A mother of two school-age children tells the nurse that her ...

[TVarnum]

A mother of two school-age children tells the nurse that her husband has recently been deployed overseas. The mother is concerned about the children's constant interest in watching TV news coverage of military activities overseas.
 
  Which suggestion from the nurse is the most appropriate?
  1. Allow the children to watch as much television as they want. This is how they are coping with their father's absence.
  2. It will just take some time to adjust to their father's absence, then everything will return to normal.
  3. The less that you discuss this, the quicker the children will adjust to their father's absence. Try to keep them busy, and use distractions to keep their mind off of it.
  4. Spend time with your children and take cues from them about how much they want to discuss.

Question 2

The pediatric nurse is working with a parent who is suspected of Mnchausen Syndrome by Proxy. Which action by the nurse is the priority?
 
  1. Confront the parent with concerns of possible abuse.
  2. Carefully document parentchild interactions.
  3. Try to keep the parent separated from the child as much as possible.
  4. Explain to the child that the parent is causing the illness and that the health team will prevent the child from being harmed.

[morganmarie791]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 4
Rationale: Constant viewing of the TV coverage of the war may increase the children's anxiety and fear for their father's safety. The mother should be aware that even though the children may appear to have adjusted, there may be delayed reactions or regressions in behavior. Children need to be able to discuss their feelings and concerns with an adult; otherwise, their emotional distress may increase.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale: Mnchausen Syndrome by Proxy is very difficult to prove, and evidence provided by the careful documentation of the nursing staff can be very influential. Care must be taken not to make the parent suspicious and to keep the child in the hospital until enough evidence is collected. Confronting the parent or separating the parent from the child may alienate the parent and cause him or her to leave with the child. Talking to the child about the health-care team's suspicions may be confusing and frightening for the child.

[TVarnum]

TYSM

[parker125]

Excellent