A 6-year old child starts crying when the nurse brings formula in to start the tube feeding. What action by the nurse is best?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Children can feel anxious and frightened by treatments and medical equipment. The nurse can "normalize" the experience by encouraging the family to help make time during the feeding as normal as possible while the feeding is being administered. This can encourage the child to engage in age-appropriate activities. "Why" questions are not therapeutic and a 6-year-old might not be able to verbalize the problem. Telling the child that "big kids" don't cry is demeaning and shaming. Offering a reward can be used occasionally with children, but a better response is to work on the cause of the behavior.

A 6-Year Old Child Starts Crying When the Nurse Brings