MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. What is the best intervention when a child with autism is hospitalized?
a. Limit the individuals who enter the childs room.
b. Perform all of the childs activities of daily living for her.
c. Make sure the nurses know this child may be violent.
d. Assign the strongest nurse to control the child.
ANS: A
The child with autism is often unable to tolerate the slightest change in
routine. Limiting who enters the childs room to those knowledgeable about
the childs routine will facilitate the childs adaptation to the hospital
environment. The most important nursing consideration when planning care
for a child with autism is to assign the child to a nurse who is familiar with
the childs routine and to follow that routine. The child should be encouraged
to perform toileting and self- care activities as she normally would if she were
not in the hospital. There is no indication that the child will be violent.
Limiting the number of individuals in contact with the child and maintaining
a routine will decrease any chance of violence. Strength should not be a
consideration in assignments.
2. Intense stress and isolation as a result of caring for a child with developmental
disabilities often lead parents to:
a. heightened parental achievement.
b. overuse of the healthcare system.
c. overindulgence and obesity.
, d. child abuse.
ANS: D
Child abuse and developmental disabilities are often associated. Stress and
isolation may hinder parents from reaching their potential. Parents may feel
isolated from support and healthcare services. They report that professionals
have limited understanding of their childrens needs. Although overindulg ence
and obesity may occur, the best answer is child abuse.
3. A child with Asperger syndrome has also been diagnosed with depression. The
nurse understands that two or more disorders in an individual is termed:
a. comorbidity.
b. congenital syndrome.
c. mental retardation.
d. developmental impairment.
ANS: A
Comorbidity by definition means more than one disorder in an individual.
Congenital syndrome means the disorder originated before birth. Mental
retardation refers to subaverage intellectual functioning. Developme ntal
impairment refers to functional level.
4. Self-injury, fecal smearing, and severe temper tantrums in a preschool child are
symptoms of:
a. mild intellectual impairment.
b. severe intellectual impairment.
c. psychosocial deprivation.
d. separation anxiety.