How should the nurse interact with a 14-year-old in the emergency department to support cooperation?

• A. Provide clear explanations while encouraging questions.
• B. Limit the number of choices to be made by the adolescent.
• C. Furnish rewards for cooperation during procedures.
• D. Have the parents remain with the adolescent at all times.

Answer: (A)

Engaging adolescents with clear explanations and inviting questions supports cooperation because teens are developing autonomy and want to understand what’s happening and why. When a nurse takes time to describe each step of a procedure, what to expect, and the reasons behind it, the teen feels respected and safer. Encouraging questions shows that information is a two-way street, which helps reduce fear and build trust. Even in a busy emergency setting, simple, direct explanations paired with a calm, nonjudgmental tone can make the teen more willing to participate in care and comply with necessary interventions.

Limiting choices can make the teen feel controlled, rewards can feel transactional or coercive, and insisting that parents stay with the teen at all times may bypass appropriate privacy and personal autonomy in some situations. Balancing information delivery with the teen’s right to ask questions and have some input is the most effective approach to obtaining cooperation.