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Same day surgery: a preschooler's experience

Maternal-Child Nursing Journal
|January 1, 1987
PubMed

Insights

This case study highlights how nursing care, including play, helped a 4-year-old boy cope with same-day surgery for ear tube insertion. Supportive nursing interventions fostered the child's confidence and sense of mastery.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nursing
  • Child Psychology
  • Surgical Patient Care

Background:

  • Same-day surgery for pediatric patients, such as myringotomy with polyethylene tube insertion, requires specific attention to the child's psychological well-being.
  • Understanding and addressing the coping mechanisms of young children undergoing elective procedures is crucial for minimizing distress.

Observation:

  • A 4-year-old boy undergoing myringotomy and polyethylene tube insertion as a same-day surgery patient was observed.
  • Nursing care facilitated therapeutic play, allowing the child to express emotions related to the surgical experience.
  • The child's behavioral responses were monitored throughout the admission.

Findings:

  • The child exhibited coping behaviors that indicated a positive adaptation to the surgical event.
  • Planned and supportive nursing interventions, including play therapy, were directly linked to the child's emotional processing.
  • The nursing approach promoted the child's sense of mastery and self-confidence post-procedure.

Implications:

  • Therapeutic play is an effective nursing intervention for pediatric surgical patients.
  • Supportive nursing care can significantly enhance a child's coping abilities and psychological adjustment to surgery.
  • This case study underscores the importance of integrating psychosocial support into same-day pediatric surgical care pathways.

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