A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a 5-year-old child with symptoms of pneumonia and a fever of 102° F. Which intervention can the nurse implement to promote a sense of control for the child?
a. None, this is an emergency and the child should not participate in care.
b. Allow the child to hold the digital thermometer while taking the child's blood pressure.
c. Ask the child if it is OK to take a temperature in the ear.
d. Have parents wait in the waiting room.
ANS: B
The nurse should allow the child to hold the digital thermometer while taking the child's blood pressure. Unless an emergency is life threatening, children need to participate in their care to maintain a sense of control. Because emergency departments are frequently hectic, there is a tendency to rush through procedures to save time. However, the extra few minutes needed to allow children to participate may save many more minutes of useless resistance and uncooperativeness during subsequent procedures. The child may not give permission, if asked, for a procedure that is necessary to be performed. It is better to give choices such as, "Which ear do you want me to do your temperature in?" instead of, "Can I take your temperature?" Parents should remain with their child to help with decreasing the child's anxiety.
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