Question

19. The nurse in a pediatric ICU is caring for a child who is dying of sickle cell anemia. The childs mother has been unable to eat or sleep and can talk only about her impending loss and the guilt she feels about the childs pain and suffering. What intervention has the highest priority?

A) Allowing the patient to express her feelings without judging her
B) Helping the patient to understand the phases of the grieving process
C) Reassuring the patient that the childs death is not her fault
D) Arranging for genetic counseling to inform the patient of her chances of having another child with the disease

Answer 1

The most important intervention for a mother in a pediatric ICU with a dying child is to allow her to express her feelings openly and without judgment, offering immediate emotional support.

Step-by-step explanation:

The intervention that has the highest priority for the mother of the child dying of sickle cell anemia in the pediatric ICU involves allowing the patient to express her feelings without judging her. This approach provides immediate emotional support and a safe space for the mother to verbalize her grief and guilt. Supporting the mother's emotional needs is essential during this acutely distressing time, and it can help her start the healing process.

While understanding the phases of the grieving process and receiving genetic counseling for future pregnancies are important, they do not address the mother's immediate needs. Reassurance about the child's death not being her fault might also be a part of the conversation, but it shouldn't take precedence over allowing her to express her raw, unfiltered emotions.