The mother of a child undergoing an emergency appendectomy tells the nurse, "If I had brought him in yesterday when he complained of an upset stomach, this would not be happening."

Question

The nursing diagnosis for this mother is caregiver role strain, and the nurse plans to support the mother by with which best response? 1. "It's okay; you got him here just before it ruptured.".
2. "It is often difficult to predict when a simple complaint will become more serious.".
3. "Next time he seems sick, you should bring him in immediately.".
4. "Sometimes parents can make a mistake without meaning to do so.".

Answer 1

2. "It is often difficult to predict when a simple complaint will become more serious.".

Rationale:
Parents often react to a child's illness with feelings of guilt for not recognizing the severity of the condition sooner. A response that provides emotional support and reduces parental anxiety encourages parents to feel confident in their abilities as a caregiver. Saying that everything is okay ignores the mother's feelings. Telling the mother to bring the child to the hospital immediately with every illness is not sound advice, and saying that she made a mistake adds to the parent's sense of guilt.