Question

A 3-year-old child's parents have been unable to visit since the child was admitted to the hospital. The toddler has become quiet and withdrawn. To best help the child at this time, what should the nurse do?

1) Bring the child a stuffed animal to cuddle.
2) Contact the parents to encourage them to visit the child.
3) Encourage the child to play games with the other children.
4) Assign the same nurse to care for the child whenever possible.

Answer 1

To best assist a toddler in the hospital who has become quiet and withdrawn, nurses have multiple strategies to consider, including providing tactile comfort with a stuffed animal, encouraging parental visits, promoting social interaction, and maintaining caregiver consistency. The priority should potentially be on re-establishing parental connection and caregiver consistency to address the child's sense of security and attachment.

Step-by-step explanation:

To best help a 3-year-old child who has become quiet and withdrawn due to their parents' inability to visit them in the hospital, the nurse should explore various options that align with professional nursing care and developmental psychology. The provided options each have their own merits:

• Bringing the child a stuffed animal to cuddle could provide comfort and a sense of security through soothing tactile stimulation, as neonates and toddlers respond well to soft textures.
• Contacting the parents to encourage them to visit tackles the root of the problem by attempting to reconnect the child with their primary attachment figures.
• Encouraging the child to play games with other children could help alleviate loneliness and encourage social interaction, which may improve the child's mood and behavior.
• Assigning the same nurse to the child whenever possible establishes consistency and a familiar presence, which can help establish trust and security.

While each action could benefit the child, the best approach would be context-dependent. Understanding the individual child's needs and the hospital's resources and policies will guide the decision. That said, re-establishing the connection with the parents could be considered the highest priority given the importance of parent-child attachment. Consistency in caregiving by allocating the same nurse could also be highly beneficial in promoting a sense of stability and trust.

It is essential for nurses to remember that each child is unique and to assess which method would work best for the individual child in their particular situation.