The nurse is working on the pediatric unit. In preparing to give medic

The nurse is working on the pediatric unit. In preparing to give medications to a preschool-age child, an appropriate interaction by the nurse is:

1. “Do you want to take your medication now?”
2. “Would you like the medication with water or juice?”
3. “Let me explain about the injection that you will be getting.”
4. “If you don’t take the medication now, you will not get better.”

ANSWER

ANS: 2
Allowing the child the choice of taking a medication with water or juice may have greater suc-cess because the child is involved. The child should not be given the option of not taking a med-ication. The nurse should explain the procedure to a child, using short words and simple language appropriate to the child’s level of comprehension. Long explanations may increase a child’s anxi-ety. Option 4 is not a motivation for a child to take a prescribed medication. Giving the child a star or token afterward would be more motivating for a child.