Question

The parents of a young child tell the nurse that they cannot stay with their daughter during hospitalization. What can the nurse say to the parents that will help the child adjust to their absence?

1-"Children just need their parents. Can't you find a way to be here?"
2-"It'll be fine. Just buy some new toys from the hospital gift store."
3-"Young children like new toys much better than they do older ones."
4-"At this age children often need the comfort and reassurance of familiar toys from home."

Answer 1

The nurse should advise the parents to bring familiar toys from home to help the child adjust to their absence during hospitalization, providing comfort and a sense of familiarity in the hospital setting.

Step-by-step explanation:

When discussing the adjustment of a child to the absence of their parents during hospitalization, the nurse can provide advice that will support the child's sense of security. From a psychological perspective, it's well-understood that children often need the comfort and reassurance of familiar items. Therefore, the nurse might suggest to the parents to bring familiar toys from home for their child. These toys can provide comfort and a sense of familiarity in the strange environment of a hospital. This approach aligns with attachment theory, which emphasizes the importance of comfort items in maintaining a child's sense of closeness to their parents even in their absence.

Explaining that children are comforted by the presence of familiar objects, especially in new or potentially stressful situations, can help the parents understand how to ease their child's anxiety about their absence. The suggestion also indirectly highlights the importance of family involvement in a child's well-being and recovery process, which is critically valued in pediatric healthcare environments.