Children's Reaction to Hospitalization may vary depend on child growth and development.
5 month – 3 years
Fear of separation from mother or usual caregiver.
Nursing Intervention:
Encourage rooming in and bring familiar object from home e.g. toys and blanket.
3-6 years
- A toddler views hospitalization as punishment.
- A school age or adolescent will fear of harm and mutilation
Nursing Intervention:
- Kindly explain nursing procedure in simple terms and do not inform child of painful far in advance.
- Nurse can demonstrate procedures with dolls.
- Do not discourage crying and allow parents to be with child during painful procedures.
- Nurse should be honest regarding pain experienced during procedures.
6-18 years
Separation from parents, peers and lost of control
Nursing Intervention:
- Allow child to be visited by family and friends.
- Allow child to use the telephone to maintain family and peer contact.
- Give child choices when it is possible.
- Explain procedures in simple terms.
- Do not discourage child to cry.
- Restrain can be applied for a procedure if necessary and tell that this will help him / her hold still.
