A nurse is providing care for a client who has recently returned from active combat and lost a close friend during combat.
Which statement by the client indicates that they are experiencing traumatic grief?
“It has been more than a year, and I still don’t want to leave the house.”.
“I can’t cry when I talk about my friend because I’m supposed to be strong.”.
“I should have been the one who was killed instead of my friend.”.
“When I have flashbacks, it feels like my heart is going to beat through my chest.”.
The Correct Answer is C
The correct answer is Choice C
Choice A rationale: A reluctance to leave the house for over a year suggests a struggle with grief and possibly depression but does not specifically indicate traumatic grief. It reflects difficulty in moving forward but lacks the intense guilt associated with traumatic grief.
Choice B rationale: Inability to cry due to a perceived need to be strong reflects emotional suppression and societal expectations. It does not directly point to traumatic grief, which often involves more severe symptoms like intense guilt and preoccupation with the deceased.
Choice C rationale: Feeling that one should have been killed instead of a friend indicates severe survivor guilt, a core component of traumatic grief. This statement reflects an intense emotional reaction and an inability to reconcile the loss, leading to profound distress and dysfunction.
Choice D rationale: Flashbacks and physical symptoms like a racing heart suggest post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rather than traumatic grief. PTSD involves re-experiencing traumatic events, whereas traumatic grief focuses more on the loss and associated guilt
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Using EPA registered insect repellants is a form of primary prevention, as it aims to prevent tick bites, which are the primary mode of transmission for Lyme disease.
Choice B rationale
Checking your clothing and body for ticks after being outdoors is a form of secondary prevention. If a tick is found and removed before it has had a chance to transmit the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, this can prevent the disease from occurring.
Choice C rationale
Wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants while outdoors is another form of primary prevention, as it can help prevent tick bites.
Choice D rationale
Notifying your health care provider if you notice a rash (especially a bull’s-eye rash, which is a common early symptom of Lyme disease) is a form of tertiary prevention, as it involves managing the symptoms of an existing disease.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) is a mental health condition that can occur in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event, with symptoms starting within four weeks of the event and lasting for a minimum of three days and up to one month. This client’s statement about experiencing nightmares following a car crash two weeks ago aligns with the diagnosis of ASD.
Nightmares are a common symptom of ASD, often replaying the traumatic event, leading to disrupted sleep and increased distress.
Choice B rationale
This statement is more indicative of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a related but distinct condition from ASD. PTSD is characterized by persistent and intrusive memories of the traumatic event, which can include flashbacks, and symptoms must last for more than a month and cause significant distress or functional impairment. The chronic nature of the symptoms described by the client, including frequent flashbacks since childhood, is more consistent with PTSD than ASD.
Choice C rationale
This statement could suggest a condition known as Specific Phobia, Situational Type. This is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by an intense, persistent fear of certain situations. The individual will avoid the situation or endure it with intense fear or anxiety. In this case, the client’s inability to drive following a car crash two years ago could indicate a specific phobia related to driving.
Choice D rationale
The experience described by the client in this statement is indicative of a dissociative symptom, which can be a feature of several different mental health disorders, including but not limited to Dissociative Disorders and PTSD1. The feeling of leaving one’s body is referred to as depersonalization, a type of dissociation that can occur as a response to trauma. However, without more information, it is difficult to align this statement with a specific diag
Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.
Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today
Report Wrong Answer on the Current Question
Do you disagree with the answer? If yes, what is your expected answer? Explain.
Kindly be descriptive with the issue you are facing.