A nurse is caring for a client who requires crisis intervention for acute anxiety. Which of the following nursing actions is the highest priority?
Identifying the client's coping skills.
Protecting the client from injury to himself.
Determining the cause of the client's anxiety.
Ensuring that the client feels safe.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A rationale:
Identifying the client's coping skills is an important assessment, but in the context of acute anxiety requiring crisis intervention, immediate safety takes precedence over assessment. Coping skills assessment can follow once the client is stable.
Choice B rationale:
Protecting the client from injury to himself is the highest priority in this scenario. Acute anxiety can lead to behaviors that pose a risk to the client's safety, such as self-harm or suicide. Ensuring the client's physical safety is paramount.
Choice C rationale:
Determining the cause of the client's anxiety is relevant for long-term care but not the immediate priority during crisis intervention. Immediate safety concerns must be addressed first.
Choice D rationale:
Ensuring that the client feels safe is important, but physical safety takes precedence. The client's subjective feeling of safety may not necessarily prevent them from engaging in harmful behaviors.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
The correct answer is choice D: Continuous worry about the undiagnosed presence of an illness.
Choice A rationale:
Sudden unexplained loss of peripheral sensation is not typically associated with illness anxiety disorder. This symptom may be indicative of a neurological condition and would require further medical evaluation to determine the cause.
Choice B rationale:
Obsession over a fictitious defect in physical appearance is more characteristic of body dysmorphic disorder, not illness anxiety disorder. Individuals with body dysmorphic disorder are preoccupied with one or more perceived defects or flaws in their physical appearance, which are not observable or appear slight to others.
Choice C rationale:
Having prior physical health followed by the need for two surgeries within the last three months does not necessarily indicate illness anxiety disorder. This choice does not provide enough context to link it to illness anxiety disorder, as it could be related to many other health conditions.
Choice D rationale:
Continuous worry about the undiagnosed presence of an illness is a key finding in illness anxiety disorder. Individuals with this disorder are excessively concerned with and preoccupied by the belief that they have, or are in danger of developing, a serious undiagnosed illness despite medical reassurance.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Answer is d. Maintain eye contact with the client and summarize the client’s feelings.
a. Identify other housing options and sources of transportation: While it is essential to address practical needs such as housing and transportation for clients who have experienced a crisis like a house fire, it is not the immediate priority when the client is in acute emotional distress. In this scenario, the client is expressing emotional distress and may not be ready to focus on practical solutions. Therefore, addressing the client's emotional needs should take precedence over addressing practical concerns.
b. Notify the facility chaplain to request scheduling an appointment: While spiritual support can be beneficial for individuals coping with trauma or loss, it should not be the immediate response when a client is in acute emotional distress. While the chaplain's support may be sought later as part of the client's holistic care, it should not precede addressing the client's immediate emotional needs.
c. Confirm that everything will be all right because belongings can be replaced: This option is incorrect because it offers false reassurance and dismisses the client's feelings about their loss. While it is true that belongings can be replaced, the emotional impact of losing possessions, especially in a traumatic event like a house fire, should not be trivialized. The client's feelings of distress and uncertainty are valid and should be acknowledged and addressed by the nurse.
d. Maintain eye contact with the client and summarize the client’s feelings: Correct. This action demonstrates therapeutic communication, which is crucial in providing an atmosphere of support and safety for the client. Maintaining eye contact shows empathy, support, and advocacy, indicating to the client that their feelings are being heard and validated. Summarizing the client's feelings allows the nurse to demonstrate active listening and understanding, fostering trust and rapport between the nurse and client. By prioritizing the client's emotional needs, the nurse can help the client begin to process their feelings and move towards coping and problem-solving.
In summary, the correct answer is d because maintaining eye contact with the client and summarizing their feelings demonstrates therapeutic communication, which is essential in providing support and validation for the client's emotional distress. This approach allows the nurse to establish rapport and trust with the client, facilitating further therapeutic interventions and support.
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