Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)

What action should be avoided when comforting a distressed child with breathing difficulties?

1. Allowing the infant to remain in the mother's lap

2. Engaging the child in playful distraction

3. Administering oxygen as needed

4. Providing invasive assessments to reassure the mother

The correct answer is: Providing invasive assessments to reassure the mother

The correct approach emphasizes the importance of maintaining a calm and gentle environment for a distressed child with breathing difficulties. Providing invasive assessments in this scenario can be counterproductive; it may increase the child's anxiety and distress rather than provide reassurance. In the context of comforting a distressed child, keeping the environment as soothing as possible is crucial. While options like allowing the infant to remain in the mother's lap, engaging the child in playful distraction, and administering oxygen as needed are supportive actions that can help reduce anxiety, invasive procedures can disrupt the calming process. Invasive assessments may introduce unnecessary stress for both the child and the parent, leading to an exacerbation of the child's breathing difficulties. Overall, ensuring that the child feels secure and supported is fundamental, and thus, avoiding invasive methods is essential in effectively comforting a child experiencing respiratory distress.