Practice NCLEX question

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Here is a practice NCLEX question for all the nursing students taking a pediatrics class out there. Let's see how everyone does.

A nurse is caring for a hospitalized 2-year-old child who throws a tantrum when his parent leaves. Which of the following toys should the nurse provide to help alleviate the child's stress?

A. Set of building blocks

B. Toy hammer and pounding board

C. Picture book about hospitals

D. Stuffed animal

Good luck!

B! Let them work out their frustration

I'm not a PEDS nurse, and I passed the NCLEX, but I'll go with D.

2 may be a bit old for separation anxiety, but dammit, they should not be left alone in the hospital either!

My second choice is the hammer. 'Cause that's what I'd want. But I'm not 2.

I'm not taking a pediatric class but I say B.

Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.

Im going to go with A. A is age appropriate for a 2 year old and will redirect their focus. Most two year olds like to build things. And if thrown out of frustration they are small and light so they don't really hurt anybody. I would not give a frustrated 2 year old a hammer lest they hit me with it and hit things in the room or smash their fingers. C is not exactly a wrong choice since many 2 years olds like picture books, but if they are mad, they probably would only look at it briefly. Also, books are not washable. D would be a toy for an infant, and they are not washable. So unless it it getting sent home, it is not appropriate for a hospital setting.

I could be wrong in my choice, but this is how my mind worked this one out.

Had this in lifespan development! A because 2 = toddler = motor skills = building blocks.

Had this in lifespan development! A because 2 = toddler = motor skills = building blocks.

I liked that answer. Just kept thinking of blocks bring thrown.

Or a kid not being calm enough at age 2 to be redirected like that during a tantrum.

Specializes in Emergency Nursing.
Im going to go with A. A is age appropriate for a 2 year old and will redirect their focus. Most two year olds like to build things. And if thrown out of frustration they are small and light so they don't really hurt anybody. I would not give a frustrated 2 year old a hammer lest they hit me with it and hit things in the room or smash their fingers. C is not exactly a wrong choice since many 2 years olds like picture books, but if they are mad, they probably would only look at it briefly. Also, books are not washable. D would be a toy for an infant, and they are not washable. So unless it it getting sent home, it is not appropriate for a hospital setting.

I could be wrong in my choice, but this is how my mind worked this one out.

It's not a real hammer. I'm sure they meant a toy hammer with the built in pegs, like from Fisher Price!

No smashed fingers!

Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.
It's not a real hammer. I'm sure they meant a toy hammer with the built in pegs, like from Fisher Price!

No smashed fingers!

I know its a toy hammer. I am not assuming whether you have kids or not, but have you ever been hit with those toy hammers? They hurt, and an angry 2 year old could full force swing that hammer down on their fingers and hurt themselves. Also, allowing aggression with a hammer for a 2 year old doesnt teach them the proper way to handle frustration. Or at least not to me. You could very well be correct in your thinking. Hopefully OP comes back to give us the correct answer.

I know its a toy hammer. I am not assuming whether you have kids or not, but have you ever been hit with those toy hammers? They hurt, and an angry 2 year old could full force swing that hammer down on their fingers and hurt themselves. Also, allowing aggression with a hammer for a 2 year old doesnt teach them the proper way to handle frustration. Or at least not to me. You could very well be correct in your thinking. Hopefully OP comes back to give us the correct answer.

I know you were being serious but I couldn't help but smile at the angry 2 year old wielding a hammer... Part of the reason I took the stuffed animal- it doesn't hurt when it's thrown.

And kids who are scared may regress and need the comfort.

And yes, I have kids!

Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.

LOL. That does leave a good mental image. I have a 2 year old who does angrily wield crayons and such. Oh boy would a hammer look hilarious. And this is what I hate about these types of questions. I could probably look in my peds book or lifespan development book for the correct answer here, but when asked it is so easy to interpret a correct answer differently.

I actually thought stuffed animal on a test in school for a similar reason. But, my instructor said that I cannot assume that all hospitals will just have stuffed animals to give away and that in general we should never pick a non washable toy for these types of questions. But that doesnt mean that another instructor might feel different.

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