Nokea
The husband of a client with hypochondriasis has accompanied his wife to the follow-up doctor's visit. While waiting for the doctor, the husband expresses to the nurse his frustration with his wife's obsession about illness. He asks the nurse, 'What can I do?' The best response by the nurse would be.
- A. Try ignoring her complaints, and they should subside.
- B. Try finding an activity you enjoy doing together to help her feel better overall.
- C. Try to be the client and understand that she is worried that she is sick.
- D. Try to give her some sort of reward when she resists complaining about her illnesses.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Encouraging shared pleasurable activities provides emotional support and may reduce focus on illness.
You may also like to solve these questions
The nurse is working with the client to develop emotion-focused coping strategies. Which should the nurse include as an emotion-focused coping strategy?
- A. Problem solving
- B. Assertiveness techniques
- C. Role-playing
- D. Deep breathing techniques
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Deep breathing is an emotion-focused coping strategy that helps manage stress and emotional distress.
A client with a somatic symptom illness asks, 'Why do I have these symptoms?' Which would be the appropriate explanation for the nurse to offer?
- A. Physical symptoms can be attributed to an organic cause.
- B. Physical symptoms are deliberately expressed in order to benefit in some way.
- C. Physical symptoms are independent of the amount of stress.
- D. Physical symptoms are an involuntary way of dealing with psychic conflict.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Somatic symptom illnesses involve physical symptoms without an organic basis, involuntarily expressing psychological conflict.
Which is the primary gain for a client with conversion disorder?
- A. Emotional detachment
- B. Emotional support from family
- C. Identification of anxious feelings
- D. Relief from emotional conflict
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Conversion disorder provides relief from emotional conflict by expressing it through physical symptoms, not through detachment or external support.
A client is seen in the primary care clinic complaining of headaches. The client appears extremely distressed and insists that she must have a brain tumor. Which diagnosis is most probable for this client?
- A. Conversion disorder
- B. Pain disorder
- C. Brain cancer
- D. Hypochondriasis
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Hypochondriasis involves preoccupation with fear of serious illness, like a brain tumor, despite no organic basis.
The nurse is identifying outcomes for a client with a somatic symptom illness. Which is an appropriate outcome to include in the plan of care?
- A. The client will verbally express his or her emotions.
- B. The client will be free from stress.
- C. The client will demonstrate alternative ways to avoid stressful situations.
- D. The client will verbalize acceptance of physical symptoms.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Verbal expression of emotions is a realistic outcome, helping clients address underlying psychological factors.