Chapter 23: Transition to Parenthood
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse observes several interactions between a postpartum woman and her new
son. What behaviour, if exhibited by this woman, would the nurse identify as a possible
maladaptive behaviour regarding parent–infant attachment?
a. She talks and coos to her son.
b. She seldom makes eye contact with her
son.
c. She cuddles her son close to her.
d. She tells visitors how well her son is
feeding.
ANS: B
The woman should be encouraged to hold her infant in the en face position and make
eye contact with the infant. Normal infant–parent interactions include talking and cooing
to her son, cuddling her son close to her, and telling visitors how well her son is feeding.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 589 | Box 23-1
OBJ: Nursing Process: Assessment | Nursing Process: Diagnosis
2. The nurse observes that a 15-year-old mother seems to ignore her newborn. What is a
strategy that the nurse can use to facilitate mother–infant attachment in this mother?
a. Tell the mother she must pay attention to
her infant.
b. Show the mother how the infant initiates
interaction and pays attention to her.
c. Demonstrate for the mother different
positions for holding her infant while
feeding.
d. Arrange for the mother to watch a
video on parent–infant interaction.
ANS: B
Pointing out the responsiveness of the infant is a positive strategy for facilitating parent–
infant attachment. Telling the mother that she must pay attention to her infant may be
perceived as derogatory and is not appropriate. Educating the young mother in infant
care is important, but pointing out the responsiveness of her baby is a better tool for
facilitating mother–infant attachment. Videos are an educational tool that can
, demonstrate parent–infant attachment, but encouraging the mother to recognize the
infant’s responsiveness is more appropriate.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 596
OBJ: Nursing Process: Implementation
3. The nurse hears a primiparous woman talking to her son and telling him that his chin is
just like his dad’s chin. What does this woman’s statement reflect?
a. Mutuality
b. Synchrony
c. Claiming
d. Reciprocity
ANS: C
Claiming refers to the process by which the child is identified in terms of likeness to other
family members. Mutuality occurs when the infant’s behaviours and characteristics call
forth a corresponding set of maternal behaviours and characteristics. Synchrony refers to
the “fit” between the infant’s cues and the parent’s responses. Reciprocity is a type of
body movement or behaviour that provides the observer with cues.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 586 OBJ: Nursing Process:
Evaluation
4. New parents express concern that, because of the mother’s emergency Caesarean birth
under general anaesthesia, they did not have the opportunity to hold and bond with
their daughter immediately after her birth. What should the nurse’s response convey to
the parents?
a.
time and does not require early contact.
b. The time immediately after birth is a
critical period for people.
c. Early contact is essential for optimum
parent–infant relationships.
d. They should just be happy that the
infant is healthy.
ANS: A A
ttachment is a process that occurs over
Attachment is a process that occurs over time and does not require early contact. The
formerly accepted definition of bonding held that the period immediately after birth was
a critical time for bonding to occur. Research since has indicated that parent–infant
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse observes several interactions between a postpartum woman and her new
son. What behaviour, if exhibited by this woman, would the nurse identify as a possible
maladaptive behaviour regarding parent–infant attachment?
a. She talks and coos to her son.
b. She seldom makes eye contact with her
son.
c. She cuddles her son close to her.
d. She tells visitors how well her son is
feeding.
ANS: B
The woman should be encouraged to hold her infant in the en face position and make
eye contact with the infant. Normal infant–parent interactions include talking and cooing
to her son, cuddling her son close to her, and telling visitors how well her son is feeding.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 589 | Box 23-1
OBJ: Nursing Process: Assessment | Nursing Process: Diagnosis
2. The nurse observes that a 15-year-old mother seems to ignore her newborn. What is a
strategy that the nurse can use to facilitate mother–infant attachment in this mother?
a. Tell the mother she must pay attention to
her infant.
b. Show the mother how the infant initiates
interaction and pays attention to her.
c. Demonstrate for the mother different
positions for holding her infant while
feeding.
d. Arrange for the mother to watch a
video on parent–infant interaction.
ANS: B
Pointing out the responsiveness of the infant is a positive strategy for facilitating parent–
infant attachment. Telling the mother that she must pay attention to her infant may be
perceived as derogatory and is not appropriate. Educating the young mother in infant
care is important, but pointing out the responsiveness of her baby is a better tool for
facilitating mother–infant attachment. Videos are an educational tool that can
, demonstrate parent–infant attachment, but encouraging the mother to recognize the
infant’s responsiveness is more appropriate.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 596
OBJ: Nursing Process: Implementation
3. The nurse hears a primiparous woman talking to her son and telling him that his chin is
just like his dad’s chin. What does this woman’s statement reflect?
a. Mutuality
b. Synchrony
c. Claiming
d. Reciprocity
ANS: C
Claiming refers to the process by which the child is identified in terms of likeness to other
family members. Mutuality occurs when the infant’s behaviours and characteristics call
forth a corresponding set of maternal behaviours and characteristics. Synchrony refers to
the “fit” between the infant’s cues and the parent’s responses. Reciprocity is a type of
body movement or behaviour that provides the observer with cues.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 586 OBJ: Nursing Process:
Evaluation
4. New parents express concern that, because of the mother’s emergency Caesarean birth
under general anaesthesia, they did not have the opportunity to hold and bond with
their daughter immediately after her birth. What should the nurse’s response convey to
the parents?
a.
time and does not require early contact.
b. The time immediately after birth is a
critical period for people.
c. Early contact is essential for optimum
parent–infant relationships.
d. They should just be happy that the
infant is healthy.
ANS: A A
ttachment is a process that occurs over
Attachment is a process that occurs over time and does not require early contact. The
formerly accepted definition of bonding held that the period immediately after birth was
a critical time for bonding to occur. Research since has indicated that parent–infant
