The nurse is giving instructions to the mother of a 10-year-old boy who is newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). When attempting to teach the mother how to administer subcutaneous insulin injections to the child, the mother tells the nurse that she is afraid of needles and cannot perform the procedure. Which intervention should the nurse implement?

Choice A rationale This choice suggests assessing if the child can administer the insulin. While it's important for children with diabetes to learn self-care skills, a 10-year-old may not yet be ready to take on the responsibility of injecting insulin regularly. The child might still rely on parental or caregiver support for this task. Moreover, it does not address the immediate issue of the mother's fear of needles. Choice B rationale This choice focuses on assessing the mother's parenting skills. It is not directly related to solving the issue of insulin administration. The mother's fear of needles does not necessarily reflect her overall parenting skills. Assessing parenting skills would not provide a practical solution to the child's need for insulin administration. Choice C rationale Encouraging the mother to handle the needles could help overcome her fear, but it might not be effective in the short term. The mother might need time and professional help to deal with her fear of needles. This choice does not provide an immediate solution for the child's need for insulin injections. Choice D rationale Asking if the father can help with the injections is a practical and immediate solution. If the father is available and comfortable with handling needles, he can take on the responsibility of administering insulin to the child. This ensures that the child's medical needs are met while giving the mother time to overcome her fear of needles.