A nurse in a hospital is caring for a client who has agoraphobia.
Which of the following statements by the client indicates understanding of the goals of treatment?
"I can try participating in group therapy every week."
"I should avoid entering elevators and other closed spaces."
"I plan to sit on a park bench for a few minutes each day."
"I will join a book club in my neighborhood.".
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale: Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder where the person fears and avoids places or situations that might cause them to panic, feel trapped, or helpless. The goal of treatment for agoraphobia is to help the person feel less anxious and fearful about being in places or situations that they perceive as difficult to escape from. This is often achieved through a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication. In CBT, the person learns to understand and change thought patterns that lead to troublesome feelings, behaviors, and symptoms.
Gradual exposure to the feared situation, under controlled conditions, can help the person gain better control over their anxiety. Therefore, the statement “I plan to sit on a park bench for a few minutes each day” indicates an understanding of the goals of treatment as it suggests a willingness to gradually expose oneself to feared situations.
Choice B rationale: The statement “I can try participating in group therapy every week” does not necessarily indicate an understanding of the goals of treatment for agoraphobia. While group therapy can be beneficial for many mental health conditions, it is not specific to the treatment of agoraphobia. In the context of agoraphobia, the focus of treatment is more on individual cognitive-behavioral therapy and gradual exposure to feared situations.
Choice C rationale: The statement “I will join a book club in my neighborhood” does not necessarily indicate an understanding of the goals of treatment for agoraphobia. Joining a book club could potentially provide social support and a sense of community, which can be beneficial for mental health in general. However, it does not specifically address the fears and avoidance behaviors associated with agoraphobia.
Choice D rationale: The statement “I should avoid entering elevators and other closed spaces” indicates a misunderstanding of the goals of treatment for agoraphobia. Avoidance of feared situations is a common symptom of agoraphobia, and treatment aims to reduce this avoidance behavior, not reinforce it. Therefore, this statement suggests a need for further education about the goals of treatment.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale: Communicating empathy for the client’s feelings to increase rapport is an important aspect of nursing care. It helps in building a therapeutic relationship with the client, which can facilitate better communication and cooperation during treatment. However, while this is a valuable intervention, it does not take priority over monitoring for adverse effects of refeeding in a client diagnosed with anorexia nervosa who has begun to gain weight.
Choice B rationale: Helping the patient balance energy expenditure and caloric intake is a crucial part of the treatment plan for anorexia nervosa. This intervention aims to ensure that the client is receiving adequate nutrition for their body’s needs without excessive energy expenditure that could hinder weight gain. However, this intervention is not as immediate a priority as monitoring for refeeding syndrome, which can have severe and potentially life-threatening consequences.
Choice C rationale: Assessing for adverse effects of refeeding is the priority nursing intervention in this scenario. Refeeding syndrome is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that can occur when nutritional replenishment is initiated in severely malnourished clients, such as those with anorexia nervosa. It is characterized by metabolic alterations, including hypophosphatemia, hypokalemia, and hypomagnesemia. These alterations can lead to serious complications, such as cardiac arrhythmias, respiratory failure, and neurological complications.
Therefore, early detection and management of refeeding syndrome are crucial.
Choice D rationale: Assessing for depression and anxiety during every shift assessment is an important part of psychiatric nursing care. Many individuals with anorexia nervosa also experience co-morbid psychiatric conditions, such as depression and anxiety disorders. Regular assessment can help detect any changes in the client’s mental status and prompt timely intervention. However, while this is an important aspect of care, it does not take priority over assessing for the adverse effects of refeeding.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Rationale:
Choice A: Avoid discussing past behaviors with the client is incorrect. While avoiding dwelling on the past is important, discussing past manipulative behaviors in a safe and therapeutic environment can help the client gain insight into their patterns and triggers. This awareness is crucial for developing future coping mechanisms and preventing further manipulation.
Choice C: Allow manipulation so as to not raise the client's anxiety is incorrect. Allowing manipulation reinforces the behavior and undermines the client's well-being. It also sets a dangerous precedent for interactions with others.
While addressing anxiety is important, it should not be at the cost of condoning manipulation.
Choice D: Bargain with the client to discourage manipulative behavior is incorrect. Bargaining implies making concessions in exchange for the client stopping their manipulation. This approach can be ineffective and even reinforce the manipulative behavior as the client learns to negotiate for desired outcomes. Instead, clear boundaries and consistent consequences are more effective in addressing manipulation.
Rationale for Choice B:
Instituting consequences for manipulative behavior provides a clear and consistent response to the client's actions. This can help to limit the behavior and encourage the client to develop alternative coping mechanisms.
Consequences should be:
Fair and proportional: The consequence should be related to the specific manipulative behavior and not be overly harsh or punitive.
Consistent: The same consequence should be applied each time the manipulative behavior occurs. This predictability helps the client understand the cause-and-effect relationship between their actions and the consequences.
Enforceable: The consequence should be something that can be realistically implemented and followed through on. While implementing consequences, it's important to:
Maintain a therapeutic relationship: Address the behavior in a calm and professional manner, focusing on the behavior itself and not personal attacks.
Communicate clearly: Explain the consequences to the client in advance and ensure they understand the connection between their actions and the outcome.
Provide alternative coping mechanisms: Offer the client support and guidance in developing healthier ways to express their needs and manage their emotions.
By setting clear boundaries and consistently implementing consequences, nurses can help clients with manipulative behaviors learn to interact in a more positive and productive way. This ultimately benefits the client, their relationships, and their overall well-being.
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.