A nurse is assessing a newly hospitalized patient. Select the best example of the communication technique of "offering self."

I’d like to sit with you for a while to help you get comfortable talking to me

I’ve also had traumatic life experiences; maybe it would help to share them

Why do you think you had so much difficulty adjusting to this change in your life?

Let’s discuss your treatment plan and how we can make it work for you

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A reason: Offering self involves making oneself available to the patient, fostering trust through presence and empathy. Sitting with the patient to facilitate comfort aligns with therapeutic communication, creating a safe space for dialogue, critical in psychiatric nursing, making this the correct choice.

Choice B reason: Sharing the nurse’s personal experiences shifts focus from the patient, risking boundary violations. This is non-therapeutic, as it does not prioritize the patient’s needs or foster their openness, failing to demonstrate the "offering self" technique, making this choice incorrect.

Choice C reason: Asking why the patient struggled with adjustment is a probing question that may feel confrontational. It does not convey availability or empathy, key to "offering self," but instead seeks explanation, potentially hindering trust, making this choice non-therapeutic and incorrect.

Choice D reason: Discussing the treatment plan focuses on clinical tasks, not emotional availability. While collaborative, it does not specifically demonstrate "offering self," which emphasizes presence and support to build trust, making this choice less aligned with the therapeutic technique described.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason: GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that reduces neuronal activity, promoting calm. In fear, the sympathetic nervous system activates, increasing heart rate and blood pressure, driven by excitatory neurotransmitters, not GABA, which would counteract these effects, making this choice incorrect.

Choice B reason: Norepinephrine, a catecholamine, activates the sympathetic nervous system during fear, increasing heart rate and blood pressure via the fight-or-flight response. Its heightened activity in stress aligns with the patient’s symptoms, making this the correct neurotransmitter choice.

Choice C reason: Histamine regulates arousal and allergic responses but is not primarily responsible for cardiovascular changes in fear. Its role in the brain is less direct than norepinephrine in driving sympathetic activation, making this choice incorrect for the symptoms described.

Choice D reason: Serotonin modulates mood and anxiety but does not directly cause acute cardiovascular changes like increased heart rate and blood pressure in fear. These are driven by norepinephrine’s sympathetic activation, making serotonin an incorrect choice for this scenario.

A. Hypertensive crisis B. Hypoglycemia C. Hypotensive shock D. Cardiac dysrhythmias

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: MAOIs inhibit monoamine oxidase, increasing catecholamine levels. Consuming tyramine-rich foods or certain drugs can cause excessive norepinephrine release, leading to a hypertensive crisis with severe blood pressure elevation. This life-threatening condition requires strict dietary and drug restrictions, making this the correct nursing consideration.

Choice B reason: Hypoglycemia is unrelated to MAOIs, which primarily affect neurotransmitter metabolism, not glucose regulation. MAOIs do not interact with insulin or glucose pathways, and dietary restrictions focus on tyramine, not sugars. This condition is not a risk associated with MAOI use, making this choice incorrect.

Choice C reason: Hypotensive shock is not a primary risk of MAOIs. While orthostatic hypotension can occur, the more critical concern is hypertensive crisis due to tyramine interactions. Hypotensive shock is unrelated to MAOI pharmacology or dietary restrictions, making this an incorrect choice for nursing instructions.

Choice D reason: Cardiac dysrhythmias are not a primary risk of MAOI-related food or drug interactions. While cardiovascular effects like hypertension can occur, the specific risk is hypertensive crisis, not arrhythmias. This choice does not accurately reflect the primary concern of MAOI use, making it incorrect.

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A nurse is assessing a newly hospitalized patient. Select the best example of the communication technique of "offering self."

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A fearful patient has an increased heart rate and blood pressure. The nurse suspects increased activity of which neurotransmitter?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A nurse instructs a patient taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) drug to avoid certain foods and drugs because of the risk of which condition?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A nurse uses Maslow's hierarchy of needs to plan care for a patient diagnosed with mental illness. Which problem will receive priority?

What must the nurse obtain from the patient in order for medical information to be released to another health care facility or third party regarding a patient diagnosed with a mental illness?

Which tasks are safe and appropriate to be performed by a basic-level nurse for a patient suffering from mental illness?

A patient tells the nurse, "I don’t think I’ll ever get out of here." Select the nurse’s most therapeutic response.

A nurse is working with a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia who is experiencing auditory hallucinations. Which intervention best supports the patient in managing these symptoms?

A patient was hospitalized for 24 hours after a reaction to a psychotropic medication. While planning discharge, the nurse learned the patient received a notice of eviction immediately prior to admission. Select the nurse’s most appropriate action.

A nurse is assessing a newly hospitalized patient. Select the best example of the communication technique of "offering self."

Which of the following are examples of a nurse using non-therapeutic communication techniques? (Select all that apply)