Nokea
The spouse of a dying client states to the nurse, 'I don't think I can come anymore and watch her die. It's chewing me up too much!' Which is the most therapeutic response the nurse should make to the spouse?
- A. It's hard to watch someone you love die. You've been here with your wife every day. Are you taking any time for yourself?
- B. Focus on your wife's pain rather than yours. I know it's hard, but this isn't about what's happening to you, you know.
- C. I know it's hard for you, but she would know if you're not there, and you would feel so very guilty all of the rest of your days.
- D. I think you're making the right decision. Your wife knows you love her. You don't have to come every day. I'll take care of her.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The most therapeutic response is the one that is empathetic and that reflects the nurse's understanding of the client's, in this case, the husband's, stress and emotional pain. In the correct option, the nurse suggests that the client take time for himself. Option 2 is an example of a nontherapeutic and judgmental attitude that places blame. Option 3 makes statements that the nurse cannot know are true (the client's wife may not in fact know if the husband visits), and it predicts feelings of guilt, which is inappropriate. Option 4 fosters dependency and gives advice, which is nontherapeutic.
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What factor is likely the reason a woman with bipolar disorder, manic episode, rarely eats?
- A. Feelings of guilt
- B. Need to control others
- C. Desire for punishment
- D. Excessive physical activity
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: During a manic episode of bipolar disorder, individuals often experience hyperactivity and an inability to stay still. This hyperactivity can manifest as excessive physical activity, which can prevent them from eating regularly. The correct answer is 'Excessive physical activity' because it directly relates to the woman's lack of appetite during the manic episode. Feelings of guilt, the need to control others, and the desire for punishment are not typically associated with eating difficulties in individuals with bipolar disorder during a manic episode. Clients in a manic episode usually have heightened energy levels and may engage in activities that exhaust them, leading to a decreased focus on eating.
A client diagnosed with angina pectoris is extremely anxious after being hospitalized. Which should the nurse do to minimize the client's anxiety?
- A. Provide care choices to the client.
- B. Keep the door open and the hallway lights on at night.
- C. Encourage the client to limit visitors to as few as possible.
- D. Arrange for the client to share a room with a cognitively alert client.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: General interventions to minimize anxiety in the hospitalized client include providing information, social support, and control over choices related to care, as well as acknowledging the client's feelings. Leaving the door open with the hallway lights on may keep the client oriented, but these actions may interfere with sleep and increase anxiety. Limiting visitors reduces social support. The sharing of a room may not necessarily meet the client's needs.
According to psychodynamic theory, what purpose do delusions serve?
- A. Delusions are a defense against anxiety caused by real or imagined threats.
- B. Magical thinking is a delusion that ensures desirable outcomes.
- C. Delusions are a method of dealing with and interpreting external stimuli.
- D. Subconsciously, delusions are a way to safely express anger and hostility.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: According to psychodynamic theory, delusions serve as a defense mechanism against anxiety triggered by real or perceived threats. Delusions are the individual's unconscious way of protecting themselves from overwhelming feelings of anxiety. Magical thinking, on the other hand, involves believing that one's thoughts can influence external events. This is not the same as delusions. Delusions are not a way of interpreting external stimuli but rather a defense mechanism. Expressing anger and hostility is typically associated with defense mechanisms like displacement or projection, not delusions.
The nurse is performing an assessment on a 16-year-old client who has been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. Which statement by the client should the nurse identify as a priority requiring a need for further teaching?
- A. I check my weight every day without fail.'
- B. I exercise 3 to 4 hours every day to keep my slim figure.'
- C. I've been told that I am 10% below my ideal body weight.'
- D. My best friend was in the hospital with this disorder a year ago.'
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Exercising 3 to 4 hours every day is excessive physical activity and unrealistic for a 16-year-old girl. The nurse needs to further assess this statement immediately to find out why the client feels the need to exercise this much to maintain her figure. It is not considered abnormal to check the weight every day; many clients with anorexia nervosa check their weight close to 20 times a day. A weight that exceeds 15% below the ideal weight is significant for clients with anorexia nervosa. Although it is unfortunate that the client's best friend had this disorder, this is not considered a major threat to this client's physical well-being.
After undergoing dilation and curettage following an early miscarriage, a client is crying. Which response would the nurse give?
- A. This must be a very difficult experience for you to deal with.''
- B. You'll have other children to take the place of the child you lost.''
- C. Of course you're sad now, but at least you know you can get pregnant.''
- D. I know how you feel, but when a woman miscarries, it's usually for the best.''
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct response acknowledges the client's grief without judgment and provides validation. Choice B is inappropriate as it suggests replacing the lost child with other children, which is insensitive and dismissive of the client's current loss. Choice C minimizes the client's feelings by focusing on the ability to get pregnant rather than addressing the emotional impact of the miscarriage. Choice D is dismissive and patronizing, suggesting that the miscarriage was for the best, which can be hurtful and diminish the client's grief.