Pediatric Practice Exam HESI Related

Review Pediatric Practice Exam HESI related questions and content

A parent of a 2-year-old child tells a nurse at the clinic, 'Whenever I go to the store, my child has a screaming tantrum, demanding a toy or candy on the shelves. How can I deal with this situation?' What is the nurse's best response?

  • A. "Attempt to distract the child by offering a toy to the child."
  • B. "Say nothing and allow the tantrum to continue until it ends."
  • C. "Have a babysitter stay with the child at home until the child outgrows this behavior."
  • D. "Give the child the item while in the store, and when the child loses interest, return the item to the shelf."
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The nurse's best response is to allow the tantrum to continue until it ends without giving in to the child's demands. By not rewarding the child with the desired item during a tantrum, the child learns that this behavior is not effective in getting what they want. Offering a toy to distract the child (Choice A) may reinforce the idea that tantrums lead to rewards. Leaving the child with a babysitter (Choice C) does not address the issue at hand, which is teaching the child appropriate behavior in public places. Giving the child the item temporarily (Choice D) may encourage the child to have tantrums in the future to obtain desired items.