An 8-year-old child is in the playroom drawing a picture. The child’s painful dressing change is due to be performed. Which of the following actions by the nurse is appropriate?
Delay the dressing change until the child is finished playing in the playroom.
Perform the dressing change in the playroom while the child finishes drawing the picture.
Escort the child to the treatment room for the dressing change and back to the playroom once it is done.
Ask the child whether the dressing change should be performed at that time or after the child has finished the drawing.
The Correct Answer is C
Pain is a complex sensory and emotional experience that signals actual or potential harm to the body. Pain can exist without visible injury. It’s influenced by past experiences, emotions, and environment. It is subjective hence only the person experiencing it can truly describe its intensity and impact.
Rationale for correct answer:
C. Painful or stressful procedures should not be performed in the child’s playroom or hospital bed. The playroom should remain a safe, positive environment for coping and distraction. Performing the procedure in a designated treatment room preserves the child’s sense of security and allows the playroom to remain associated with fun and comfort. Escorting the child back afterward helps re-establish normalcy and security.
Rationale for incorrect answers:
A. Delaying procedures unnecessarily can interfere with treatment schedules and may prolong anxiety.
B. Performing the dressing change in the playroom while the child finishes drawing the picture is inappropriate. The playroom must remain a safe space for positive experiences; painful procedures should never be done there.
D. Offering choices is good in pediatric care, but in this case the timing of the dressing change is a medical necessity. Giving the child this option may create false expectations or resistance.
Take home points
- Never perform painful procedures in a child’s playroom or hospital bed, these spaces should be safe, comforting zones.
- Use a treatment room for procedures to help children cope better with hospitalization.
- Escorting the child back to play afterward helps restore a sense of normalcy and reduces trauma.
- Offer choices only when appropriate (e.g., which arm for a blood pressure cuff), but not when the procedure’s timing is medically necessary.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","B","C","D"]
Explanation
Adolescents recovering from surgery face not only physical healing but also psychological and social challenges. The nurse must focus on clinical and developmental priorities such as pain management, wound healing, and psychosocial support, such as peer connections.
Rationale for correct answers:
A. Teen’s pain level is always a priority in postoperative care. Even if the adolescent appears engaged in TV or games, pain may still be present. Self-report remains the gold standard for pain assessment.
B. Socialization is very important for adolescents. According to Erikson’s psychosocial stage (identity vs. role confusion), peer support directly affects self-esteem and coping during hospitalization.
C. Level of healing of the teen’s surgical site is essential to evaluate wound healing, risk of infection, and overall recovery progress after reconstructive surgery.
D. Academic progress should be included in a holistic nursing assessment of adolescents. School work provides normalcy, supports developmental tasks, and helps maintain a sense of routine and achievement. It is part of psychosocial well-being, not just physical health.
Rationale for incorrect answer:
E. How well the teen is performing on the video games is not a relevant measure of health or recovery. Games are simply a distraction tool and a coping mechanism.
Take home points
- Nursing care for adolescents must be holistic:
- Physical including pain and wound healing
- Emotional/Social including peer and family support
- Developmental/Academic including school progress, independence
- Maintaining normal routines such as schoolwork helps adolescents cope with hospitalization and prepares them for reintegration post-discharge.
- Distractions like games are useful coping tools but are not indicators of well-being.
Correct Answer is ["A","D"]
Explanation
Preparing children and adolescents for medical procedures is an essential part of pediatric nursing care. Since each developmental stage brings different levels of understanding, fears, and coping abilities, nurses must tailor their approach accordingly.
Rationale for correct answers:
A. Children understand best when information is concrete. Describing what they will see, hear, taste, smell, and feel reduces fear and prepares them realistically.
D. As children grow older, modesty becomes very important, especially for school-age children and adolescents. Explaining how their body will be covered shows respect, maintains dignity, and reduces anxiety.
Rationale for Incorrect Answers:
B. While infants may not consciously remember painful experiences, they do experience stress responses and can develop negative associations. Thus, this is not a recommended teaching point.
C. While school-aged children need clear explanations, too much advance time can increase anxiety and rumination. Preparation is most effective closer to the procedure.
E. Peer support often reduces anxiety by normalizing experiences and providing reassurance.
Take home points
- Use sensory-based explanations to help children anticipate and cope with procedures.
- Respect privacy and modesty, especially in older children/adolescents.
- Adolescents often benefit from peer support and opportunities to ask questions.
- Preparation should always be honest, developmentally appropriate, and supportive to minimize fear.
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