The mother of a child receiving immunizations at a health clinic share

The mother of a child receiving immunizations at a health clinic shares with the nurse that she and the child have not eaten today.

Which of the following nursing interventions is best directed at impacting the immediate problem while being sensitive to the mother’s sense of self-worth?
1. Notifying family services of the problem
2. Taking both mother and child to the cafeteria
3. Informing the mother that she is eligible for food stamps
4. Providing her with contacts at the neighborhood food bank

ANSWER

ANS: 4
When caring for these families, the nurse needs to be sensitive to the family’s desire for inde-pendence, but also help them with obtaining appropriate food, financial, and health care re-sources. Notifying family services may become necessary, but attempts to provide the mother with available means of assistance has priority. Taking them to the cafeteria would provide im-mediate food but does not address future needs or show sensitivity to the mother. Informing the mother about local and state aid may become necessary, but it does not address the immediate need, nor does it show sensitivity to the mother.