SPEAKING ROLEPLAY: Child Finger Cut Care

SETTING- Community Health Centre

ROLE- PATIENT

Your six-year-old son has just cut a finger on his right hand with a kitchen knife that was left on the kitchen bench. The finger won't stop bleeding, and you are panicking about it. Your child is afraid of doctors and you have to weigh this consideration against your concern about his finger. You are also warned about possible scarring

TASKs

Outline what happened. Explain that the cut looks deep to you, your child is in pain and you are very worried. Shouldn't your son have stitches?
Convey your anxiety and uncertainty to the nurse. Ask how long the finger will take to heal and if it will be scarred for a long time.
Ask when your son, who is right-handed, will be able to use this hand properly again.
Ask the nurse what to do about your son's finger.
If the question of your responsibility for the injury comes up, be defensive. You're a busy person and can't spend every minute of your day watching him.

SETTING- Hospital Casualty Ward

ROLE- NURSE

This parent's six-year-old son has cut his finger, which is bleeding freely. You examine the cut, which is not too serious, and you don't think he needs stitches.

TASKs

Find out how the cut happened.
Reassure the parent. Answer his/her questions about length of time for healing. any scarring, whether stitches are necessary, etc.
Explain how to clean, apply antiseptic, and dress the cut suitably. Point out the need to keep the finger clean and dry.
Warn the parent about keeping sharp implements out of reach. Be tactful in giving advice

SCRIPT

Nurse: Hello, my name is Nurse Jane. what happened to your son's finger?

Patient: He cut it with a kitchen knife that was left on the kitchen bench. It won't stop bleeding and I'm worried about it.

Nurse: Let me take a look. (Examines the cut) It's a deep cut and I think it would be best if we stitch it up. This will help it heal properly and reduce the risk of scarring.

Patient: (visibly worried) Will it be scarred for a long time? And how long will it take for him to use his hand normally again?

Nurse: (with empathy) I understand your concerns. The scar will fade over time, but the healing process will take a few weeks. He should be able to use his hand normally in a few days, but it's important to keep the area clean and dry to prevent infection.

Patient: What should I do about his finger?

Nurse: I'll take care of cleaning and stitching up the cut. Afterwards, I'll give you instructions on how to clean, dress and care for the wound. We'll also schedule a follow-up appointment to check on his progress.

Patient: (tearful) I'm so sorry, I feel like it's my fault. I'm a busy person and didn't expect this to happen.

Nurse: (comforts patient) Accidents happen, and it's not your fault. You're doing your best to take care of your son and that's all that matters. I'm here to help and guide you through this process. Let's take care of your son together.

Nurse: (with concern) I want to make sure this doesn't happen again. Can we talk about how to keep sharp objects out of reach?

Patient: Yes, of course.

Nurse: It's important to keep kitchen knives and other sharp implements in a safe place, like a drawer or a knife block, to prevent accidents. You can also consider installing child safety locks on cabinets to prevent your child from accessing sharp objects.

Patient: (nodding) That makes sense. I'll make sure to do that.

Nurse: Great, it's always better to be proactive and prevent these accidents from happening. If you have any other questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to ask. I'm here to help you and your son in any way I can.