A client with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is experiencing flashbacks. Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement?
- A. Encourage the client to ignore the flashbacks.
- B. Stay with the client and offer reassurance.
- C. Instruct the client to avoid discussing the traumatic event.
- D. Encourage the client to engage in group therapy.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: During a flashback, it is essential for the nurse to stay with the client and offer reassurance. This approach can help the client feel safe and supported during a distressing experience. Encouraging the client to ignore the flashbacks may lead to increased anxiety and distress. Instructing the client to avoid discussing the traumatic event can hinder the therapeutic process of addressing and processing the trauma. While group therapy can be beneficial, it may not be the immediate intervention needed during a flashback.
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According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which situation on an inpatient psychiatric unit would require priority intervention by a nurse?
- A. A client rudely complaining about limited visiting hours
- B. A client exhibiting aggressive behavior toward another client
- C. A client stating that no one cares
- D. A client verbalizing feelings of failure
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, safety needs are considered fundamental and must be addressed before higher-level needs. When a client exhibits aggressive behavior toward another client, it poses an immediate threat to safety and requires priority intervention by the nurse to ensure the well-being of all individuals involved. Clients who are rude in their complaints (Choice A), express feelings of failure (Choice D), or state that no one cares (Choice C) are addressing higher-level needs related to social interactions, esteem, and self-actualization, respectively, which can be addressed once safety needs are secured.
A healthcare professional is assessing a client with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Which of the following findings should the professional expect? Select one that does not apply.
- A. Recurrent, intrusive thoughts
- B. Compulsive behaviors
- C. Delusions of grandeur
- D. Avoidance of situations that trigger obsessions
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by recurrent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions), compulsive behaviors, and avoidance of situations that trigger obsessions. Delusions of grandeur, which involve inflated beliefs about one's own importance or abilities, are not typically associated with OCD. Therefore, the presence of delusions of grandeur would not be an expected finding in a client with OCD. Choices A, B, and D are all typical features of OCD and would be expected findings during the assessment of a client with this disorder.
In the treatment of a patient with bipolar disorder experiencing a depressive episode, which medication is commonly prescribed?
- A. Valproic acid
- B. Risperidone
- C. Fluoxetine
- D. Lithium
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C, Fluoxetine. Fluoxetine, a commonly prescribed antidepressant, is used to manage depressive episodes in bipolar disorder. It helps alleviate symptoms of depression by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain, which can improve mood and reduce feelings of sadness and hopelessness. While mood stabilizers like lithium are often used in bipolar disorder, for depressive episodes, antidepressants like fluoxetine are preferred to address the specific symptoms associated with depression. Valproic acid is a mood stabilizer often used in bipolar disorder to manage manic episodes. Risperidone is an atypical antipsychotic that may be used in bipolar disorder to help control manic episodes or as an adjunctive treatment, but it is not a first-line medication for depressive episodes.
A client with bipolar disorder is experiencing a depressive episode. Which of the following interventions should the nurse not implement?
- A. Agree with the client's delusions to avoid confrontation.
- B. Monitor for signs of suicidal ideation
- C. Promote a regular sleep schedule
- D. Discourage the expression of negative feelings
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: During a depressive episode in bipolar disorder, it is crucial not to agree with the client's delusions to avoid reinforcing false beliefs. Monitoring for signs of suicidal ideation is essential for safety. Promoting a regular sleep schedule can help stabilize mood. Discouraging the expression of negative feelings is not recommended as it is important to allow clients to express their emotions and feel heard.
Identical twins vary in their responses to stress. One twin may become anxious and irritable, while the other may withdraw and cry. How should the nurse explain these different reactions to stress to the parents?
- A. Reactions to stress are relative rather than absolute; individual responses to stress vary.
- B. It is abnormal for identical twins to react differently to similar stressors.
- C. Identical twins should share the same temperament and respond similarly to stress.
- D. Environmental influences weigh more heavily than genetic influences on reactions to stress.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Individual responses to stress can vary significantly due to factors such as perception, past experiences, and environmental influences, in addition to genetic factors. It is not unusual for identical twins to exhibit different reactions to stress as their individual personalities and coping mechanisms play a significant role in how they respond to stressful situations. Choice A is the correct answer because it acknowledges the variability in responses to stress among individuals. Choice B is incorrect because it wrongly labels differing reactions in identical twins as abnormal, when in reality, it is a natural phenomenon. Choice C is incorrect as it assumes that identical twins should always have the same temperament and response to stress, which is not always the case. Choice D is incorrect because it oversimplifies the complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors in shaping responses to stress.