A preschool-age client is diagnosed with epilepsy. The child's mother is crying as she tells the nurse, "I know that this is my fault. I did drugs before I knew I was pregnant." Which response by the nurse is the most appropriate?

Question

1. "That is most likely not the reason your child has epilepsy."
2. "The most important thing now is getting good care for your child."
3. "Women who take drugs during pregnancy have to realize they are possibly hurting their baby."
4. "Medical testing can tell when the damage occurred."

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale 1: Epilepsy could be caused by exposure to substances prenatally. The nurse does not know that is not the case in this situation.
Rationale 2: The reason the child has epilepsy is not as important as obtaining appropriate care for the child today.
Rationale 3: While it is true that women should realize that actions taken in pregnancy can affect the child, this is not the therapeutic response to this mother.
Rationale 4: Medical testing cannot tell when the damage occurred, and this statement reinforces the blame-placing and guilt expressed by the mother's statements.
Global Rationale: The reason the child has epilepsy is not as important as obtaining appropriate care for the child today. Epilepsy could be caused by exposure to substances prenatally. The nurse does not know that is not the case in this situation. While it is true that women should realize that actions taken in pregnancy can affect the child, this is not the therapeutic response to this mother. Medical testing cannot tell when the damage occurred, and this statement reinforces the blame-placing and guilt expressed by the mother's statements.