The nurse is caring for a 5-year-old child. How can the nurse best sup

The nurse is caring for a 5-year-old child. How can the nurse best support the spiritual development of this client?

1. Ask the child who God is.
2. Listen to the child’s routine bedtime prayer.
3. Encourage the child to pray before each meal.
4. Bring a Bible storybook in to read to the child at bedtime.

ANSWER

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale 1: Asking who God is assumes that the child’s religion recognizes God. At this age, the child is a little young to articulate the identity of God.
Rationale 2: The nurse should support the routine spiritual practices encouraged by the family. If the client says routine bedtime prayers, the nurse can support this practice by listening to the prayer.
Rationale 3: If the child does not routinely pray before meals, the nurse should not introduce this activity.
Rationale 4: Bringing in a Bible storybook to read to the child assumes that the child holds certain religious beliefs.