The nurse is developing a care plan for a hospitalized toddler who has autism.
What information should the nurse obtain from the parents to promote the toddler's acclimation to the hospitalized environment?
The nurse is developing a care plan for a hospitalized toddler who has autism.
What information should the nurse obtain from the parents to promote the toddler's acclimation to the hospitalized environment?
A. height and weight
[2%]
B. bedtime routine
[91%]
C. vaccine history
[3%]
D. current medications
[4%]
Statistics
Subject/Lesson
Subject
Mental Health
Lesson
Mental Health
Client Need
Test Plan
Psychosocial Integrity
Related Topic
Sensory/Perceptual Alterations
Item Type
Item Type
Application
Explanation
Choice B is correct. Autism often involves a strong preference for routines and predictability. Disruptions in routines, especially bedtime routines, can cause distress and anxiety in children with autism. Obtaining information about the bedtime routine allows the healthcare team to create a more comfortable and supportive hospital environment. Hospitalization may be a challenging experience for a toddler, and adding autism to the clinical picture requires home routines and rituals to be continued during hospitalization. Another strategy for a hospitalized individual is to provide a low-stimulus environment with consistent caregivers.
Choice A is incorrect. This information is important for assessing the child's growth and nutritional status. Still, it is not crucial when considering how the child will acclimate to the hospitalized environment.
Choice C is incorrect. While vaccine history is essential for maintaining the child's immunizations and preventing vaccine-preventable diseases, it is not a consideration when determining how the child will acclimate to the hospitalized environment.
Choice D is incorrect. Collecting and reviewing the child's current medications would be a key nursing task. This would not be pertinent in facilitating the child's acclimation to the hospitalized environment. Understanding the child's routines and rituals and attempting to incorporate them as much as possible would facilitate effective coping.
Additional Info
✓ The pathogenesis of autism is not well understood. Genetic factors in the development of an individual seem to have a key role in this disorder.
✓ Autism tends to occur more in males than in females. This could be a genetic factor or that autism is diagnosed more in males. More research is needed to clarify this point.
✓ Clinical features of this disorder range from mild to severe.
✓ These features include language impairments, absent or limited interest in socialization with others, insistence on routine and rituals, and intolerance of high environmental stimulation.
✓ Vaccines do not cause autism.
✓ Nursing care for a client with autism incorporates routine into their care by having the same caregivers, structure for activities, and maintaining a predictable environment with low stimuli.
✓ Assess and address sensory sensitivities. Some children with autism may have specific sensory preferences (e.g., weighted blankets and calming sensory items) that can be incorporated into their care.
