Origin: Chapter 8, 1
1. The nurse is providing atraumatic care to children in a hospital setting. What are principles
of this philosophy of care? Select all that apply.
A) Avoid or reduce painful procedures
B) Avoid or reduce physical distress
C) Minimize parent–child interactions
D) Provide child-centered care
E) Minimize child control
F) Use core primary
nursing Ans: A, B, F
Feedback:
When using atraumatic care, the nurse would avoid or reduce painful procedures, avoid or
reduce physical distress, use core primary nursing, maximize parent–child interactions,
provide family-centered care, and provide opportunities for control, such as participating in
care, attempting to normalize daily schedule, and providing direct suggestions.
Origin: Chapter 8, 2
2. The nurse is consulting with a child life specialist (CLS) to help minimize the stress of
hospitalization for a child. Which services would the CLS provide? Select all answers that
apply.
A) Medical preparation for tests, surgeries, and other medical procedures
B) Support before and after, but not during, medical procedures
C) Activities to support normal growth and development
D) Grief and bereavement support
E) Emergency room interventions for children and families
F) Only inpatient consultations with
families Ans: C, D, E
Feedback:
The CLS would provide activities to support normal growth and development, grief and
bereavement support, and emergency room interventions for children and families. The CLS
would also provide nonmedical preparation for tests, surgeries, and other medical procedures;
support during medical procedures; and outpatient consultation with families.
Page 1
, Origin: Chapter 8, 3
3. The nurse is implementing interventions to prevent physical stressors for a 9-year-old child
receiving chemotherapy in the hospital. What is an example of using atraumatic care for
this child?
A) Use restraint or 'holding down' of the child during the procedure to prevent injury.
B) Have the parent stand near and/or rub the child's feet during the procedure.
C) Insert a saline lock if the child will require multiple doses of parenteral medications.
D) Avoid using numbing techniques for multiple blood draws or IV
insertion. Ans: C
Feedback:
The nurse should insert a saline lock if the child will require multiple doses of parenteral
medications. During painful or invasive procedures, the nurse should avoid traditional restraint
or "holding down" of the child and use alternative positioning such as "therapeutic hugging." If
therapeutic hugging is not an option, the nurse could have the parent stand near the child's
head not his feet to provide visual and verbal comfort. The nurse should also use numbing
techniques for blood draws or IV insertion.
Origin: Chapter 8, 4
4. The nurse contacts a child life specialist (CLS) to work with children on a pediatric ward. What
is the primary goal of the CLS?
A) Decrease anxiety and fear during hospitalization and painful procedure.
B) Keep children who are hospitalized distracted from pain.
C) Perform medical procedures using atraumatic principles.
D) Act as a liaison between the nurse and the
child. Ans: A
Feedback:
The CLS is a specially trained individual who provides programs that prepare children for
hospitalization, surgery, and other procedures that could be painful (Child Life Council, 2010a,
2010b). The goal of the CLS is to decrease the anxiety and fear while improving and
encouraging understanding and cooperation of the child. The CLS may use distraction
techniques and act as a liaison, but that is not the primary goal of the CLS role. The CLS does
not perform medical procedures.
Page 2
, Origin: Chapter 8, 5
5. The nurse is preparing a child and his family for a lumbar puncture. Which would be a
primary intervention instituted to keep the child safe?
A) Distraction methods
B) Stimulation methods
C) Therapeutic hugging
D) Therapeutic touch
Ans: C
Feedback:
Therapeutic hugging (a holding position that promotes close physical contact between the
child and a parent or caregiver) may be used for certain procedures or treatments where the
child must remain still. Alternatively, distraction or stimulation (such as with a toy) can help to
gain the child's cooperation, but therapeutic hugging would be used to keep the child safe
during the procedure. Therapeutic touch is an energy therapy used to promote healing and
decrease anxiety and stress and is not related to safety.
Origin: Chapter 8, 6
6. The child life specialist (CLS) is preparing a 6-year-old child for a magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) scan. Which statement reflects the use of atraumatic principles when
explaining the procedure?
