K3 · Fear of hospital or procedures
Actual Child and teen
Definition
The child is frightened of staff, needles, or unfamiliar surroundings.- Past experience
- strange place
- pain
- separation
- Crying
- clinging
- refusal
- nightmares
📋 Scenario
A child cries at the sight of a white coat.
Subjective (S): "I don't want to be here."
Objective (O): Child cries at the white coat; clings to parent; refuses exam.
Assessment tools for this scenario: CP-CHILD Child & Teen Check
Validated scales to consider: PEWS, FLACC
**CarePath diagnosis:** Fear of hospital or procedures related to past experience, as evidenced by crying and clinging.
**Interventions and rationale**
| Intervention | Rationale |
|---|---|
| Explain simply. | Simple, age-appropriate words reduce fear of the unknown, since children imagine frightening things when they do not understand. |
| Allow play. | Play, including toy equipment, lets him handle and understand tools in a safe way and express fears he cannot say. |
| Let a parent stay. | A parent's presence gives security and comfort, and children cope better with strange people and places when a trusted adult is near. |
| Be honest. | Honesty about what will happen, including pain, builds trust, while false promises can increase fear at the next procedure. |
| Praise. | Praise rewards cooperation and builds his confidence, making him more likely to cope well in future visits. |
**Expected outcomes**
- Allows the exam with play support.
- Cries less.
- Says he felt brave.
**Linking the data to the diagnosis**
The child says, "I don't want to be here." He cries at the white coat, clings to his parent and refuses the exam. This fits fear of hospital or procedures because the fear is set off by staff and the setting, and it is already blocking care, so it is actual. It differs from distress when separated from parents because he is frightened of the people and the place, not only of being left. The plan aims for him to allow the exam with play support, cry less and say he felt brave.
CarePath diagnosis
Fear of hospital or procedures related to past experience, as evidenced by crying and clinging.
Interventions and rationale
Listed in priority order.
| Intervention | Rationale |
|---|---|
| 1. Explain simply. | Simple, age-appropriate words reduce fear of the unknown, since children imagine frightening things when they do not understand. |
| 2. Allow play. | Play, including toy equipment, lets him handle and understand tools in a safe way and express fears he cannot say. |
| 3. Let a parent stay. | A parent's presence gives security and comfort, and children cope better with strange people and places when a trusted adult is near. |
| 4. Be honest. | Honesty about what will happen, including pain, builds trust, while false promises can increase fear at the next procedure. |
| 5. Praise. | Praise rewards cooperation and builds his confidence, making him more likely to cope well in future visits. |
Expected outcomes
- Allows the exam with play support.
- Cries less.
- Says he felt brave.
Linking the data to the diagnosis
The child says, "I don't want to be here." He cries at the white coat, clings to his parent and refuses the exam. This fits fear of hospital or procedures because the fear is set off by staff and the setting, and it is already blocking care, so it is actual. It differs from distress when separated from parents because he is frightened of the people and the place, not only of being left. The plan aims for him to allow the exam with play support, cry less and say he felt brave.