A client with a somatic symptom illness is experiencing improvements in their symptoms and daily functioning. What should the nurse do to support the client's progress?
Provide excessive attention to the client's physical complaints.
Withhold praise for the client's achievements.
Acknowledge and praise the client for their improvement.
Encourage the client to focus solely on their illness behavior.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale:
Providing excessive attention to the client's physical complaints is not conducive to the client's progress. While it's important to address the client's concerns, excessive focus on physical complaints can reinforce illness behavior and hinder the development of healthier coping mechanisms.
Choice B rationale:
Withholding praise for the client's achievements is not supportive of the client's progress. Positive reinforcement is essential for motivating and reinforcing adaptive behaviors. By acknowledging the client's achievements, the nurse can boost their self-esteem and encourage continued improvement.
Choice C rationale:
Acknowledging and praising the client for their improvement is a beneficial approach. Positive reinforcement enhances the client's sense of accomplishment and encourages them to continue engaging in positive behaviors. This approach fosters a therapeutic relationship and supports the client's journey towards better health.
Choice D rationale:
Encouraging the client to focus solely on their illness behavior is counterproductive. Overemphasis on illness behavior can perpetuate the symptoms and prevent the client from developing a broader sense of identity and well-being.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
The client's ability to perfectly articulate their emotions, while important, is not the primary focus of the assessment for somatic symptom illness. The emphasis is on identifying potential physical causes and addressing underlying emotional factors.
Choice B rationale:
Reviewing the client's social media posts for symptom updates might not yield reliable or comprehensive information regarding their condition. It's more appropriate to gather information through direct communication and medical assessment.
Choice C rationale:
A thorough medical history to rule out organic causes is a crucial aspect of the assessment process. It helps determine whether the client's symptoms are linked to any underlying medical conditions that require medical intervention.
Choice D rationale:
Exploring the client's childhood hobbies and interests may not directly contribute to the assessment of somatic symptom illness. While understanding the client's background is important, focusing on medical and psychological aspects is more relevant in this context.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Avoidance of distressing situations. This choice suggests that the primary motivation for the client's behavior is to avoid situations that cause distress. While this may be a factor in some cases of illness-related behaviors, it is not the primary motivation described in the scenario. The client's persistent fear and belief of having a serious illness despite minimal or no symptoms indicate a different underlying motivation.
Choice B rationale:
Intentional symptom production. This choice accurately captures the primary motivation for the client's behavior. Intentional symptom production refers to the deliberate creation or exaggeration of physical symptoms, often driven by psychological factors. In this case, the client's persistent fear and belief in having a serious illness point toward intentionally producing symptoms to validate their belief and seek attention or emotional relief.
Choice C rationale:
Seeking emotional relief. While seeking emotional relief may be a secondary motivation for some individuals with somatic symptom disorders, it is not the primary motivation described in the scenario. The client's behavior is primarily driven by the intentional production of symptoms and the associated beliefs, rather than a sole focus on emotional relief.
Choice D rationale:
Gaining attention and sympathy. While seeking attention and sympathy may be an outcome of the client's behavior, it is not the primary motivation. The client's behavior is rooted in their belief of having a serious illness, leading to intentional symptom production, rather than solely seeking attention or sympathy.
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