A) 'You will be taken to a magnetic resonance imaging machine for an x-ray of your liver.'
B) 'You may hear some loud noises when you are lying in the machine, but they won't
hurt you.'
C) 'You have nothing to worry about; the MRI machine is safe and will not cause you
any pain.'
D) 'Let's just get you to the x-ray department for your test and you'll see how simple it
is.' Ans: B
Feedback:
When using atraumatic principles, the CLS would explain any sensations, such as noises that
will be experienced. The language should be simple and at the child's developmental age;
using the technical term for the machine might frighten the child. Telling the child there is
nothing to
Page 3
, worry about does not allay the child's fears. Allowing the child to experience the machine
without explaining the sensations does not follow atraumatic principles.
Origin: Chapter 8, 7
7. The nurse uses family-centered care to care for children in a pediatric office. Upon
what concept is family-centered care based?
A) The family is the constant in the child's life and the primary source of strength.
B) The care provider is the constant in the child's life and the primary source of strength.
C) The child must be prepared to be his or her own source of strength during times of crisis.
D) The wishes of the family should direct the nursing care plan for the
child. Ans: A
Feedback:
Family-centered care involves a partnership between the child, family, and health care
providers in planning, providing, and evaluating care. Family-centered care enhances parents'
and caregivers' confidence in their own skills and also prepares children and young adults for
assuming responsibility for their own health care needs. It is based on the concept that the
family is the constant in the child's life and the primary source of strength and support for the
child.
Origin: Chapter 8, 8
8. The nurse knows that effective communication with children and their parents is critical
to providing atraumatic quality nursing care. Which statement accurately describes the
communication patterns of children?
A) Communication patterns are similar from one child to the next.
B) Children often use more words than adults to describe their fears.
C) Children rely more on nonverbal communication and silence.
D) Parents more often require affective communication rather than neutral
communication. Ans: C
Feedback:
Children often use fewer words than adults and may rely more on nonverbal communication
and silence. Communication patterns can vary greatly from one child to the next. Some
children are very talkative, while others are quiet. Parents more often require neutral
Page 4
1. The nurse is providing atraumatic care to children in a hospital setting. What are principles
of this philosophy of care? Select all that apply.
A) Avoid or reduce painful procedures
B) Avoid or reduce physical distress
C) Minimize parent–child interactions
D) Provide child-centered care
E) Minimize child control
F) Use core primary
nursing Ans: A, B, F
Feedback:
When using atraumatic care, the nurse would avoid or reduce painful procedures, avoid or
reduce physical distress, use core primary nursing, maximize parent–child interactions,
provide family-centered care, and provide opportunities for control, such as participating in
care, attempting to normalize daily schedule, and providing direct suggestions.
Origin: Chapter 8, 2
2. The nurse is consulting with a child life specialist (CLS) to help minimize the stress of
hospitalization for a child. Which services would the CLS provide? Select all answers that
apply.
A) Medical preparation for tests, surgeries, and other medical procedures
B) Support before and after, but not during, medical procedures
C) Activities to support normal growth and development
D) Grief and bereavement support
E) Emergency room interventions for children and families
F) Only inpatient consultations with
families Ans: C, D, E
Feedback:
The CLS would provide activities to support normal growth and development, grief and
bereavement support, and emergency room interventions for children and families. The CLS
would also provide nonmedical preparation for tests, surgeries, and other medical procedures;
support during medical procedures; and outpatient consultation with families.
Page 1
, Origin: Chapter 8, 3
3. The nurse is implementing interventions to prevent physical stressors for a 9-year-old child
receiving chemotherapy in the hospital. What is an example of using atraumatic care for
this child?
A) Use restraint or 'holding down' of the child during the procedure to prevent injury.
B) Have the parent stand near and/or rub the child's feet during the procedure.
C) Insert a saline lock if the child will require multiple doses of parenteral medications.
