A nurse is planning care for a 10-year-old child who will be hospitalized for an extended period of time. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in the plan of care to meet the client’s psychosocial needs according to Erikson?
A.
Discourage visits from the client’s friends
B.
Provide a daily session with a play therapist
C.
Encourage the client to complete school work
D.
Vary the child’s schedule each day
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is B. Provide a daily session with a play therapist.
Explanation:
According to Erik Erikson’s psychosocial development theory, a 10-year-old child is typically in the industry vs. inferiority stage. This stage, which occurs from approximately age 6 to 12, is characterized by the child’s desire to gain competence and achieve a sense of industry. At this stage, children develop a sense of pride in their accomplishments and abilities, which contributes to their self-esteem and social skills.
For a hospitalized child, maintaining psychosocial development is crucial. Here’s why providing a daily session with a play therapist is important:
- Emotional Support and Expression: Hospitalization can be stressful and isolating for children. A play therapist helps children express their feelings and cope with their emotions in a non-threatening way. This therapeutic play can help reduce anxiety and build emotional resilience.
- Normalizing Experience: Play therapy allows the child to engage in activities that are familiar and enjoyable, helping them to maintain a sense of normalcy despite their hospital stay. This can be crucial for their emotional well-being and sense of control.
- Social Interaction: Through play therapy, children can interact with others in a structured and supportive environment. This helps them to build social skills and foster relationships, which is important for their social development.
- Skill Development: Play therapy can also incorporate educational elements that align with the child’s developmental stage. This supports their learning and helps maintain their sense of industry, as they continue to develop skills and knowledge even while hospitalized.
In contrast:
- A. Discouraging visits from friends would likely increase feelings of isolation and could negatively impact the child’s emotional well-being.
- C. Encouraging the client to complete school work might be helpful, but it doesn’t address the emotional and psychological needs as directly as play therapy.
- D. Varying the child’s schedule each day could disrupt their sense of routine and stability, which can be unsettling and counterproductive to their emotional security.
In summary, play therapy aligns well with Erikson’s focus on developing a sense of competence and provides emotional support, making it a crucial part of the care plan for a hospitalized child.