Question

After teaching the parents of a child with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder about ways to control the child's behavior, the nurse determines a need for additional teaching when the

parents state which of the following?
A) "If he starts to act out, we'll have him do a time-out to help him refocus."
B) "We can use a reward system when he behaves appropriately."
C) "If he misbehaves, we need to punish him instead of reward him."
D) "We need to help him set realistic goals that he can achieve."

Answer 1

The nurse would need to provide additional teaching for the parents suggesting punishment for misbehavior, as reinforcement techniques are generally favored over punishment for children with ADHD.

Step-by-step explanation:

The need for additional teaching is indicated by the statement that the parents would punish the child when he misbehaves. This approach is less favored compared to reinforcement strategies in managing behavior for children with ADHD.Time-out is a form of negative punishment that can be effective for behavior modification. It involves removing the child from a desirable activity to decrease unwanted behavior. Using positive reinforcement, such as a reward system, is generally recommended over punishment. Rewarding children when they demonstrate appropriate behavior is more effective and has fewer negative consequences than punishment.

When misbehavior occurs, rather than punishing, a more positive approach or redirection is often beneficial. Helping the child set realistic goals that they can achieve is also an important strategy in managing ADHD. All strategies should be consistently applied to be effective and to provide a clear structure for the child.