You are admitting to the emergency room an eight-year-old child who arrives with his mother for stitches to repair a deep cut. He looks afraid and is clutching what his mother says is his favorite stuffed bear. You notice the bear has a spot on its foot where it was repaired with a few stitches of needle and thread. How might you use good communication skills to ease the child’s fears?

You point to the stitches on the bear’s foot and make a joke to ease the tension. “Guess your bear is as clumsy as you are!” you say.

You point to the stitches on the bear’s foot and say, “Looks like his stitches made him as good as new too.”

Tell the child that he cannot bring his bear into the room where the procedure will be performed.