A 17-year-old girl is hospitalized for appendicitis, and her ...

[Awilson837]

A 17-year-old girl is hospitalized for appendicitis, and her mother asks the nurse why she is so needy and acting like a child. The best response of the nurse is that in the hospital, adolescents
 
  a. have separation anxiety.
  b. rebel against rules.
  c. regress because of stress.
  d. want to know everything.

Question 2

A mother complains to the nurse at the pediatric clinic that her 4-year-old child always talks to her toys and makes up stories. The mother wants her child to have a psychological evaluation. The nurse's best initial response is to
 
  a. refer the child to a psychologist immediately.
  b. explain that playing make believe is normal at this age.
  c. complete a developmental screening using a validated tool.
  d. separate the child from the mother to get more information.

[dantucker]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Regression to an earlier stage of development is a common response to stress. Separation anxiety is most common in infants and toddlers. Rebellion against hospital rules is usually not an issue if the adolescent understands the rules and would not create childlike behaviors. An adolescent may want to know everything with their logical thinking and deductive reasoning, but that would not explain why they would act like a child.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
By the end of the fourth year, it is expected that a child will engage in fantasy, so this is normal at this age. A referral to a psychologist would be premature based only on the complaint of the mother. Completing a developmental screening would be very appropriate but not the initial response. The nurse would certainly want to get more information, but separating the child from the mother is not necessary at this time.

[Awilson837]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it

[kthug]

Excellent