A nurse is caring for a client with OCD who has a compulsion to wash their hands repeatedly. Which of the following interventions should the nurse prioritize?
Teach the client relaxation techniques.
Encourage the client to talk about their thoughts and feelings.
Assist the client in developing a hierarchy of feared situations.
Praise the client for decreasing the frequency of handwashing.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale:
Teach the client relaxation techniques. While teaching relaxation techniques can be beneficial, it may not directly address the client's compulsion to wash their hands repeatedly. OCD involves managing distressing thoughts and compulsions through specific interventions.
Choice B rationale:
Encourage the client to talk about their thoughts and feelings. While promoting open communication is generally important, it may not be the most effective intervention for directly addressing the client's compulsion to wash their hands. OCD interventions often involve exposure and response prevention strategies.
Choice C rationale:
Assist the client in developing a hierarchy of feared situations. This is the correct answer. Helping the client develop a hierarchy of feared situations is a key intervention in addressing OCD. This approach is part of exposure and response prevention therapy, where clients gradually face their fears without engaging in compulsive behaviors.
Choice D rationale:
Praise the client for decreasing the frequency of handwashing. While positive reinforcement can be useful, it may not be the priority intervention for someone with OCD. The focus should be on structured interventions that challenge and reduce the compulsive behaviors over time.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["B","D"]
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
This choice does not indicate symptoms of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) Feeling sad about being overweight is not specific to BDD and could be related to body dissatisfaction or other emotional concerns.
Choice B rationale:
This choice indicates a symptom of BDD. Constantly comparing one's appearance to that of celebrities suggests a preoccupation with perceived flaws, which is a hallmark of BDD. Individuals with BDD often engage in such comparisons as a way to validate their negative self-image.
Choice C rationale:
While spending excessive time in front of the mirror can be a symptom of BDD, the statement alone does not definitively indicate the disorder. It's important to consider the reason behind the mirror checking behavior and the individual's emotional distress related to it.
Choice D rationale:
This choice indicates a symptom of BDD. Avoiding social situations due to the fear of being negatively evaluated or judged based on one's perceived flaws is a classic sign of BDD. Individuals with BDD often believe that others are fixated on their perceived defects.
Choice E rationale:
This choice does not indicate symptoms of BDD. Having a collection of items without attaching sentimental value is not specific to BDD. It's important to focus on behaviors and thoughts related to perceived physical flaws when assessing for BDD.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Avoiding situations that cause anxiety is counterproductive in exposure therapy, which is a common treatment for OCD. Exposure therapy involves gradual and controlled exposure to feared stimuli to reduce anxiety. Avoidance reinforces the anxiety response and prevents habituation. Facing the situations that trigger anxiety is crucial for desensitization.
Choice B rationale:
This choice is correct because exposure therapy for OCD involves facing feared situations while refraining from engaging in compulsions. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rigid rules. By gradually exposing the individual to these situations and preventing them from performing compulsions, the anxiety response diminishes over time.
Choice C rationale:
Telling the patient that their fears will go away on their own is inaccurate and dismissive of the distress that OCD can cause. OCD is a chronic condition that typically requires evidence-based interventions for symptom reduction. Ignoring the fears and hoping they will disappear without intervention is not a valid therapeutic approach.
Choice D rationale:
Focusing only on situations that are easy to tolerate would not be effective in exposure therapy. The essence of exposure therapy is to confront situations that provoke anxiety gradually, starting with less anxiety-provoking situations and progressing to more challenging ones. This process helps the individual build resilience against anxiety triggers.
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