A patient with cognitive impairment, who has been a widow for 30 years, is desperately trying to leave the facility, stating, “I have to go home to cook dinner before my husband gets home from work.”. How should the nurse intervene using validation therapy?
“You want to go home to prepare your husband’s dinner?”
“You must come away from the door.”.
“Your husband gets angry if you don’t have dinner ready on time?”
“You have been a widow for many years.”.
The Correct Answer is A
Validation therapy is a method of therapeutic communication which can be used to connect with someone who has moderate to late-stage dementia. It places more emphasis on the emotional aspect of a conversation and less on the factual content, thereby imparting respect to the person, their feelings, and their beliefs. In this scenario, the nurse should validate the patient’s feelings and emotions by saying, “You want to go home to prepare your husband’s dinner?”
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
While teaching the client techniques for coping with the mother’s anger might be helpful, it does not address the root cause of the problem. The mother’s anger and inappropriate responses could be due to frustration from not being able to hear properly.
Choice B rationale
The mother’s behavior of not responding when her back is turned and becoming increasingly angry could be signs of hearing loss. A hearing evaluation would help determine if this is the case and appropriate interventions can be put in place.
Choice C rationale
Telling the client that it appears the mother has a hearing loss is not the best intervention because it is based on assumption without any professional evaluation. It is important to have a professional evaluation before making such conclusions.
Choice D rationale
Informing the client to ignore the behavior and treat the mother with love does not address the potential issue of hearing loss. Ignoring the problem does not solve it and could lead to further frustration and misunderstanding.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
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.
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