An 18-month-old has just been admitted with croup.His parent is tearful and tells the nurse,"This is all my fault.I should have taken him to the doctor sooner so he wouldn't have to be here." What is the appropriate response for this parent who is experiencing guilt?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Guilt is a common response of parents when a child is hospitalized.They may blame themselves for the child's illness or for not recognizing it soon enough.The nurse should clarify the nature of the problem and reassure parents that the child is being cared for.Croup is potentially a very serious illness;it is unwise to lie about or trivialize the child's condition.The nurse should also not minimize the parents' feelings.Encouraging the parents to maintain a sense of control is not helpful,as it would be difficult while their child is seriously ill.No further assessment is indicated at this time-guilt is a common response for parents.

An 18-Month-Old Has Just Been Admitted with Croup