place I have ever been in!" The most therapeutic response for the nurse to make would be:

A)"This hospital and its staff are extremely competent, and you are receiving the best possible care."
B)"Does your child have any allergies or take any medication routinely?"
C)"It happens to be very busy right now, and there are children much sicker than your child who need to be cared for first."
D)"It sounds like you are upset with the care your child has received.Is that correct?"

Question 8

The nurse is attempting to take the blood pressure of a four-year-old child. The child is afraid of the sphygmomanometer. Which action by the nurse will help allay the child's feelings of anxiety?

A)Explain to the child: "I am just going to take your blood pressure."
B)Have the mother hold the child still while the nurse takes the blood pressure.
C)Allow the child to handle the equipment and then demonstrate how the equipment works.
D)Tell the child: "This won't hurt.I've had it done a bunch of times."

Question 9

While the nurse is bathing a seven-year-old child, the child states, "I get so sad when my mom leaves." The response that ignores the importance of the child's feelings is:

A)"I am working tonight so I will be with you tonight while your mother is away."
B)"Could you explain to me what you mean by sad?"
C)"Your mother has to take care of your brothers and sisters, too.She will be back tomorrow."
D)"Can you tell me more about how it makes you feel when your mom leaves?"

Question 10

While assessing an eight-month-old infant, the best strategy for the nurse to use to promote communication with the infant would be to:

A)Use touch, patting, and cuddling the infant.
B)Speak to the infant in low-pitched, soft tones.
C)Place the infant out of the parents' view to decrease distraction.
D)Lean over the infant's face and talk with forceful tones.

Question 11

In order to prepare a six-year-old client for an intravenous catheter insertion, the nurse's best response would be:

A)"If I were you, I would hold very still so that it will only take one stick."
B)"It is okay to cry.I know that this hurts."
C)"Why are you crying? I thought that you were a tough kid."
D)"Don't worry a bit; this is just like a little mosquito bite."

Question 12

The nurse caring for a nine-year-old child with extensive burns needs to prepare the child for going to whirlpool therapy for the first time. The most effective response to promote communication with this child would be:

A)"Have you been to the playroom yet? Maybe when you get back from whirlpool we can check it out together."
B)"Before you leave for whirlpool, I will give you a shot that will relax you, and you probably won't even remember going downstairs at all."
C)"I am going to be taking you downstairs to whirlpool.Do you have any questions?"
D)"Some of the children I have worked with have told me that they worried about the whirlpool hurting them."

Question 13

While caring for an adolescent with cystic fibrosis, the nurse would best demonstrate friendliness and interest by engaging in which nonverbal behavior?

A)Sitting at eye level and leaning forward while speaking with the client.
B)Crossing the legs and leaning back slightly in the chair while talking with the client.
C)Making eye contact with the client only when necessary.
D)Standing over the client's bed while talking with him.

Question 14

The nurse caring for a Chinese American child should be aware that acceptable nonverbal communication patterns to use when giving information to the child's father include: Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)Handshakes between men only.
B)The father prefers not to be touched by strangers.
C)Avoiding direct eye contact when listening.
D)Distant personal space is preferred.
E)Touch is common with family members and close friends.