A nurse in a mental health facility is interacting with a client who is angry and becoming increasingly aggressive. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Use clarification to determine what the patient is feeling.
Never break constant eye contact with the patient.
Move the patient to a private area so the conversation will not be disturbed and cannot be seen.
Speak to the patient using an authoritative voice and ask them, "Why are you acting this way?”
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale:
When dealing with an angry and aggressive client, using clarification is an essential communication technique. It involves asking open-ended questions to better understand the patient's emotions and concerns, which can help defuse the situation and provide insight into the underlying issues.
Choice B rationale:
Maintaining constant eye contact can be interpreted as confrontational or aggressive behavior, potentially escalating the client's aggression. It's important to maintain a respectful distance and avoid behaviors that could exacerbate the situation.
Choice C rationale:
Moving the patient to a private area is a reasonable approach if the environment is contributing to the patient's agitation. However, the primary concern should be the safety of both the patient and the staff. Privacy can be important, but it shouldn't compromise safety.
Choice D rationale:
Speaking to the patient with an authoritative voice and asking "why" questions can escalate the situation further. It may come across as confrontational and provoke a defensive reaction from the patient. Open-ended questions that encourage the patient to express their feelings can be more effective in de-escalation.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Reality orientation is a technique commonly used in dementia care to help individuals be aware of time, place, and person. It is not directly related to the statement made by the client in the scenario about loving the daughter as much as the son based on academic performance.
Choice B rationale:
The correct choice. According to Eric Berne's theory of Transactional Analysis and Eric Erikson's psychosocial development stages, unconditional love is essential for fostering a positive sense of self-esteem. The statement made by the client to the daughter, linking love with better school performance, creates conditional love, implying that the daughter's worthiness of love is tied to her academic achievements. This can hinder the development of positive self-esteem.
Choice C rationale:
A sense of survival refers to basic human instincts related to self-preservation. It is not directly connected to the client's statement or the development of positive self-esteem in the context of parenting.
Choice D rationale:
A sense of responsibility involves understanding and fulfilling one's obligations. While it is important for parenting, the client's statement is more closely related to the concept of conditional love, which directly impacts self-esteem, as explained in choice B.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The correct answer is choice A. Ask the client direct questions about the hallucination.
Choice A rationale:
Asking direct questions about the hallucination helps the nurse understand the client’s experience and assess the content and intensity of the hallucinations. This approach also allows the nurse to provide appropriate support and interventions.
Choice B rationale:
Acting as if the hallucination is real can reinforce the client’s distorted perception of reality, which is not therapeutic. The nurse should acknowledge the client’s experience without validating the hallucination as real.
Choice C rationale:
Telling the client to go to their room and that the hallucinations should go away is dismissive and does not address the client’s immediate needs. It is important to engage with the client and provide support rather than dismiss their experience.
Choice D rationale:
Instructing the client to argue with the voices can increase the client’s distress and is not a recommended therapeutic approach. Instead, the nurse should help the client find ways to cope with and manage the hallucinations.
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