A 4-year-old boy is hospitalized with a serious bacterial infection.He tells the nurse that he is sick because he was "bad." What is the nurse's best interpretation of this comment?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Preschoolers cannot understand the cause and effect of illness.Their egocentrism makes them think they are directly responsible for events,making them feel guilt for things outside of their control.Children of this age react to stress by regressing developmentally or acting out.Maladaptation is unlikely.This comment does not imply excessive discipline at home.

A 4-Year-Old Boy Is Hospitalized with a Serious Bacterial Infection