Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 84%
Simulated
A nurse is caring for a preschooler who is terminally ill. Which of the following reactions to death should the nurse expect?
Correct answer
C
Rationale
Preschoolers often perceive death as a form of punishment due to magical thinking. They may believe that death happens because of something they did wrong or something they caused, reflecting a child's egocentric thinking. They generally do not understand the permanence of death, which typically develops around age 6, nor do they focus on isolation or physical changes as older children might.