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A 15-month-old child is hospitalized after ingesting toilet bowl cleaner. The mother confides that she feels guilty about leaving the cleaner where her child could get it. What is the best response by the nurse?

1) Anyone could make a mistake. Don't dwell on it.
2) Let's not worry about the past. Your child is going to get better.
3) It was an accident, but you should consider special locks on your closets.
4) That was careless of you. Please make sure that you poison-proof your house.

User NVM
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Final answer:

A nurse should respond compassionately to a mother feeling guilty about her child's poisoning, advising practical safety measures like installing special locks to prevent further accidents, while also acknowledging the accident and the importance of poison-proofing the home.

Step-by-step explanation:

In responding to a mother who feels guilty about her child ingesting toilet bowl cleaner, a nurse should provide a compassionate and constructive response. Option 3 from the given choices, 'It was an accident, but you should consider special locks on your closets,' combines acknowledgment of the accident with practical advice on prevention in the future. This response ensures that the mother's feelings are validated while also emphasizing the importance of safety measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring.

Poisonings, like ingestion of toxic substances such as toilet bowl cleaner, can result in serious consequences ranging from short-term illness to more severe outcomes like coma or death. Therefore, keeping hazardous materials out of children's reach and using products according to their labels is critical for child safety. It is essential for caregivers to understand the importance of storing toxic substances properly and taking preventative steps such as installing childproof locks where necessary.

User Naoru
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