Question

A child ingests a caustic toilet bowl cleaner during a visit to a friend's house. The child's caregiver tells the nurse about feelings of guilt. What would be an appropriate response by the nurse?

"Don't worry. The child is going to be fine." "Why didn't you watch your child more closely?" "You shouldn't feel guilty. You didn't know their cleaners weren't locked up." "Tell me more about your feelings."

Answer 1

The most appropriate nursing response is to ask the caregiver to share more about their feelings, providing a supportive and non-judgmental environment.

Step-by-step explanation:

When responding to a caregiver who feels guilty about a child ingesting a caustic substance, a nurse should provide empathetic and professional support. The most appropriate response would be, "Tell me more about your feelings." This opens a dialogue that allows the caregiver to express their emotions and concerns, thereby starting the process of emotional healing. It is also important to reinforce the need for safety and supervision, but in a non-accusatory manner. Bringing up actions like ensuring household chemicals are locked up and understanding how to respond during emergencies with children, without direct blame, can be educational and preventive for future incidents.