Growth and Development Q 38
While teaching a 10-year-old child about their impending heart surgery, the nurse should
A. Explain the surgery using a model of the heart
B. Provide a verbal explanation just prior to the surgery
C. Introduce the child to another child who had heart surgery three days ago
D. Provide the child with a booklet to read about the surgery
Correct Answer: A. Explain the surgery using a model of the heart.
Based on Piaget’s theory, the school-age child is in the concrete operations stage of cognitive development. During this stage, children begin to think logically about concrete events. Using something concrete, like a model will help the child understand the explanation of heart surgery.
Option B: This refers to the formal operational stage where the child has the ability to think logically and understand abstract concepts. The ability to think about abstract ideas and situations is the key hallmark of the formal operational stage of cognitive development. The nurse uses a book or provides a verbal explanation about the surgery.
Option C: This refers to the preoperational stage (2-7 years old). It is characterized by egocentric and concrete thinking. While they are getting better with language and thinking, they still tend to think about things in very concrete terms.
Option D: The final stage of Piaget’s theory, the formal operational stage, involves an increase in logic, the ability to use deductive reasoning, and an understanding of abstract ideas. At this point, people become capable of seeing multiple potential solutions to problems and think more scientifically about the world around them.