While being comforted in the emergency department, the six-year-old sibling of a pediatric trauma victim blurts out to the nurse, "It's all my fault! When we were fighting yesterday, I told him I wished he was dead!" The nurse, realizing that the child is experiencing magical thinking, should respond by:
A)Asking the child if he would like to sit down and drink some water.
B)Sitting the child down in an empty room with markers and paper so that he can draw a picture.
C)Reassuring the child that it is normal to get angry and say things that we do not mean, but that we have no control over whether an accident happens.
D)Calmly discussing the catheters, tubes, and equipment that the patient requires, and explaining to the sibling why the patient needs them.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The best way to respond to the child's statement is to reassure him that accidents happen and that he did not cause the injury. It is important to acknowledge the child's feelings and provide support while also correcting any misconceptions about causation. Option A may be helpful in calming the child, but does not address the underlying issue at hand. Option B may be an appropriate distraction technique, but does not specifically address the child's statement. Option D may be overwhelming for a young child and is not the most appropriate response in this situation.

While Being Comforted in the Emergency Department, the Six-Year-Old Sibling