Question

A preteen girl has come to the school nurse, crying. After calming the girl down, the nurse discovered she has started her period. A.   How should the nurse approach this? B.   The child finally admits she does not want to be a girl but feels she should be a boy. What should the nurse do? C.   What nursing diagnoses might the nurse use in this case?

Answer 1

A.   How should the nurse approach this?

• Instruct her regarding what a period is and how regularly the period arrives.
• Reassure the girl by stating that it is normal for a girl or woman to get it every month.
• Teach her about the differences that she would see in her body.
• Educate her on the usage of sanitary pads and how to dispose of the pad properly.

B. What should the nurse do?

• Allow her to express her feelings.
• Support her psychologically using encouraging words on the benefits and happiness of being a girl.
• Show the girls senior to her how happy they are as a girl.
• Insist that periods are perfectly healthy condition and natural, which is a part of her growth and every woman have them.

C.   What nursing diagnoses might the nurse use in this case?

• Altered thought processes and anxiety
• Personal identity disturbance
• Self-esteem disturbance