Test Bank for Essentials of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: A Communication Approach to Evidence-Based Care, 4e 4th Edition - The Nursing Process in Psychiatric?Mental Health Nursing Related

Review Test Bank for Essentials of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: A Communication Approach to Evidence-Based Care, 4e 4th Edition - The Nursing Process in Psychiatric?Mental Health Nursing related questions and content

A nurse documents: 'Patient is mute, despite repeated efforts to elicit speech. Makes no eye contact. Is inattentive to staff. Gazes off to the side or looks upward rather than at the speaker.' Which nursing diagnosis should be considered?

  • A. Defensive coping
  • B. Decisional conflict
  • C. Risk for other-directed violence
  • D. Impaired verbal communication
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The defining characteristics are more related to the nursing diagnosis of impaired verbal communication than to the other nursing diagnoses.