Fundamentals of Nursing Q 306
Which of these statements, when made by the nurse, is most effective when communicating with a 4-year-old?
A. “Tell me where you hurt.”
B. “Other children like having their blood pressure taken.”
C. “This will be like having a little stick in your arm.”
D. “Anything you tell me is confidential.”
Correct Answer: A. “Tell me where you hurt.”
Four-year-olds are egocentric and interested in having the focus on themselves. As kids gain language skills, they also develop their conversational abilities. Kids 4 to 5 years old can follow more complex directions and enthusiastically talk about things they do. They can make up stories, listen attentively to stories, and retell stories.
Option B: They will not be interested in what it feels like to other children. By the time your child is in their later years of primary school, their language and ability to convey ideas has improved a lot. They even alter their speech to suit the circumstances. They may speak more formally in front of a teacher than they do with family and friends.
Option C: Preschoolers are concrete thinkers and would literally interpret any analogies so they are not helpful in explaining procedures. Concrete thinking is a kind of reasoning that relies heavily on what we observe in the physical world around us. It’s sometimes called literal thinking. Young children think concretely, but as they mature, they usually develop the ability to think more abstractly.
Option D: Assurance of confidential communication is most appropriate for the adolescent. In addition, confidentiality is not maintained if the child plans to harm themselves, harm someone else, or discloses abuse.