A nurse facilitating a group therapy session is listening to clients discuss their coping strategies when feeling stressed. Which of the following statements indicates adaptive coping? (Select all that apply.)
"I sleep in in the mornings."
"I isolate myself in my room for a few hours when things get overwhelming."
"I call a friend who makes me smile and laugh."
"I think about being on my favorite beach vacation."
"I tense and release my muscles, starting with my feet."
Correct Answer : C,E
"I call a friend who makes me smile and laugh," and "I tense and release my muscles, starting with my feet." These are adaptive coping strategies that help to reduce stress and promote relaxation. Calling a friend who makes you smile and laugh, for example, can help to distract from negative thoughts and promote positive emotions. Tense and release exercises can help to reduce muscle tension and promote relaxation.

Choice A, "I sleep in in the mornings," is not an adaptive coping strategy because it doesn't address the source of stress and may actually lead to avoidance.
Choice B, "I isolate myself in my room for a few hours when things get overwhelming," is not adaptive because it promotes social withdrawal and avoidance.
Choice D, "I think about being on my favorite beach vacation," is not adaptive because it promotes avoidance and doesn't address the source of stress.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
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Correct Answer is D
Explanation
The client is easily startled by loud voices. Clients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may exhibit hyperarousal symptoms, including exaggerated startle responses and hypervigilance. The client talking constantly about the traumatic experience is a possible finding in PTSD but not specific. The client is constantly drowsy and sleeping 11-12 hours daily is more associated with depression than PTSD. While the client may have satisfying personal relationships, it does not address the question of what finding to expect with PTSD, making choice C incorrect.
Reasons why the other choices are not answers:
Choice A, the client talking constantly about the traumatic experience, is a possible symptom of PTSD, but it is not specific to the disorder and may also indicate other disorders.
Choice B, the client being constantly drowsy and sleeping 11-12 hours daily, is more indicative of depression than PTSD and also does not address the question of finding expected with PTSD.
Choice C, the client reports satisfying personal relationships with family and close friends, does not address what finding is expected with PTSD, making it an incorrect answer.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A therapeutic response to the client's statement would be to acknowledge that the client feels helpless about the behavior. The nurse should avoid judging or criticizing the client and instead focus on offering support and empathy.
Options A and B are not therapeutic because they are confrontational and may make the client defensive. Option C is a well-intentioned but empty statement that does not offer any practical support or guidance to the client.
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