Common stresses in children during hospitalization include all of the following EXCEPT:

Appeared in: UP NHM CHO 7 Sept 2022(shift-1st)

Explanation

Tantrums are a behavioral response to stress, not a primary stressor of hospitalization.
The primary stressors are the underlying causes of distress, such as separation, loss of control, and pain.
A tantrum is a manifestation or symptom of stress, particularly in toddlers who lack other ways to express their frustration and fear.
Identifying the difference between a stressor (cause) and a response (effect) is key to answering this question.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option B: Physical injury and pain are universally recognized as major stressors for hospitalized children. The fear of needles, surgery, and discomfort from illness is a primary source of anxiety.
Option C: Loss of control is a significant psychological stressor. Hospital routines, restricted movement, and dependency on others undermine a child's developing sense of autonomy.
Option D: Separation anxiety is one of the most profound stressors, especially for infants and toddlers. Being separated from parents removes the child's primary source of comfort and security.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Stressors of hospitalization in children as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A nurse's primary role is to identify signs of stress and implement interventions to minimize their impact.
Recognizing that a tantrum is a sign of distress (e.g., from fear or loss of control) rather than just 'bad behavior' allows the nurse to address the root cause.
What if? If the child was an adolescent, the primary stressors might shift more towards loss of control, fear of altered body image, and separation from their peer group rather than parents.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the keyword 'EXCEPT'. This means you are looking for the option that does not fit with the others.
Read the question stem carefully: 'Common stresses in children during hospitalization'. The core concept is 'stressors'.
Analyze each option to determine if it is a cause of stress (a stressor) or a reaction to stress (a behavior).
Separation anxiety, fear of pain, and loss of control are all direct causes of stress.
A tantrum is a behavior that results from being unable to cope with these stressors.
Therefore, the tantrum is the exception, as it is an effect, not a cause.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Stressors of hospitalization in children
Stem keywords: stresses, children, hospitalization
Lead-in keywords: EXCEPT
Negative lead-in flag: The question asks for the exception among the given options.

Question ID

QyEzeVUsTa087BAy_hcj1H

Reference Book

E6 Text Book Of Pediatric Nursing 3rd Panchali Pal — Part 1 (pp 36-238 of 713) p. 62-64

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 13020-13022

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