A nurse is collecting data about sleep patterns from the parent of a preschooler during a well-child visit. The parent states, "My child has nightmares three to four times each week. I hope they grow out of this soon." Which of the following findings indicates to the nurse that the child is experiencing sleep terrors rather than nightmares?
The child can describe what they were frightened of.
The child usually goes back to sleep immediately.
The child becomes fully awake and is in a panic.
The child is easily comforted by the presence of the parent.
The Correct Answer is B
Rationale for A: If the child can describe what frightened them, this would be more consistent with nightmares. Nightmares often involve the ability to recall details of the bad dream, whereas sleep terrors are typically associated with no memory of the event.
Rationale for B: Children with sleep terrors generally do not fully awaken and can usually go back to sleep immediately. This is a key distinction between sleep terrors and nightmares, where the child remains distressed for some time and may be hesitant to fall back asleep.
Rationale for C: Becoming fully awake and in a panic is more characteristic of nightmares, where the child may wake up terrified and struggle to calm down, unlike sleep terrors where they do not fully awaken.
Rationale for D: A child with nightmares is often easily comforted by the presence of a parent. In contrast, children with sleep terrors are difficult to comfort because they are not fully awake and may not respond to soothing efforts.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","C","D"]
Explanation
Rationale:
A) Loosening restrictive clothing prevents injury during the seizure.
B) Hyperextending the child's neck can cause injury and should be avoided. Instead, the neck should be supported to maintain an open airway.
C) Timing the seizure episode is important for documenting the duration and for providing accurate information to healthcare providers.
D) Placing the child in a side-lying position helps prevent aspiration and maintains an open airway during the seizure.
E) Restraint should not be applied during a seizure unless absolutely necessary to prevent injury to the child or others.

Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Rationale:
A) The parent of the adolescent parent may not have legal authority over the infant's medical decisions.
B) An emancipated adolescent parent typically has the legal authority to provide consent for their child's medical procedures.
C) The infant's provider cannot provide consent on behalf of the adolescent parent.
D) The adult sibling of the adolescent parent does not have legal authority unless designated as a legal guardian.
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