Care of the Behaviorally Challenged Patient

Medical settings and procedures can be anxiety-producing and stressful for our pediatric patients. Stress can lead to uncharacteristic behavior problems or an exacerbation of pre-existing behavioral problems in children.

Some challenging behaviors are disruptive (e.g., mild tantrum, screaming, not sitting still, etc.). Others are dangerous. Biting, slapping and kicking, for example, can lead to injury for all involved. This can be distressing to other patients, family members and visitors. Misunderstanding what leads to these behaviors makes it challenging to prevent them in the future and can result in over-reliance on medication or use of restraints. Repeated experiences with such incidents also leads to increased stress and burnout for health care providers.

This Module from Children's Hospital Association describes common causes of challenging behaviors and strategies to reduce adverse outcomes. It is intended to be a general overview of behavioral challenges and related interventions. It is important to note that general behavioral strategies do not vary by diagnosis.

Free continuing education credits are available. Enroll in the course and open the module to view the course info and details for claiming CE.

• Define the ABCs of behavior
• Identify three primary motivators of challenging behavior in the hospital setting
• List possible steps for preventing challenging behaviors
• Describe strategies that can be used to de-escalate challenging situations