Surgical Tech Practice Exam

What intervention can help a pediatric preschool patient with a fear of the unknown before surgery?

1. A pre-surgery day visit

2. A consultation with the surgeon

3. Continuous monitoring by nurses

4. A visit from a child life specialist

The correct answer is: A pre-surgery day visit

A pre-surgery day visit is an effective intervention for addressing a pediatric preschool patient's fear of the unknown before surgery. This approach allows the child to become familiar with the surgical environment, meet the staff, and understand what to expect during their procedure. By walking through the operating room and learning about the equipment in a child-friendly manner, the child can feel more secure and less anxious about the experience. This familiarity helps to demystify the surgical process, reducing anxiety and fear associated with the unknown. While consultations with the surgeon can provide valuable information for both the parents and the child, they may not specifically address the child's emotional fears and anxieties in a tangible way. Continuous monitoring by nurses is important for patient safety, but it doesn’t focus on alleviating the psychological impacts of surgery in young children. A visit from a child life specialist can also be beneficial and is focused on providing emotional support and coping strategies, but it may not always involve direct familiarization with the surgery area that a pre-surgery day visit offers. Therefore, the pre-surgery day visit stands out as particularly effective for helping preschool-aged patients cope with their fears before surgery.