A 2-year-old child is scheduled for a tonsillectomy.When determining the plan of care,the nurse should:

A) Include the parents or caregivers in the plan of care
B) Explain to the child that she will have a sore throat after surgery
C) Tell the child that she can have her favorite foods for the first 24 hours after surgery
D) Prepare the child for discharge from the hospital as soon as she is alert

It is developmentally normal for toddlers to experience anxiety with separation from parents or caregivers.Be sure to include these people in the plan of care.Developmentally,a 2-year-old lives in the "here and now" and wouldn't grasp an intangible concept,such as pain in the future.The toddler would take liquids and soft foods within the first 24 hours when her throat is sore during swallowing.She should not eat foods that are rough and crunchy because they may scratch her throat and cause bleeding.After a tonsillectomy,the child will need to be monitored for bleeding and stable vital signs; therefore,she will not be discharged as soon as she is alert.