Question

A 4-year-old child is scheduled for cardiac surgery in a week. The child's parents call the hospital to ask how to prepare the child for the upcoming hospitalization and surgical procedure. The nurse's reply should be based on the knowledge that

a. preparation at this age will only increase the child's stress.
b. preparation needs to be at least 2 to 3 weeks before hospitalization to be effective.
c. children who are prepared experience less fear and stress during hospitalization.
d. children who are prepared experience overwhelming fear by the time hospitalization occurs.

Answer 1

Parents should prepare their 4-year-old child for hospitalization and surgery by gently explaining the process in simple terms, as children who are prepared typically feel less fear and stress. The preparation should be in a manner appropriate for the child's age and developmental level and should happen soon enough for the child to process the information.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to how parents should prepare a child for hospitalization and surgery. It is a common concern for families, especially when it involves a very young child. With reference to the context of the provided information, the nurse's reply should emphasize that children who are prepared tend to experience less fear and stress during hospitalization. Therefore, parents should be encouraged to start preparing the child in a developmentally appropriate way, which means explaining the procedure in simple terms, using play to demonstrate the hospital experience, and reassuring the child that they will be taken care of.

Although the information provided talks about the social aspects of parenting based on children's ages, it is generally accepted that preparing a child for an upcoming medical procedure is important and should be done in a way the child can understand. It should be gentle and supportive, rather than waiting until the last minute or providing too much detail that could be overwhelming. The preparation does not need to be weeks in advance but should give the child enough time to process the information and ask questions.