A nurse is admitting a client who has experienced a weight loss of 11 kg (25 lb) in the past 3 months. The client weighs 40 kg (88 lb) and believes she is fat. Which of the following aspects of care should the nurse consider the first priority for this client?
- A. Identify the client's nutritional status.
- B. Request a mental health consult.
- C. Plan a therapeutic diet for the client.
- D. Provide a structured environment for the client.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Identify the client's nutritional status. The priority is to assess the client's nutritional status due to the significant weight loss. This will help determine if the client is at risk of malnutrition or other health issues. B, requesting a mental health consult, is not the first priority as addressing the client's physical health is crucial before addressing mental health concerns. Planning a therapeutic diet (C) can come after assessing the nutritional status. Providing a structured environment (D) may be important but not as critical as determining the client's nutritional status first.
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A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has alcohol use disorder about Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Which of the following client statements indicates an understanding of the program's basic concepts?
- A. "I am responsible for my alcoholism."
- B. "I need to identify things that cause me to be an alcoholic."
- C. "I am powerless against my addiction to alcohol."
- D. "I need to see a counselor who will be responsible for my recovery."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: AA is based on the principle of acknowledging powerlessness over addiction and seeking support.
A nurse is counseling a client for the management of anxiety. The client is consistently late for appointments and ignores household chores. The client states, "I'm just too stressed. I need someone to take care of me.” The nurse identifies this behavior as an example of which of the following defense mechanisms?
- A. Dissociation
- B. Introjection
- C. Regression
- D. Repression
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Regression. Regression is a defense mechanism where an individual reverts to an earlier stage of development when faced with stressful situations. In this scenario, the client's behavior of being consistently late and avoiding responsibilities reflects a regression to a state where they feel the need to be taken care of, like a child seeking comfort from a caregiver. This behavior is a way of coping with anxiety by seeking refuge in a familiar and less demanding role. Dissociation (A) involves disconnecting from reality to avoid distress, introjection (B) is internalizing the qualities of others, and repression (D) is unconsciously suppressing unwanted thoughts or memories.
A nurse in a hospital is caring for a client who has agoraphobia. Which of the following statements by the client indicates understanding of the goals of treatment?
- A. "I plan to sit on a park bench for a few minutes each day."
- B. "I can try participating in group therapy every week."
- C. "I will join a book club in my neighborhood."
- D. "I should avoid entering elevators and other closed spaces."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: "I plan to sit on a park bench for a few minutes each day." This statement indicates the client's understanding of gradual exposure therapy, a common treatment for agoraphobia. Exposure to feared situations in a controlled manner helps desensitize the client to their anxiety triggers. Sitting on a park bench signifies a small step towards facing the fear of open spaces. Choices B, C, and D do not directly address the core issue of agoraphobia or the specific treatment approach. Group therapy and joining a book club may be beneficial but do not target the fear of open spaces. Avoiding elevators and closed spaces is a safety behavior that reinforces the fear and hinders recovery.
A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia and is experiencing a hallucination. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
- A. Act as if the hallucination is real.
- B. Instruct the client to argue with the voices that are a part of the hallucination.
- C. Ask the client direct questions about the hallucination.
- D. Tell the client that the hallucination is not a part of reality.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C - Ask the client direct questions about the hallucination. This approach helps the nurse understand the client's experience without validating or denying the hallucination. It shows empathy and promotes trust. Choice A would validate the hallucination, worsening the client's condition. Choice B could escalate the situation by encouraging confrontation with the voices. Choice D may cause the client to feel dismissed or judged. Asking direct questions (C) allows the nurse to gather information, assess the client's safety, and provide appropriate care.
A nurse is caring for a client who was admitted with delirium tremens five days ago. The client seeks permission from the nurse before performing activities of daily living. This behavior indicates which of the following findings?
- A. The client is ready for discharge.
- B. The client is able to function independently.
- C. The client may be having a recurrence of delirium tremens.
- D. The client is exhibiting dependency.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: The client is exhibiting dependency. This behavior indicates that the client is relying on the nurse for permission before performing activities of daily living, suggesting a level of dependency. This is common in clients with delirium tremens as they may have cognitive impairment and need guidance for decision-making.
A: The client seeking permission does not necessarily indicate readiness for discharge.
B: The client seeking permission does not necessarily indicate ability to function independently.
C: There is no indication of a recurrence of delirium tremens based on seeking permission.
Summary: The correct answer, D, is supported by the client's behavior of seeking permission, indicating dependency. Other choices are incorrect as they do not align with the behavior exhibited by the client in this scenario.