Question

Which response would the nurse provide the parent of a 15-month-old child who expresses feelings of guilt when their child was hospitalized after ingesting toilet bowl cleaner?

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

Answer 1

The nurse should respond to the guilt felt by the parent with empathy, acknowledge the accident, and offer constructive advice on child safety measures, such as installing cabinet locks to prevent future incidents.

Step-by-step explanation:

The response a nurse should provide to a parent who is feeling guilty after their child ingested toilet bowl cleaner is one that is compassionate and provides practical advice for the future. Based on the professional and nurturing role nurses fulfill, the appropriate response would include acknowledging the accident, ensuring the parent that such incidents can happen to anyone, and offering constructive advice on how to prevent similar situations in the future.

The nurse could say: "It was an accident, but moving forward, you might consider installing special locks on your cabinets and ensuring dangerous products are out of reach. This can help prevent such incidents from happening again."

This approach provides support and understanding while also emphasizing the importance of safety measures to protect young children from potential hazards in the home.