The mother of a child who is hospitalized with croup and is in a mist tent brings the child’s favorite stuffed animal to the hospital. Which action should the practical nurse (PN) take?
A.
Spray the toy with disinfectant before placing it in the tent.
B.
Limit play with the stuffed toy when out of the tent.
C.
Allow the child to have the stuffed toy in the tent.
D.
Ask the mother to wash the toy daily at home.
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct action for the practical nurse (PN) to take in this situation is:
C. Allow the child to have the stuffed toy in the tent.
Explanation
Croup, often caused by viral infections such as parainfluenza virus, is typically managed in a mist tent or cool mist environment to help alleviate symptoms like stridor and respiratory distress. The use of a mist tent is designed to moisten the airways, which helps ease breathing difficulties.
In this context, allowing the child to have their favorite stuffed toy in the mist tent can be beneficial for several reasons:
- Emotional Comfort: The stuffed toy can provide significant emotional support and comfort to the child. Familiar objects help reduce anxiety and stress, which is important for overall recovery. Familiarity and comfort can be particularly soothing in a hospital environment, where the child is likely feeling scared and out of place.
- Hygiene and Safety: Modern hospitals generally have rigorous infection control protocols. If the stuffed toy is clean and the hospital staff is following proper infection control procedures, allowing the toy in the tent poses minimal risk. The toy should not pose a risk of infection if it is kept clean and if the child is not at high risk for infections that can be transmitted via toys.
- Minimizing Disruption: Limiting the child’s access to their favorite toy might cause unnecessary distress. The benefits of emotional comfort and psychological well-being often outweigh the risks, provided that the toy is not a source of contamination.
While it is always important to monitor and maintain hygiene, options A and B are not ideal because:
- A (Spray the toy with disinfectant): This could potentially harm the toy or irritate the child’s respiratory system due to chemicals.
- B (Limit play with the stuffed toy when out of the tent): This could cause additional stress without providing significant infection control benefits.
Option D (Ask the mother to wash the toy daily at home) is less practical in a hospital setting where immediate access to comfort items is crucial.
Overall, allowing the child to keep their favorite stuffed toy in the mist tent aligns with maintaining comfort while adhering to standard infection control practices.