Author Question: The nurse is caring for a 5-year-old child. How can the nurse best support the spiritual development ... (Read 26 times)

roselinechinyere27m · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

The nurse is caring for a 5-year-old child. How can the nurse best support the spiritual development of this client?

1. Ask the child who God is.
2. Listen to the child's routine bedtime prayer.
3. Encourage the child to pray before each meal.
4. Bring a Bible storybook in to read to the child at bedtime.

Question 2

The nurse has developed a strong rapport with a client whose medical care necessitates transfusion of multiple units of blood. The client has a religious objection to this treatment even though it is necessary to sustain life.

What action should the nurse take?
1. Use the rapport established to influence the client to accept the blood transfusions.
2. Explain the scientific reasons that blood transfusions are necessary and why refusal is dangerous.
3. Encourage the client, the physician, and the client's spiritual adviser to discuss this conflict and any possible alternative therapies.
4. Suggest to the client that as the illness progresses, the blood will probably be transfused despite religious objections.

jessicaduplan · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale 1: Asking who God is assumes that the child's religion recognizes God. At this age, the child is a little young to articulate the identity of God.
Rationale 2: The nurse should support the routine spiritual practices encouraged by the family. If the client says routine bedtime prayers, the nurse can support this practice by listening to the prayer.
Rationale 3: If the child does not routinely pray before meals, the nurse should not introduce this activity.
Rationale 4: Bringing in a Bible storybook to read to the child assumes that the child holds certain religious beliefs.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 3
Rationale 1: Using the rapport established to influence the decision is unethical.
Rationale 2: Just explaining scientific reasons will not generally make a difference in the client's decision.
Rationale 3: This is a delicate situation for a nurse who has developed a rapport and relationship with a client. The best response is to support the discussion between client, physician, and spiritual adviser. At that point, the nurse must be prepared to support whatever decision the client makes, even if it is to not permit the transfusions.
Rationale 4: This is unethical and should not be done by the nurse.