A nurse is caring for a client with OCD who is experiencing an anxiety attack. The client is saying, "I have to wash my hands! I have to wash my hands!" Which of the following responses should the nurse make?
"It's okay, you don't have to wash your hands.”
"I understand that you're feeling anxious. Let's talk about what's going on.”
"You need to calm down and stop thinking about washing your hands.”
"I'll help you wash your hands.”
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A rationale:
Telling the client "It's okay, you don't have to wash your hands" might invalidate the client's feelings and fears, leading to increased anxiety. The client's compulsion to wash their hands is driven by their obsessive thoughts, and dismissing this behavior can be counterproductive.
Choice B rationale:
The correct response acknowledges the client's anxiety and opens a conversation about their feelings. This approach helps build a therapeutic relationship and provides an opportunity for the client to express their concerns. It's essential to address the underlying anxieties associated with OCD to promote better coping strategies.
Choice C rationale:
Telling the client to "calm down and stop thinking about washing your hands" oversimplifies the situation. People with OCD often struggle with controlling their obsessive thoughts and compulsions, and such a directive can be ineffective and frustrating for the client.
Choice D rationale:
Offering to "help you wash your hands" reinforces the client's compulsion rather than addressing the root cause of their anxiety. Enabling their compulsive behavior can contribute to the maintenance of their OCD symptoms.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Exposure and response prevention is a cornerstone of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for OCD. It involves exposing the individual to anxiety-provoking situations (exposure) and then preventing the usual compulsive response that reduces anxiety (response prevention) This helps the individual learn that their feared outcomes are unlikely to occur and that their anxiety will diminish over time without engaging in rituals.
Choice B rationale:
Systematic desensitization is a technique used to treat phobias and anxiety disorders by gradually exposing the individual to their feared stimuli while teaching relaxation techniques. While it may have some applicability in OCD treatment, it is not as directly aligned with the core features of OCD as exposure and response prevention.
Choice C rationale:
Flooding is a therapeutic technique that involves exposing the individual to an extreme level of their fear in order to diminish the anxiety response over time. While this approach might be used in certain anxiety disorders, it is not typically the first-line intervention for OCD. Exposure and response prevention is a more gradual and controlled technique that is better suited for OCD treatment.
Choice D rationale:
Thought stopping involves interrupting obsessive thoughts by using cues or distractions. This technique is not as effective in treating OCD as exposure and response prevention, which directly addresses the connection between obsessions and compulsions. Thought stopping may not provide the individual with a comprehensive strategy for managing their OCD symptoms.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
While genetic factors can contribute to the development of OCD, stating that it is solely caused by genetic factors oversimplifies the etiology. OCD is a complex disorder with multiple factors, including genetic, neurobiological, cognitive, and environmental influences.
Choice B rationale:
This statement is incorrect. Exposure therapy is a highly effective treatment for OCD. It involves controlled and systematic exposure to feared stimuli, which helps individuals reduce their anxiety responses over time.
Choice C rationale:
This choice is correct because selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are indeed commonly used as a first-line pharmacological treatment for OCD. These medications help regulate serotonin levels in the brain, which can reduce the frequency and intensity of obsessions and compulsions.
Choice D rationale:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is actually recommended as one of the most effective treatments for OCD. CBT, including exposure and response prevention, helps individuals learn to manage their symptoms by changing maladaptive thought patterns and behaviors associated with OCD. Therefore, stating that CBT is not recommended is inaccurate.
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