A nurse is caring for a client with OCD who is refusing to leave their room because they are afraid of contamination. Which of the following interventions should the nurse prioritize?
Encourage the client to talk about their fears.
Set limits on the client's behavior.
Assist the client in gradual exposure to feared situations.
Provide the client with relaxation techniques.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale:
Encouraging the client to "talk about their fears" might be a beneficial intervention in some cases, but for individuals with OCD who are struggling with compulsive behaviors driven by their fears, directly addressing exposure to those fears is a more effective approach.
Choice B rationale:
While setting limits on the client's behavior is important, it may not be the priority in this situation. Instead, assisting the client in gradually confronting their fears through exposure therapy can help them develop healthier coping mechanisms.
Choice C rationale:
The correct response emphasizes gradual exposure therapy, a well-established approach in treating OCD. This intervention helps the client confront their fears in a controlled and systematic manner, leading to desensitization and reduction in their anxiety over time.
Choice D rationale:
Providing relaxation techniques can be helpful for managing anxiety, but for someone with OCD who is avoiding situations due to contamination fears, the primary intervention should focus on exposure therapy to address the specific OCD-related fears.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
The statement "I always arrange my books on the shelf from tallest to shortest" doesn't indicate an obsession. This behavior might suggest a preference for orderliness or arranging things systematically, but it lacks the distressing, unwanted nature of obsessions.
Choice B rationale:
"I feel an overwhelming urge to wash my hands every 30 minutes" indicates a compulsion rather than an obsession. The urge to wash hands frequently is driven by the need to alleviate anxiety or distress, which is the hallmark of compulsive behaviors.
Choice C rationale:
"I have a ritual of counting to 10 before entering any room" is also a compulsion. The ritual of counting serves as a way to reduce anxiety or prevent a feared outcome associated with entering a room, suggesting a compulsive behavior.
Choice D rationale:
The statement "I keep having thoughts that my family will get hurt if I don't touch the doorknob three times" reflects an obsession. The distressing thought of family harm is the unwanted obsession, and the ritual of touching the doorknob three times is the compulsion aimed at reducing the anxiety caused by the obsession.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Discarding possessions easily, regardless of their value, is not characteristic of hoarding disorder. Hoarding disorder involves the persistent difficulty in parting with possessions, even if they have little value, due to the emotional attachment individuals feel toward these items.
Choice B rationale:
Accumulating possessions without any emotional attachment is not indicative of hoarding disorder. In hoarding disorder, emotional attachment to possessions is a hallmark feature, and individuals often experience distress at the thought of discarding items.
Choice C rationale:
This is the correct choice. Hoarding disorder is characterized by the strong need to save items, regardless of their practical value, and the significant distress experienced when attempting to discard them. This behavior leads to the accumulation of possessions and can result in living spaces becoming cluttered and uninhabitable.
Choice D rationale:
Organizing possessions meticulously to maintain a clutter-free environment is not consistent with hoarding disorder. People with hoarding disorder struggle with organization and often have difficulty maintaining clutter-free spaces due to the accumulation of possessions.
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