Author Question: The nurse is caring for a 3-year-old client on the pediatric unit who was in an automobile accident. ... (Read 39 times)

jeatrice · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

The nurse is caring for a 3-year-old client on the pediatric unit who was in an automobile accident. The client's mother was killed in the accident and the client has just been told. How should the nurse expect the client to react to this information?

A) The client will ask if mommy will cook her favorite meal when she wakes up.
B) The client will cry and be depressed.
C) The client will ask for her toys and ignore what has been said.
D) The client will react with anger and may be violent.

Question 2

A client being treated for depression reports feeling better and having more energy. Which is a priority nursing diagnosis for the client at this time?

A) Social Isolation
B) Hopelessness
C) Situational Low Self-Esteem
D) Risk for Self-Directed Violence

peter · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: A

The 3-year-old client generally thinks of death as being sleep, and with that level of understanding, it would be reasonable to ask for her mother to make her a meal upon waking. This is a normal reaction of a child of this age. The child will not appear to show grief or become angry because the child thinks the mother is sleeping. Neither would the child ignore what has been said about her mother.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: D

The one risk that occurs with successful treatment of a client with depression is that once the depression begins to resolve, the underlying thought of suicide could prevail. With treatment, the client may begin to have more energy to make a plan regarding suicide. The nurse should further assess this client's statement about making plans. The client is not demonstrating low self-esteem, hopelessness, or social isolation.