Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

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Prepare for the Registered Practical Nurse Exam with an immersive quiz experience. Utilize flashcards and multiple choice questions, all paired with helpful hints and explanations. Start your journey towards certification success today!

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How should a nurse respond to a child expressing awareness of their parents' divorce?

  1. Ignore the statement

  2. Express empathy and assess understanding

  3. Dismiss the child's feelings

  4. Encourage anger release

The correct answer is: Express empathy and assess understanding

The most appropriate response involves expressing empathy and assessing the child's understanding. This approach acknowledges the child's feelings and helps to create a safe space for them to share their thoughts and emotions about a difficult subject, such as their parents' divorce. By expressing empathy, the nurse validates the child's feelings, which is crucial in fostering an open dialogue. Assessing the child's understanding allows the nurse to gauge how much the child knows about the situation and how they are processing it. This understanding can guide further support and interventions tailored to the child's emotional and developmental needs. It also demonstrates that the nurse is attentive and caring, reinforcing trust between the child and the healthcare provider. In contrast, ignoring the statement would leave the child feeling dismissed and unsupported, while dismissing their feelings would negate their emotional experience. Encouraging anger release might not be the most appropriate or therapeutic approach in this context, as it could lead to further distress without addressing the underlying feelings related to the divorce. Engaging with the child empathetically is not only supportive but also aligns with best practices in pediatric nursing care.