Author Question: A 2-year-old child has been hospitalized for 4 days. The nurse notes the child is quiet and ... (Read 267 times)

melina_rosy · **on:** Jun 27, 2018

A 2-year-old child has been hospitalized for 4 days. The nurse notes the child is quiet and withdrawn. Which is the best explanation for this behavior?

a. The child is protesting because of separation from caregivers.
b. The child has adjusted to the hospitalization.
c. The child is experiencing the despair stage of separation.
d. The child has reached the stage of detach-ment.

Question 2

In planning care, the nurse recognizes that which child should have the most difficulty with separation from family during hospitalization?

a. A 5-month-old infant
b. A 15-month-old toddler
c. A 4-year-old child
d. A 7-year-old child

jliusyl · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 27, 2018

Answer to Question 1

C
In the despair stage of separation, the child exhibits signs of hopelessness and becomes quiet, withdrawn, and apathetic. The detachment stage occurs after prolonged separation. During this phase, the child becomes interested in the environment and begins to play. In the protest stage, the child would be agitated, crying, resistant to caregivers, and inconsolable. Toddlers do not readily adjust to hospitalization and separation from caregivers.

Answer to Question 2

B
Separation is the major stressor for children hospitalized between the ages of 6 and 30 months. Infants younger than 6 months of age will generally adapt to hospitalization if their basic needs for food, warmth, and comfort are met. Although separation anxiety occurs in hospitalized preschoolers, it is usually less obvious and less serious than that experienced by the toddler. The school-age child is accustomed to separation from parents. Although hospitalization is a stressor, the 7-year-old child will have less separation anxiety than a 15-month-old toddler.