A 10-year-old patient on a children's oncology unit has had an unsuccessful bone marrow transplant. The family is distraught but remains positive in front of the child. One night the child asks the nurse about death and dying
What counseling should the nurse give to the parents? a. Avoid talking about death in front of the child.
b. Change the subject if the child asks about dying.
c. Allow the child to have an honest discussion about dying.
d. Allow the physician to discuss this with the child.
C
Children are remarkably observant and have an intuitive ability to understand the seriousness of their illness and its outcomes. Whenever possible, parents should be encouraged to communicate with the dying child. Open discussions of the illness and its outcomes help children cope with feelings of isolation, anxiety, and guilt over causing distress in the family. The other options continue to isolate the child and encourage suppression of feelings.
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