A nurse is teaching about growth and development to a parent of a 12-year-old child.

The nurse should instruct the parent to expect the child to exhibit which of the following characteristics during early adolescence.

The correct answer is choice a. Discourage the child from coughing.

Choice A rationale:

Discouraging the child from coughing is important because coughing can dislodge clots and cause bleeding at the surgical site, which is a common complication after a tonsillectomy.

Choice B rationale:

Providing cranberry juice to the child is not recommended because acidic juices can irritate the throat and cause discomfort or pain.

Choice C rationale:

Maintaining the child in a supine position is not ideal as it can increase the risk of aspiration. Instead, the child should be positioned on their side or with the head elevated to facilitate drainage and reduce the risk of aspiration.

Choice D rationale:

Administering an analgesic to the child on a scheduled basis is important for pain management, but it is not the most immediate action to take one hour postoperatively. Pain management should be part of the overall care plan.

Choice A rationale

While it’s important for a child to have adequate sleep, waiting until the child indicates that they are tired before putting them to bed may not be the best approach. Children often do not recognize their own signs of fatigue and may become overtired, which can actually make it more difficult for them to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Choice B rationale

Allowing a child to watch an animated movie before bedtime may seem like a harmless routine, but it can actually interfere with their sleep. The light from the screen can suppress the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep, and the content of the movie can be stimulating rather than relaxing.

Choice C rationale

Waking your child up during a night terror can be beneficial. Night terrors occur during the deepest stages of sleep and can be frightening for both the child and the parents. By gently waking your child before the usual time of a night terror, you can interrupt the sleep cycle and potentially prevent the night terror from occurring.

Choice D rationale

While it may be tempting to allow your child to sleep in your bed, especially if they are experiencing night terrors, this is not typically recommended. Co-sleeping can create a dependency and make it more difficult for the child to learn to self-soothe and fall asleep independently.