A nurse is caring for a client on the Mental Health Unit. The client refuses to get out of bed, go to activities, or participate in any of the unit’s programs. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?
“You should rest until you feel able to join the group.”
“I will help you get ready, and then you can rest after activities.”
“If you do not get out of bed, you will not receive your meal.”
“You really need to follow the rest of the unit and get out of bed.”
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A Reason: While this response may seem compassionate, it does not encourage the client to engage in activities that could benefit their mental health. Allowing the client to remain isolated may reinforce feelings of helplessness or depression. It is important to motivate clients to participate in therapeutic activities to promote their recovery.
Choice B Reason: This response is supportive and offers a compromise. It acknowledges the client’s current state and provides assistance, while also gently encouraging participation in activities. By offering help and allowing for rest afterward, the nurse is using an empathetic approach to facilitate the client’s involvement in the unit’s programs.
Choice C Reason: This response is coercive and could be considered a threat. It is not therapeutic to withhold basic needs such as meals as a form of punishment or to force compliance. Such an approach can damage the nurse-client relationship and is not conducive to the client’s recovery.
Choice D Reason: This response may come across as dismissive and demanding. It does not offer support or acknowledge the client’s feelings. Telling the client what they “need” to do without offering help or understanding can lead to resistance and a lack of trust in the nurse-client relationship.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
An adventitious crisis is not applicable here. This type of crisis is usually a result of a natural or man-made disaster, war, or major accident, which is not the case with the client's situation.
Choice B Reason:
Maturational crises are associated with life transitions or developmental stages, such as retirement or menopause. While the client is older, the crisis is not due to a normal life transition but rather an unexpected event.
Choice C Reason:
Developmental crises occur as a person moves through the stages of life. The client's crisis does not stem from a developmental issue but from an external event that has disrupted their life.
Choice D Reason:
Situational crises arise from external sources that an individual may face throughout life, such as the death of a loved one, loss of a job, or severe illness. The client's inability to cope with the sudden death of their spouse is a situational crisis.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Supporting the client's wish to refuse prescribed medications is a direct demonstration of respecting the client's autonomy. Autonomy in nursing is the right to self-determination, where patients are provided with adequate information to make their own decisions based on their beliefs and values. By supporting the client's decision, the nurse acknowledges the client's capacity to make informed choices about their own health care, even if the choice is different from what the medical team suggests.
Choice B Reason:
Ensuring that the client understands expectations for participation is more about informed consent and education rather than autonomy. While it is related to autonomy, it does not directly demonstrate the ethical concept since it does not involve a decision made by the client.
Choice C Reason:
Explaining unit rules and policies about unacceptable behaviors is part of the education process and setting boundaries within the healthcare environment. This action is necessary for all clients but does not specifically address the client's autonomy in making personal health decisions.
Choice D Reason:
Encouraging client feedback about satisfaction with the facility experience is a way to involve clients in the evaluation process of the facility's services. While this can be seen as respecting the client's opinions, it is not a direct action of supporting the client's autonomous decisions regarding their treatment plan

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