The nurse is working with a 14-year-old adolescent with an intellectual disability. The adolescent's mental age is four. In explaining an X-ray to the adolescent, the nurse should explain:

Question

1. To the adolescent in terms appropriate to a teenager.
2. To the parents and have them explain to their child.
3. As little as possible because the child will not understand anyway.
4. Using words that are in the vocabulary of a four-year-old without talking down to the adolescent.

Answer 1

4
Rationale 1: The adolescent's mental age is that of a four-year-old. Explanations should be at a level a four-year-old child can understand.
Rationale 2: The nurse will explain the procedure to the parents, but the nurse should also explain to the adolescent in terms he can understand.
Rationale 3: The child has communication skills, and the nurse should explain in simple terms that the adolescent can understand.
Rationale 4: Use the child's mental, not chronological, age when explaining procedures.
Global Rationale: