A nurse is caring for a five-year-old child that has been hospitalized multiple times for leukemia. After observing the child using several coping mechanisms, the nurse designs a plan of care that includes:
Explanation
•Therapeutic play is a great way for the child to act out past experiences and feelings to reduce the trauma and anxiety related to hospitalization.
•Incorrect: Placing the child on psychiatric medication is not appropriate unless the child has a psychiatric illness.
•Incorrect: Telling this child to focus on the future is insensitive and inappropriate.
•Incorrect: Having the child discuss his feelings during therapy is developmentally inappropriate at age five. Play therapy is more appropriate for this developmental stage.