Wong's Essentials of Pediatric Nursing 11th Edition Test Bank - Family-Centered Care of the Child During Illness and Hospitalization Related

Review Wong's Essentials of Pediatric Nursing 11th Edition Test Bank - Family-Centered Care of the Child During Illness and Hospitalization related questions and content

A preschooler is found digging up a pet bird that was recently buried after it died. What is the best explanation for this behavior?

  • A. He has a morbid preoccupation with death.
  • B. He is looking to see if a ghost took it away.
  • C. He needs reassurance that the pet has not gone somewhere else.
  • D. The loss is not yet resolved, and professional counseling is needed.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Preschoolers struggle with the permanence of death and may dig up the pet to confirm its presence, a normal developmental response. This is not a morbid preoccupation, not about ghosts, and does not immediately indicate a need for counseling unless persistent.