Final answer:
To reduce a preschooler's anxiety about surgery, nurses should use age-appropriate language to explain anesthesia, encourage medical play with dolls and equipment, and avoid overly detailed descriptions of procedures.
Step-by-step explanation:
To help reduce a preschooler’s anxiety about an upcoming surgery, a nurse can employ several strategies. While explaining that the child will be 'put to sleep' during the surgery and will not feel anything might be necessary, it is essential to adjust the language to be age-appropriate and not induce further anxiety about 'sleep.' Introducing medical play can be particularly effective; giving the child dolls and medical equipment to play with allows them to act out their experiences, which can help them understand and process the situation. Preoperative teaching can be beneficial but should be done timely and in a way that is understandable to a child, avoiding overly detailed descriptions of procedures that may overwhelm them.
Ensuring a friendly and reassuring environment is crucial. The operating room team routinely carries out protocols to ensure safety and reduce risks, such as reviewing aloud key concerns for the recovery and care of the patient, confirming the patient's identity, surgical site, and procedure, and holding a 'time out' before the skin incision. Nurses also play a significant role in this process, reviewing sterility, equipment availability, and addressing issues specific to the patient, which includes offering psychological support to children and their families to ensure a positive experience.