The nurse is working with a 12-year-old who is hospitalized with a chronic illness. Which action by the nurse might help the chronically ill preteen thrive while hospitalized?

Choice A reason: Prescribing medication to calm an infant is premature without investigating the cause of restlessness and prolonged wakefulness. An in-depth assessment identifies underlying issues like medical or environmental factors, making this reactive and incorrect compared to a thorough evaluation of the infant’s behavior.

Choice B reason: Reporting to a supervisor is unnecessary before assessing the infant’s restlessness and wakefulness. Conducting an in-depth investigation allows the nurse to gather data on potential causes, making this less direct and incorrect compared to initiating a thorough assessment of the infant’s condition first.

Choice C reason: Restlessness and prolonged wakefulness in an infant warrant an in-depth investigation to identify causes like medical issues, feeding problems, or environmental factors. This aligns with pediatric nursing assessment principles, ensuring a comprehensive approach to the infant’s behavior, making it the correct response for the nurse.

Choice D reason: Assuming the behavior is normal because the mother reports it dismisses potential underlying issues causing restlessness. An in-depth investigation is needed to rule out medical or environmental factors, making this incorrect, as it risks overlooking conditions requiring intervention in the infant’s care.

Choice A reason: Setting a good example by always wearing a seat belt models safe behavior, which children are likely to emulate. This prioritizes consistent safety habits, aligning with pediatric safety education principles, making it the most effective instruction for promoting car safety in families during a health fair presentation.

Choice B reason: Rewarding with candy for seat belt use may encourage compliance but risks unhealthy eating habits and extrinsic motivation. Modeling seat belt use fosters intrinsic safety habits, making this less effective and incorrect compared to the nurse’s priority of setting a consistent example for car safety.

Choice C reason: Stopping the car for unbuckled restraints addresses behavior but may be impractical and unsafe on busy roads. Modeling seat belt use prevents issues by reinforcing norms, making this reactive approach less prioritized and incorrect for the primary car safety instruction in a family setting.

Choice D reason: Explaining seat belt laws may inform but is less effective for young children who respond better to role modeling than legal consequences. Parental example drives behavior, making this less impactful and incorrect compared to prioritizing consistent seat belt use by adults in the family.