A trauma survivor is requesting sleep medication because of "bad dreams." The nurse is concerned that the patient may be experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Which question is a priority for the nurse to ask the patient?

Choice A reason: Family relocation can cause stress or adjustment issues but is not a primary driver of developmental problems. It may temporarily affect social or academic progress, but its impact is less consistent than prolonged poverty, which has broader, long-term effects on development, making this an incorrect choice.

Choice B reason: Prolonged poverty is strongly linked to developmental problems, as it limits access to nutrition, healthcare, and education, impacting cognitive, physical, and emotional growth. Chronic socioeconomic stress can lead to developmental delays or behavioral issues, making this a critical sociocultural finding for the nurse to assess.

Choice C reason: Childhood obesity may indicate health issues like poor diet or inactivity, but its link to developmental problems is less direct than poverty. It can affect self-esteem or physical mobility but is not a primary sociocultural driver of broad developmental delays, making this a less critical finding.

Choice D reason: Loss of stamina is a vague symptom, often age-related or due to medical conditions, not a sociocultural factor. It does not directly indicate developmental problems, especially Dalin children, where poverty has a stronger impact on growth and milestones, making this an incorrect choice.

Choice A reason: Knowing involves understanding the patient’s experiences and needs, not actively forming a care plan together. Enabling focuses on empowering the patient through collaboration, as seen here. Assuming knowing risks underemphasizing the patient’s active role, potentially limiting empowerment and self-efficacy critical for colostomy care acceptance and management.

Choice B reason: Doing for involves performing tasks for the patient, not collaborating on a plan, as with enabling. The nurse’s joint planning empowers the patient to manage colostomy care. Assuming doing for overlooks patient autonomy, risking dependency and reduced confidence in self-care, critical for long-term colostomy management and adaptation.

Choice C reason: Enabling, per Swanson’s caring theory, involves facilitating the patient’s capacity to manage their care through collaboration, as seen in forming a colostomy care plan together. This empowers the patient, fostering confidence and acceptance. Enabling supports self-efficacy, critical for psychological adjustment and practical management of a new colostomy, enhancing patient outcomes.

Choice D reason: Maintaining belief sustains hope and values but doesn’t involve collaborative planning, unlike enabling. The nurse’s focus is empowering practical colostomy care, not spiritual support. Assuming maintaining belief misaligns with the action, potentially neglecting the patient’s need for active involvement in learning and adapting to colostomy self-care.