A 5-year-old boy arrives for the preadmission work-up for a surgical procedure. When the nurse brings in the intravenous (IV) control pump the child states: “It’s going to bite me because I have been...

A 5-year-old boy arrives for the preadmission work-up for a surgical procedure. When the nurse brings in the intravenous (IV) control pump the child states: “It’s going to bite me because I have been bad.” Using knowledge of Piaget, Erikson, and Fowler, which is the best nursing action?

1. Reassure him by providing opportunities to touch and explore the machine, as well as explaining how it works.

 2. Understand that his imagination is out of control. Tell him that his fears are unfounded and that he needs to be a “big boy.”

3. Recognize that he is too young to understand and that he needs to be quickly distracted.

4. Acknowledge his need for fantasy by reassuring him that if he is a “good boy” the bad machine will not bite him.