A client with a somatic symptom illness is receiving care. What is an essential aspect of the nurse-client relationship in this situation?
Avoiding any discussion of the client's physical symptoms.
Establishing trust and rapport with the client.
Dismissing the client's emotional experiences.
Using sarcasm to help the client confront their behavior.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A rationale:
Avoiding any discussion of the client's physical symptoms would be counterproductive in building a therapeutic nurse-client relationship. Ignoring the client's concerns might lead to feelings of neglect and hinder the development of trust and rapport.
Choice B rationale:
Establishing trust and rapport is a fundamental aspect of nursing care, particularly when dealing with clients with somatic symptom illness. These clients often experience distressing physical symptoms that have psychological roots. By creating a safe and supportive environment, the nurse can encourage the client to share their experiences, emotions, and concerns openly. This helps the nurse understand the client's condition better and collaborate on an effective care plan.
Choice C rationale:
Dismissing the client's emotional experiences would be detrimental to their well-being. Clients with somatic symptom illness often have genuine distress related to their physical symptoms. Addressing their emotional experiences validates their feelings and aids in uncovering the underlying psychological factors contributing to their symptoms.
Choice D rationale:
Using sarcasm to help the client confront their behavior is inappropriate and unprofessional. Sarcasm can damage the therapeutic relationship, making the client feel ridiculed and unheard. Respectful and empathetic communication is crucial in nursing care, especially when dealing with individuals who are experiencing distress.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Illness anxiety disorder involves excessive worry about having a serious illness, often despite minimal or no symptoms. While this choice relates to anxiety about being sick, it does not encompass the chronic physical symptoms without clear medical explanation that the client in the scenario is experiencing.
Choice B rationale:
Conversion disorder involves neurological symptoms such as altered motor functions or sensory deficits that cannot be explained by medical conditions. However, this choice doesn't account for the chronic nature of the symptoms described in the scenario.
Choice C rationale:
Somatic symptom disorder is characterized by chronic physical symptoms that cause distress and impairment, but the symptoms cannot be fully explained by medical conditions alone. This is the most appropriate choice for the client in the scenario, as it aligns with the chronic and distressing nature of the symptoms.
Choice D rationale:
Factitious disorder involves intentionally falsifying or inducing physical or psychological symptoms for the purpose of assuming the sick role. This choice does not reflect the chronic nature of the symptoms in the scenario, nor does it address the distress experienced by the client.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Genetic predisposition and neurobiological abnormalities - Somatic symptom illnesses often have a genetic component, with certain individuals being more susceptible due to genetic factors that influence the way their brain and nervous system respond to stress and emotions. Neurobiological abnormalities can lead to altered perception and processing of bodily sensations, contributing to the development and persistence of these illnesses.
Choice B rationale:
Substance use or withdrawal and medication side effects - While substance use, withdrawal, and medication side effects can impact an individual's overall well-being and potentially exacerbate physical symptoms, they are not core factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of somatic symptom illnesses.
Choice C rationale:
Childhood abuse or neglect and family history of mental disorders - These factors can contribute to the development of various mental health conditions, but they are not specific to somatic symptom illnesses. Somatic symptom illnesses involve the interaction between emotional factors and physical symptoms that are not fully explained by medical conditions.
Choice D rationale:
Social isolation and cultural expectations regarding health - While social isolation and cultural expectations can influence an individual's perception of health and illness, they are more likely to play a secondary role in the context of somatic symptom illnesses. These illnesses are primarily rooted in the interaction between psychological and physiological factors.
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