A nurse is preparing to give a 5-year-old child preoperative teaching for abdominal surgery. Which of the nurse’s actions is most appropriate?

Explain the procedures that the child will experience.

Allow the child to dress up in surgical attire.

Tell the child why the surgery will make the child healthier.

Have the child meet another child who has had surgery.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

A 5-year-old child is in Erikson’s stage of Initiative vs. Guilt and Piaget’s preoperational stage. At this age, children learn best through play, imitation, and sensory engagement. They have active imaginations and may fear unfamiliar environments like operating rooms.

Rationale for correct answer:

2. Dressing up in surgical attire is a form of medical play, which is effective for preparing preschoolers for procedures. It helps the child become familiar with the hospital environment, reduces anxiety, and gives the child a sense of participation and control. This kind of interactive teaching is ideal for their developmental stage.

Rationale for incorrect answers:

1. Explaining the procedures is helpful but must be very concrete and simplified. Preschoolers do not possess the conceptual ability to understand from an explanation what procedure will be performed. If done alone without hands-on involvement, it may not be effective for a 5-year-old who still has limited abstract thinking.

3. Telling the child why the surgery will make them healthier is too abstract for this developmental age. Preschoolers do not fully understand future health benefits and are more focused on immediate experiences and sensations.

4. Having the child meet another child who had surgery introduces unpredictability. The peer may share frightening or confusing information, which could increase anxiety instead of alleviating it.

Take home points

Medical play is an ideal teaching method for preschoolers because it uses imagination and sensory involvement to reduce fear.
Children at this age benefit from active participation, not just verbal explanations.
Concrete, familiarization strategies, like dressing up, using dolls, or exploring safe medical tools, help children feel more in control.
Nurses should tailor preoperative education to the developmental stage, hands-on, play-based learning is best for age 5.

Nursing Test Bank

Test Bank #1: RN Pharmacology Exams Test Bank #2: RN Medical-Surgical Exams Test Bank #3: RN Fundamentals Exams Test Bank #4: RN Maternal-Newborn Exams Test Bank #5: RN Anatomy and Physiology Exams Test Bank #6: RN Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Test Bank #7: RN Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Test Bank #9: RN Adult Health Test Bank #10: RN Dosage Calculation Test Bank #11: RN Community Health Exams Test Bank #12: RN Psychology Exams Test Bank #13: RN Nursing Care Of Children Test Bank #14: RN Foundations of Nursing Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Exam #1: RN Comprehensive predictor 2023 proctored exam Exam #2: Ati rn vati comprehensive predictor proctored exam Exam #3: Ati Rn Comprehensive Predictor Proctored Exam 2023 Exam #4: Rn Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Proctored Exam - St. Joseph Exam #5: RN Comprehensive Predictor Proctored Exam (National U CA San Diego) Exam #6: Ati rn comprehensive predictor 2023 retake proctored exam Exam #7: RN Hesi Exit Proctored Exam Exam #8: Hesi RN Exit proctored exam Exam #9: Hesi rn exit proctored exam Exam #10: Hesi Rn compass exit B proctored exam

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is ["A","B","D"]

Explanation

Aggressive behaviors in preschoolers are quite common and often developmentally typical, though they can be distressing for caregivers. These behaviors usually stem from limited emotional regulation, impulse control, and communication skills. These behaviors in preschoolers require supportive, developmentally appropriate interventions that teach emotional regulation, not harsh discipline or normalization of harmful behavior.

Rationale for correct answers:

1. The idea that aggressive behavior must be punished reflects a misunderstanding of effective behavior management. Punishment often increases fear or resentment without teaching appropriate alternatives. Positive discipline strategies, like time-outs, redirection, and emotional coaching, are more effective in helping children learn self-control.

2. While bonding with a parent is beneficial, passive screen time, especially involving violent or aggressive content, has been linked to increased aggression in children. Watching TV together without discussing content or modeling healthy behavior may reinforce negative actions.

4. Saying “boys will be boys” minimizes and normalizes aggression, which discourages healthy behavior correction. Aggression is not an acceptable or inevitable stage of development. Children need to be taught empathy, communication, and boundaries.

Rationale for incorrect answers:

3. Teaching a preschooler to express feelings in words rather than through physical actions helps build emotional intelligence and social skills. This statement reflects a developmentally appropriate strategy.

5. Time-outs are a recommended discipline technique for preschoolers. They provide a cooling-off period and are more constructive than spanking, which can lead to increased aggression and emotional harm.

Take home points

Preschool aggression should be addressed through positive behavior strategies, not punishment or minimization.
Parental modeling, including screen content and reactions to conflict, strongly influences child behavior.
Statements like “boys will be boys” can undermine the importance of teaching empathy and respectful behavior.
Encourage emotional expression, clear boundaries, and age-appropriate consequences like time-outs or loss of privileges.

A. Advise the child that big children are quiet during injections. B. Explain to the child why vaccinations are administered. C. Inform the child that the vaccine was ordered by the primary health-care provider. D. Comfort the child and give the child a sticker as a present.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

After a painful or stressful procedure, emotional support and positive reinforcement are essential for young children. Providing comfort and a small reward, such as a sticker, helps reduce fear and build resilience for future healthcare experiences.

Rationale for correct answer:

4. Comforting the child and offering a sticker provides positive reinforcement and acknowledges the child’s bravery. This developmentally appropriate response helps the child associate medical procedures with support and care, rather than fear and punishment.

Rationale for incorrect answers:

1. Telling a child that "big children are quiet" is shaming and dismissive. It implies that the child did something wrong by crying, which is a normal emotional reaction at this age.

2. Explaining why vaccines are given may be more appropriate before the procedure, but afterward, the child is likely focused on the pain or distress, not the rationale. At 5 years old, the child may not fully comprehend the explanation either.

3. Informing the child that the provider ordered the vaccine may seem like an attempt to deflect responsibility and does nothing to comfort or validate the child's feelings.

Take home points

Preschool and early school-age children benefit from comfort, reassurance, and tangible rewards after stressful events.
Crying is a normal, age-appropriate reaction to pain; it should not be shamed or discouraged.
Focus post-procedure care on emotional recovery, not explanation or discipline.
Positive reinforcement builds cooperation and trust in medical settings, making future encounters easier for both the child and the caregiver.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

A nurse is preparing to give a 5-year-old child preoperative teaching for abdominal surgery. Which of the nurse’s actions is most appropriate?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

At an appointment at the pediatrician’s office, a patient’s mother states, “My son gets rough with some of the neighborhood kids. I am worried that he is becoming a bully.” Which statements by the mother need more teaching? Select all that apply

Correct Answer is ["A","B","D"]

Explanation

The nurse is giving a 5-year-old child a vaccine injection. The child cries loudly during the procedure. Which of the following interventions would be appropriate for the nurse to perform after the injection?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A nurse is preparing to give a 5-year-old child preoperative teaching for abdominal surgery. Which of the nurse’s actions is most appropriate?

When her preschool son is in the hospital, the parent tells the nurse, “I think there is something wrong with him because he is so skinny.” The most appropriate answer by the nurse is:

At the clinic appointment, a 4-year-old’s mother wants to discuss several concerns. Which statements require more teaching by the nurse? Select all that apply

Parents inform the nurse that their 4½-year-old daughter “stutters a lot.” The nurse should advise the parents to do which of the following? Select all that apply

The nurse caring for a preschool child understands which of the following developmental concepts? Select all that apply

A nurse is having difficulty communicating with a hospitalized 5-year-old child. Which of the following techniques is appropriate for the nurse to use to improve communication?