The nurse prepares a 7-year-old client for an influenza injection. The nurse explains that the client will receive "medicine under the skin," and the client is visibly anxious. Which nursing intervention is appropriate?

Question

The nurse prepares a 7-year-old client for an influenza injection.  The nurse explains that the client will receive "medicine under the skin," and the client is visibly anxious.  Which nursing intervention is appropriate?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Children are often fearful of injections, exhibiting unpredictable and/or uncooperative behavior. The nurse should explain the procedure to the child using simple, age-appropriate language (eg, "medicine under the skin") to reduce anxiety. According to Piaget's cognitive developmental stages, school-age children develop concrete thought and may fear a loss of control. To improve the child's sense of control, the nurse should offer a specific, task-based coping technique (eg, counting aloud, deep breathing) (Option A). (Option B) A caregiver should hold or embrace a child during the injection process, with the child on the caregiver's lap or standing in front of a seated caregiver. Tightly holding the child's arms is extreme and may distress the child and caregiver. (Option C) The child should be told the truth about pain that accompanies an injection. The nurse should use appropriate language, such as "the skin may hurt for a minute," and emphasize that the pain is quick and transient. (Option D) Keeping objects that may alarm the child out of view is an appropriate intervention for a toddler but not for a school-age child. Hiding a procedural object from a 7-year-old will hinder rapport with the nurse and may heighten the child's anxiety. Educational objective: School-age children possess concrete thinking and fear loss of control. When administering an injection to a school-age child, the nurse should offer a specific, task-based coping technique (eg, instruct the child to count aloud or breathe deeply) to increase the child's sense of control and thereby reduce anxiety.

The Nurse Prepares a 7-Year-Old Client for an Influenza Injection