A nurse is caring for a 4-year-old child who has a new diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and is distressed after an insulin injection. Which of the following play activities should the nurse recognize is therapeutic in helping the child deal with the injection?

A. Place a pillow under the child's head.

Explanation: While providing comfort is important, the priority in this scenario is to ensure the child's safety. Placing a pillow under the head can be considered after addressing immediate safety concerns.

B. Clear the area of hazards.

Explanation: Correct Choice. Ensuring the area is clear of hazards is the nurse's priority. During a seizure, the child can experience uncontrolled movements, and having hazards around can lead to injuries. Clearing the area helps prevent harm. But priority is to position the child side lying.

C. Position the child side-lying.

Explanation: Correct Choice. Placing the child in a side-lying position helps prevent choking and aspiration due to vomiting during the seizure. It also minimizes the risk of airway obstruction and helps manage secretions.

D. Loosen restrictive clothing.

Explanation: While loosening restrictive clothing can facilitate breathing, the priority in this situation is addressing safety concerns related to the seizure and vomiting. Ensuring a clear and safe environment takes precedence.

A. Allow for adjustment of rules to correlate with the child's behavior.Rules should be consistent and predictable for children with ASD. Frequently changing or “adjusting” rules to match variable behavior increases confusion and anxiety and reduces opportunities to learn expected behaviors.

B. Allow for imaginative play with peers without supervision.
Many children with ASD need structured, supervised social interactions and support to learn play skills, take turns, and interpret social cues. Unsupervised imaginative play may lead to misunderstanding, frustration, or safety issues.

C. Provide a flexible schedule that adjusts to the child's interests.
While incorporating a child’s interests into activities is useful, children with ASD generally do best with a structured, predictable schedule. Sudden flexibility or frequent schedule changes can be disorienting. Best practice: keep a consistent routine but incorporate preferred interests within that structure.

D. Establish a reward system for positive behavior.A reward system (token economy, sticker charts, immediate specific praise) provides clear, consistent, and concrete reinforcement for targeted behaviors. This increases motivation, helps teach expected behaviors, and can be faded gradually as behaviors become routine.