A nurse is admitting a toddler to the hospital. The parent needs to leave for a brief period. Which figure depicts the reaction the nurse expects from the child?

Question

a. c.
b. d.

Answer 1

ANS: A
The major stress from middle infancy throughout the preschool years, especially for children ages 6 to 30 months, is separation anxiety, also called anaclitic depression. During the stage of protest, children react aggressively to the separation from the parent. They cry and scream for their parents, refuse the attention of anyone else, and are inconsolable in their grief. When the parent leaves even for a short time this is the expected reaction and the figure that depicts the child not wanting the parent to leave is what the nurse should expect as a reaction from the child. The child sitting alone sadly depicts a child in the despair stage. In this stage depression is evident. The child is much less active, is uninterested in play or food, and withdraws from others. The child sitting on the parent's lap is withdrawn and sad, even in the presence of the parent. The child depicted playing a game is adjusting to the hospitalization with play.