D) Avoid using numbing techniques for multiple blood draws or IV
insertion. Ans: C
Feedback:
The nurse should insert a saline lock if the child will require multiple doses of parenteral
medications. During painful or invasive procedures, the nurse should avoid traditional restraint
or "holding down" of the child and use alternative positioning such as "therapeutic hugging." If
therapeutic hugging is not an option, the nurse could have the parent stand near the child's
head not his feet to provide visual and verbal comfort. The nurse should also use numbing
techniques for blood draws or IV insertion.
Origin: Chapter 8, 4
4. The nurse contacts a child life specialist (CLS) to work with children on a pediatric ward. What
is the primary goal of the CLS?
A) Decrease anxiety and fear during hospitalization and painful procedure.
B) Keep children who are hospitalized distracted from pain.
C) Perform medical procedures using atraumatic principles.
D) Act as a liaison between the nurse and the
child. Ans: A
Feedback:
The CLS is a specially trained individual who provides programs that prepare children for
hospitalization, surgery, and other procedures that could be painful (Child Life Council, 2010a,
2010b). The goal of the CLS is to decrease the anxiety and fear while improving and
encouraging understanding and cooperation of the child. The CLS may use distraction
techniques and act as a liaison, but that is not the primary goal of the CLS role. The CLS does
not perform medical procedures.
Page 2
, Origin: Chapter 8, 5
5. The nurse is preparing a child and his family for a lumbar puncture. Which would be a
primary intervention instituted to keep the child safe?
A) Distraction methods
B) Stimulation methods
C) Therapeutic hugging
D) Therapeutic touch
Ans: C
Feedback:
Therapeutic hugging (a holding position that promotes close physical contact between the
child and a parent or caregiver) may be used for certain procedures or treatments where the
child must remain still. Alternatively, distraction or stimulation (such as with a toy) can help to
gain the child's cooperation, but therapeutic hugging would be used to keep the child safe
during the procedure. Therapeutic touch is an energy therapy used to promote healing and
decrease anxiety and stress and is not related to safety.
Origin: Chapter 8, 6
6. The child life specialist (CLS) is preparing a 6-year-old child for a magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) scan. Which statement reflects the use of atraumatic principles when
explaining the procedure?
A) 'You will be taken to a magnetic resonance imaging machine for an x-ray of your liver.'
B) 'You may hear some loud noises when you are lying in the machine, but they won't
hurt you.'
C) 'You have nothing to worry about; the MRI machine is safe and will not cause you
any pain.'
D) 'Let's just get you to the x-ray department for your test and you'll see how simple it
is.' Ans: B
Feedback:
When using atraumatic principles, the CLS would explain any sensations, such as noises that
will be experienced. The language should be simple and at the child's developmental age;
using the technical term for the machine might frighten the child. Telling the child there is
nothing to
Page 3
, worry about does not allay the child's fears. Allowing the child to experience the machine
without explaining the sensations does not follow atraumatic principles.
Origin: Chapter 8, 7
7. The nurse uses family-centered care to care for children in a pediatric office. Upon
what concept is family-centered care based?
A) The family is the constant in the child's life and the primary source of strength.
B) The care provider is the constant in the child's life and the primary source of strength.
C) The child must be prepared to be his or her own source of strength during times of crisis.
D) The wishes of the family should direct the nursing care plan for the
child. Ans: A
Feedback:
Family-centered care involves a partnership between the child, family, and health care
providers in planning, providing, and evaluating care. Family-centered care enhances parents'
and caregivers' confidence in their own skills and also prepares children and young adults for
assuming responsibility for their own health care needs. It is based on the concept that the
family is the constant in the child's life and the primary source of strength and support for the
child.
Origin: Chapter 8, 8
8. The nurse knows that effective communication with children and their parents is critical
to providing atraumatic quality nursing care. Which statement accurately describes the
communication patterns of children?
A) Communication patterns are similar from one child to the next.
B) Children often use more words than adults to describe their fears.
C) Children rely more on nonverbal communication and silence.
D) Parents more often require affective communication rather than neutral
communication. Ans: C
Feedback:
Children often use fewer words than adults and may rely more on nonverbal communication
and silence. Communication patterns can vary greatly from one child to the next. Some
children are very talkative, while others are quiet. Parents more often require neutral
Page 4
