CPHON Psychosocial Support and Family-Centered Care

Question 1

A parent of a newly diagnosed pediatric cancer patient asks the nurse why the child life specialist is visiting their child. Which response best explains the child life specialist's role?

Accepted Answer

Child life specialists use therapeutic play, preparation, and coping strategies to help children manage the stress of illness and medical procedures

Answer

Child life specialists provide nutritional support and dietary counseling

Answer

Child life specialists coordinate insurance coverage and financial assistance

Answer

Child life specialists manage the child's medication schedule

Question 2

The parents of a 4-year-old with leukemia are divorcing during treatment. The child has become clingy, regressed to bedwetting, and refuses to let go of parents when they leave. The nurse should:

Accepted Answer

Acknowledge this is expected stress response, validate parental concerns, involve child life, and communicate the behavior pattern to the oncology social worker

Answer

Tell the parents the regression is abnormal and psychiatric referral is urgent

Answer

Recommend the parents not tell the child about the divorce

Answer

Assure the parents that regression always resolves spontaneously without intervention

Question 3

Which communication approach is most appropriate when a CPHON nurse needs to discuss a child's terminal prognosis with the family?

Accepted Answer

Use clear, compassionate, jargon-free language; assess what the family already knows; follow the child's lead regarding inclusion; and ensure a private, quiet setting

Answer

Deliver the information quickly in the hallway to minimize distress

Answer

Allow only the oncologist to speak and have the nurse remain silent

Answer

Provide all information via written materials to reduce emotional impact

Question 4

A mother of a child receiving cancer treatment tells the nurse she feels guilty that she 'gave' her child cancer. Which response is most therapeutic?

Accepted Answer

Acknowledge her feelings, then gently educate that childhood cancer is not caused by anything parents did, and refer to the social worker

Answer

Reassure her briefly and redirect to the child's current treatment plan

Answer

Tell her that guilt feelings are irrational and she should focus on being positive

Answer

Provide her with research articles about pediatric cancer etiology

Question 5

Family-centered care (FCC) in pediatric oncology nursing is best defined as:

Accepted Answer

A philosophy of care that recognizes the family as the constant in the child's life and integrates the family as partners in all aspects of care

Answer

A model in which the nurse makes all care decisions to protect the child from parental anxiety

Answer

A policy that restricts visitation to protect immunocompromised patients

Answer

An approach that focuses exclusively on the child's physical needs without parental input

Question 6

A 14-year-old oncology patient tells the nurse privately that she is deeply depressed and sometimes thinks about not wanting to be alive, though she has no specific plan. The most appropriate immediate action is:

Accepted Answer

Take the disclosure seriously, ensure patient safety, notify the provider and social worker, and stay with the patient

Answer

Maintain confidentiality and not disclose to the care team because the patient asked for privacy

Answer

Reassure the patient that these feelings will pass and document in the chart

Answer

Immediately tell the parents without explaining the situation to the patient