A patient returned from a procedure after receiving general anesthesia and is aggressive and confused.

The nurse knows that the patient is experiencing:

Choice A rationale:
Anger is a common and expected response to trauma, including sexual assault. It can stem from various sources, including:
Feelings of violation and powerlessness: Survivors may feel intense anger towards the perpetrator for taking control of their bodies and lives.
Betrayal: If the assault was committed by someone they knew or trusted, survivors may feel intense anger towards that person for breaking their trust.
Frustration and injustice: Survivors may feel angry at the injustice of the situation, the lack of control they had, and the ongoing impact of the trauma.
Difficulty processing other emotions: Anger can sometimes mask other emotions that are difficult to deal with, such as fear, sadness, or guilt.
Anger can manifest in various ways, including:
Irritability and outbursts: Survivors may have a short temper, snap at others easily, or have difficulty controlling their anger. Aggression: In some cases, anger can lead to physical or verbal aggression towards others or self-harming behaviors.
Withdrawal and isolation: Some survivors may withdraw from social interactions and relationships to avoid potential triggers for their anger.
Substance abuse: Some survivors may turn to alcohol or drugs to numb their feelings or cope with their anger.
Choice B rationale:
Sleeping 12 hours or more each day can be a symptom of PTSD, but it is not a specific indicator of anger. It can also be a sign of depression, anxiety, or hypersomnia, a sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness.
Choice C rationale:
PTSD can sometimes lead to an increased sense of detachment from others, rather than attachment. Survivors may feel emotionally numb, have difficulty trusting others, or withdraw from relationships.
Choice D rationale:
While some survivors of sexual assault may feel a need to talk about the event, it is not a universal symptom of PTSD. Some survivors may avoid talking about the event altogether due to the distress it causes.

Choice A rationale
While it’s true that both therapy and medication are often recommended for treating conditions like depression, this doesn’t explain why a patient needs to attend therapy in addition to taking their prescribed antidepressant medication.
Choice B rationale
The statement that the effects of medications will not last forever is somewhat misleading. While it’s true that medications aren’t a cure-all, they can provide long-term management of symptoms for many individuals.
Choice C rationale
This choice doesn’t provide an explanation for why therapy is necessary in addition to medication. It merely acknowledges that the patient has reservations about going to therapy.
Choice D rationale
This is the best explanation. Medications can help improve brain function by balancing neurotransmitters, which can alleviate symptoms of mental health conditions. Therapy, on the other hand, can help patients develop coping strategies, understand and change thought patterns, and implement behavioral changes, which can lead to more enduring improvements over time.