During the First 4 Days of Hospitalization, Eric, Age 18

question 3

Multiple Choice

During the first 4 days of hospitalization, Eric, age 18 months, cried inconsolably when his parents left him, and he refused the staff's attention. Now the nurse observes that Eric appears to "settle in" and be unconcerned about seeing his parents. The nurse should interpret this as which of the following?

• A)He has successfully adjusted to the hospital environment.
• B)He has transferred his trust to the nursing staff.
• C)He may be experiencing detachment, which is the third stage of separation anxiety.
• D)Because he is "at home" in the hospital now, seeing his mother frequently will only start the cycle again.